The island of Anguilla is a British owned territory in the eastern
Caribbean. It is located in the northern regions of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser
Antilles. It contains only the island of Anguilla, around 26km (16mi) long by 5 km (3.1mi)
wide at its widest area, along with a number of other small islands and cays with no permanent
population. The capital city is The Valley.
HISTORY
Anguilla was first settled by Amerindian tribes who migrated from South America.
The earliest Amerindian artifacts found on Anguilla have been dated to around 1300 BC, and remains
of settlements date from 600 AD. The date of European discovery is uncertain: some sources claim
that Columbus sighted the island in 1493, while others state that the island was first discovered
by the French in 1564 or 1565. The name Anguilla derives from the word for "eel" in any of various
Romance languages (modern Spanish: anguilla; French: Anguilla; Italian: Anguilla), probably chosen
because of the island's eel-like shape.
Anguilla was first colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts, beginning in
1650.The French temporarily overtook the island in 1666 but under the Treaty of Breda it was
returned to English control. Other early arrivals included Europeans from Antigua and Barbados. It
is likely that some of these early Europeans brought enslaved Africans with them. Historians
confirm that African slaves lived in the region in the early seventeenth century. For example,
Africans from Senegal lived in St. Christopher (today St. Kitts) in 1626. By 1672 a slave depot
existed on the island of Nevis, serving the Leeward Islands. While the time of African arrival in
Anguilla is difficult to place precisely, archive evidence indicates a substantial African presence
(at least 100) on the island by 1683.
The island was administered by England, and later the United Kingdom, until the
early nineteenth century when – against the wishes of the inhabitants – it was incorporated into a
single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. After two rebellions in 1967 and 1969
and a brief period as a self-declared independent republic headed by Ronald Webster, British rule
was fully restored in July, 1971. Anguilla became a separate British dependency (now termed a
British overseas territory) in 1980.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguilla
CULTURE
The ANT (Anguillian National Trust) started in 1988 but its offices opened in 1993
with the responsibility of preserving the nation’s heritage. The programmes of the Trust encourage
Anguillans writers and preserves the heritage of the island, including it cultural heritage.
The Taino Indians start the nation’s history, proof of this are the artifacts found
around the island telling of life there before the Europeans.
As practiced throughout the Caribbean, Holidays are based mostly off the cultures.
The most important holidays are of historic as well as cultural importance- in particular the
emancipation which is celebrated as a summer festival. British holidays are also celebrated for
example the Queens birthday.
HEROES
The island of Anguilla has six icons these people have contributed a great deal to
what the island is now; they have all play their separate rolls in Anguilla’s
entertainment.
Smitty
Colville Petty
Obe
Johnno
Smitty is best known for pioneering the beach bar concept on Anguilla.
He proudly operates Smitty’s Bar and Grill, which is located at Island Harbor.
An authority on Anguilla’s history, Colville Petty OBE curates the Heritage
Collection, a museum that showcases multiple facets of Anguilla’s history.
Fitzroy Edwards, or
Johnno as he is known across our island, is the owner of Johnno’s Bar and Grill, a
lively and casual beach bar at Sandy Ground. Among his many accomplishments, Johnno
was instrumental in bringing jazz to our island.
The island of Anguilla is a British owned territory in the eastern
Caribbean. It is located in the northern regions of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser
Antilles. It contains only the island of Anguilla, around 26km (16mi) long by 5 km (3.1mi)
wide at its widest area, along with a number of other small islands and cays with no permanent
population. The capital city is The Valley. 
