Over View

Anguilla is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, with a latitude of approximately 18 degrees north and longitude of 63 degrees west. The island
lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, some five miles north of St. Maarten/St. Martin and one hundred fifty miles east of Puerto Rico. The territory of Anguilla comprises several offshore islets, or cays, including Sandy Island, Dog Island, Prickley Pear Cays, Scrub Island, and Sombrero Island (the location of the island's lighthouse).

Eastern end of the island

Anguilla has a pleasant, healthy, tropical marine climate. The hottest months of the year are from July to October and the coolest between December and February. The mean monthly temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or 27 degrees Centigrade. The relative humidity is just over 75%.
Cooling trade winds usually sweep across the land from the east. Rainfall is low and erratic, ranging from 22 - 50 inches per year.

The Population

Island center

Anguilla's population is scattered, with no apparent center or concentration of houses or shops. The Valley is the "capital," the center of commercial activity. Government buildings, the post office and banks are located in The Valley.

The island is divided into village communities, which are really small clusters of homes located in such areas as Sandy Ground, North Hill, Island Harbour, and West End. It is
extremely difficult, in most cases, to tell when one has moved out of one village into another as there are no real village boundaries or border signs.

There is no income tax, corporate tax, or currency exchange control , making the island a haven for offshore banking.

South Hill area

The Valley , Anguilla’s capital and one-and-only town gets more interesting every season. New shops have opened in new buildings and renovated West Indian-style cottages. Old shops have been modernized and have enlarged their stocks as well as their space.

Western end of the island

The Historic District , in the lower valley, has the prettiest private dwellings and well-maintained originals those restored in the old style. Miss Marjorie Hodge’s Homestead is one of the most photographed wooden dwellings on the island. The Warden’s Place was once the home of British agents. In a state of disrepair until 1985 when the Gumbs family began its restoration, the beautiful green two-story wood and stone house is now home to the elegant Koal Keel Restaurant , which still uses the oven in the garden for baking. A short walk away you’ll find the ruins of the Old Court House on Crocus Hill, the island’s highest point. All that remains are the broken walls of a few basement jail cells. At Cross Roads at the western edge of The Valley is Wallblake House , a plantation home built around 1787 that is now owned by the Catholic church (the parish priest lives there) and St. Gerard’s Catholic Church , with its highly original facade of pebbles, stones, cement, wood and tile.
Christianity is practiced in Anguilla, and most religious denominations are represented, from Angilican to Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist to Jehovah's Witness and several strains of the Baptist church. There are at least fifteen churches on the island, several of architectual interest.

The Valley, Capital of Anguilla

Anguilla's economy is based on its high import dependence. Because of the erratic rainfall and poor quality of the sandy soil, farming has never been very successful. Little of the island's thirty-five square miles is devoted to organized agriculture, although efforts are now being made to encourage wider cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and crops such as corn and pigeon peas. Many Anguillians own livestock (sheep, goats, and pigs), which are raised on their own land and sold for meat. Landownership is fairly widespread. Many Anguillians have turned to the sea for their livelihood - Anguilla's fishermen supply not only restaurants and hotels on the island, but also neighboring islands such as St. Maarten/St. Martin and the US Virgin Islands. The fishermen's wooden boats are small, with powerful outboard motors. Their size, however, limits the fishermen to local waters. The main catch consists of lobster, crayfish, snapper, grouper, conch, welch, swordfish, and other delicacies. Whilst agriculture does not play a large part in Anguilla's economy, the people do make the best use they can of plants and fish in their cooking.

The Valley details

For Anguillians, mutton (goat meat), chicken and pork ribs are commonly used in cooking, and these local recipes can be found in restaurants or on special "West Indian Nights" at some hotels. Fish dishes tend to contain rockfish, bonito, grouper, oldwife, and even cavally and barracuda.The more expensive snapper, lobster and crayfish are served only on special occasions.
Johnnycakes, banana bread, rice and peas, West Indian pumpkin and pawpaw are some of the more common side dishes.
Many plants on the island are said to contain healing or herbal properties and are often used in teas and as flavouring in cooking. Wines and nonalcoholic beverages can be found made from genip, sea grape, mango, bayleaf, and corn. A popular soft drink made locally and available in some stores and bars is Mawby - made from the bark of trees.

Anguilla's work force is devoted to the service industries, fishing, construction, farming and government. Anguilla's main export is labour, with many emigrating to work in the United States, Curacao, Aruba, the United Kingdom, and St. Maarten/St. Martin, where large Anguillian communities can be found.

Many on the island engage in handicrafts such as expert needlework and dressmaking. Wood carving is another local art, practiced by local artists, and intricately carved model boats, birds and animals are available in local galleries.

Net tossing is a learned skill.

A seafaring nation Anguillians are superb boat builders, renowned throughout the Caribbean. Built of handcrafted wooden hulls, these boats are not only fishing vessels but also spectacular racing boats. Racing is a national pastime and takes place on public holidays or whenever the occasion allows. Anguilla is famous for its boat racing and Boat Race Week. This event also coincides with the island's Summer Festival during the first week of August. Some of the most spectacular races, complemented by beach parties and live bands, take place during this 10 day period.
Education
The educational system is British and free. Students from pre-school wear school-specific uniforms and pay for their own school supplies and books. There are day-care centres and church-run pre-schools. Children then enter one of the seven Primary Schools which have Infants 1 and Infants 2 (2 years of the American equivalent - kindergarten) and continue
from Grade 1 to 5. Then on to Campus B, the new "Junior High School" which will house the "First. Second and Third Forms" (U.S. Grades 6, 7 and 8). Then the students go to the Comprehensive School for Forms Four, Five and the non-compulsory Sixth Form). Finally, if they choose, students take subject examinations administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and, when passed, receive the equivalent of a U.S. high-school diploma.

Anguilla National Anthem

GOD BLESS ANGUILLA
God bless Anguilla,
Nurture and keep her.
Noble and beauteous she stands midst the sea,
O land of the happy, a haven we'll make thee,
Our lives and love we give unto thee

Chorus:

With hearts and souls we'll build our nation, Proud, strong and free,
We'll love her, hold her dear to our heart for eternity, Let truth and right our banner be,
We'll march ever on,
Let truth and right our banner be,'
We'll march ever on.

Mighty we'll make her, long may she prosper,
God grant our leaders wisdom and grace,
May glory and honour, ever attend her ,
Firm shall she stand throughout every age.

Anguilla National Flag

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