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'Abaco'

Map:	Map of Bahamas
Population:	14,100
Area (km².):	1,681
Capital:	Marsh Harbour

The 'Abaco Islands' lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of 'Great Abaco' and 'Little Abaco', together with the smaller Wood Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Guana Cay, Gorda Cay(Castaway Cay), Elbow Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay and Moore's Island.
The first European settlers were Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, who arrived in 1783, as was also the case at Cat Island.
The islands are a noted base for sailing activities in the Bahamas as well as resort tourism.
The combined population is about 13,000 and the principal settlement and capital is Marsh Harbour. The red and white striped lighthouse at Hope Town is a noted local landmark. Coopers Town has 900 residents. The ethnic make up is about 50% white and 50% black.(bahamas.com)

Alvin Toffler in The Third Wave tells that, before the 1970s, a group of American businessmen, arms traffickers, supporters of free enterprise, a black agent of the information services, and a MP of the British House of Lords planned the independence of Abaco. Or, in another version, it would have a UK dependency status similar to that of Anguilla.
They would promise one acre (4,000 m²) to each of the natives on the island. This would have left thousands of acres for realtors and their financial backers. At least one flag was designed, combining the Hope Town Lighthouse with a Union Flag.
Abaco would end as a utopia for businessmen fearing socialism. The British government had no interest in this scheme, which in any case would have been strongly opposed by the legitimate national government in Nassau. Finally,
the locals did not support the plan, perhaps because unspoken racial issues are alleged to have mixed into it. In any event, the Abaco Independence Movement seems to have died a peaceful death around 1975.

Contents

Further reading

External links

Further reading

★ Albury, Haziel L. ''Man-O-War My Island Home: AHistory of and Outer Abaco Island'', Christian Year Publishing., 1977. ISBN 1-872734-04-9

External links

★ Abaco Bahamas Maps

★ Abaco Bahamas Island Information