Basseterre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Basseterre
Capital city
Top: Basseterre marina; Middle: Downtown Basseterre, Independence Square; St. George's Anglican Church , Basseterre Government House
Location of the city of Basseterre in St. Kitts and Nevis
Country	Saint Kitts and Nevis
Island	Saint Kitts
Parishes	Saint George Basseterre, Saint Peter Basseterre
Settled	1627
Area
• Total	6.1 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Elevation	15 m (50 ft)
Population  (2024)
• Total	16,696
• Density	2,541/km2 (6,200/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)

Basseterre is the capital and largest city of Saint Kitts and Nevis. About 14,000 people lived there in 2018. It is located on the southwest coast of Saint Kitts Island. Basseterre is a very important trading center for the Leeward Islands. The city is part of the Saint George Basseterre Parish.

Basseterre is one of the oldest towns in the Eastern Caribbean.

History of Basseterre

Wesleyan Chapel in Basseterre, around 1850.

Basseterre was started in 1627 by the French. It was founded by Sieur Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc. The city became the capital of the French colony of Saint-Christophe. This colony covered parts of St. Kitts island.

In 1639, Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy became the French governor. Under his leadership, Basseterre grew into a busy and successful port. It became a major center for trade and settlement in the Eastern Caribbean.

De Poincy then made Basseterre the capital for all French West Indies colonies. This included islands like Guadeloupe and Martinique. It remained the capital until he passed away in 1660. In 1727, Basseterre became the capital of St. Kitts island. This happened after the French left and the British took full control.

Basseterre has faced many challenges over time. It has been damaged by wars, fires, earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes many times. Despite these events, many old buildings in the city center have been carefully restored. Most buildings were rebuilt after a big fire in 1867. The area called The Circus was designed to look like Piccadilly Circus in London.

Geography and Climate

Where is Basseterre Located?

The city of Basseterre is located on a 2-mile (3.2 km) bay. This bay is on the southwest coast of St. Kitts. It is called Basseterre Bay. The city is in a large area known as the Basseterre Valley. Green hills and mountains almost completely surround it.

Basseterre is mostly flat and low-lying. This is why the French named it Basseterre. The name means "low land" in English. It also means the city is on the side of the island protected from strong winds. This makes it a safe place for ships to anchor.

The area to the north, called Capesterre, faces the wind. Basseterre is surrounded by the Olivees Mountains to the north. To the east are the Conaree-Morne peaks. Two rivers, College River and Westbourne River, flow through the city. Locals call them "ghauts." They are usually dry for most of the year. They even form streets in downtown Basseterre. However, this design has caused problems. College River has led to many serious floods in Basseterre's history. Port Zante, in the middle of the bay, was built on 15 acres (6.1 hectares) of land. This land was reclaimed from the sea in 1995.

What is Basseterre's Climate Like?

Basseterre has a tropical rainforest climate. This means temperatures stay warm and steady all year round. The average temperature is about 27°C (81°F). Basseterre does not have a dry season. Every month, on average, gets more than 60 mm (2.36 inches) of rain. The city receives about 1700 mm (66.93 inches) of rain each year.

Exploring Basseterre

Downtown Basseterre, St. Kitts.

Basseterre is a small city with streets laid out in a grid pattern. It has four main streets that run from west to east. These are Bay Road, Liverpool Row, Central Street, and Cayon Street. The main street running north to south is Fort Street/Bank Street. This street is where most of the island's main shops and banks are located.

The city has two main centers. One is The Circus, which is popular with tourists. The other is Independence Square. Here you will find the cathedral, the courthouse, and many older buildings.

Basseterre is the main business and industry center of St. Kitts. It is also the country's main entry point for sea and air travel. It serves as the hub for road and rail transport too. The city houses the government buildings for the country. It is also home to the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Many other important financial groups in the region are based here.

Even though it is small, Basseterre has hosted big events. In 2000, it hosted Carifesta VII, a Caribbean arts festival. It also won the bid to host matches for the 2007 World Cricket Cup. The Warner Park Sporting Complex was where the first-round matches took place. This made Saint Kitts and Nevis the smallest country ever to host a World Cup event.

Basseterre has two private medical schools. These are the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and the International University of Nursing. The city also has four high schools. Two are government-owned, and two are private.

Landmarks and Fun Places to See

The St. George's Anglican Church in Basseterre.

When you visit Basseterre, there are many interesting places to explore:

• Independence Square (once called Pall Mall Square)
• The Circus
• St. George's Anglican Church
• Basseterre Co-Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
• The Cenotaph (a monument for fallen soldiers)
• St. Kitts Heritage Society
• National Museum of Saint Kitts
• Amina Craft Market (for local crafts)
• Public Market (for fresh produce and goods)
• St. Kitts Sugar Factory Museum (being built on the old sugar factory grounds)
• Warner Park Sporting Complex (for sports events)
• Pelican Shopping Mall
• Queen Victoria Statue Roundabout
• Basseterre National Park (under construction)
• Fort Thomas
• Springfield Cemetery and Chapel

Religion in Basseterre

Basseterre has many Christian churches for its size. Most are Protestant churches. This is because of British rule in the past. However, the main cathedral in Basseterre is Catholic. The Anglican Church, also known as the "Church of England," has the most members. The Methodist Church is also very popular. Other Protestant groups include Moravian, Church of God, Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness, Rivers of Living Water, and Pentecostal.

Economy of Basseterre

The Police Station in Basseterre.

Basseterre has become an important financial center in the Eastern Caribbean. It is home to the main office of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. It also hosts the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange. This is where companies in the region can list their stocks. The city is also where the St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank is located. This is the largest bank in the Eastern Caribbean based on its assets.

The city is also a major industrial center. Its main exports include electronics, drinks, clothing, and salt. The sugar industry, which was once very important, closed in 2005. This happened because of large debts and expected problems from price cuts planned by the EU. There are special industrial areas in Basseterre. These areas work on technology, food processing, light engineering, and making rum.

Getting Around Basseterre

Basseterre is the main hub for all major roads on St. Kitts island. Cars drive on the left side of the road. The speed limit in the city is 40 km/h (25 mph) everywhere. You should be extra careful around school zones.

Public Buses

Public buses have green license plates that start with the letter "H". There are 5 main bus routes on St. Kitts:

• Basseterre to Sandy Point (traveling West, starting at the Ferry Terminal)
• Basseterre to Capesterre (traveling West, starting at the Ferry Terminal)
• Basseterre to St. Peter's (traveling North, starting at College Street Ghaut)
• Basseterre to Molyneux (traveling East, starting at the East Bus Terminal)
• Basseterre to Saddler's (traveling East, starting at the East Bus Terminal)

Bus fares are paid in EC dollars (Eastern Caribbean dollars). For trips 5 miles (8 km) and under, it costs $2.50. For trips between 5 and 10 miles (8 and 16 km), it costs $3.00. For trips over 10 miles (16 km), it costs $3.75. (Note: 1 US dollar is about 2.7 EC dollars). No public buses go south to the main resort areas like Frigate Bay.

Taxis

Taxis have yellow license plates that start with "T" or "TA". The main taxi station in Basseterre is at The Circus (you can call them at 466 6999). Taxis can take you almost anywhere for a set price.

Harbor

The Deep Water Harbour in Basseterre can host and dock large cruise ships. It also handles cargo. This harbor is located at the far east side of Basseterre Bay.

Port Zante, in the center of the Bay, is only for cruise ships. This port is big enough for the largest cruise ships in the world. It also has a marina for smaller boats.

The bay is also home to a busy ferry service. Ferries travel between Basseterre and Charlestown, which is the capital of Nevis. There are many trips each day, with several different ferry boats. Ferry service also connects Basseterre to Oranjestad in Statia and to St. Maarten. However, these trips are not as frequent.

Airports Near Basseterre

The Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport serves Basseterre. It is located in the northeastern part of the city. This airport has direct flights to major cities like London, New York, and Miami. During tourist season, it also has seasonal flights to places like Charlotte, North Carolina, Atlanta, and Philadelphia in the United States, and cities in Canada. The nearby Vance W. Amory International Airport is on the island of Nevis. This airport serves regional destinations, mostly within the Caribbean.

Railway

St. Kitts has a 58 km (36 mi) narrow-gauge railway. It starts and ends in Basseterre and goes around the entire island in a circle. These railway lines were first built to carry sugar cane to the main sugar factory in Basseterre. Today, they are used to take tourists on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway. This scenic train currently runs from Sandy Point to Basseterre.

Sister Cities

Basseterre is connected with:

• Praia, Cape Verde

Famous People from Basseterre

Some well-known people born in Basseterre include:

• Joan Armatrading (born 1950) – a singer.
• Kim Collins (born 1976) – a fast runner (sprinter).
• Bertil Fox (born 1951) – a bodybuilder.
• Kayamba Gumbs (born 1972) – a footballer.
• Erasmus James (born 1982) – a former NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings.
• Ces Podd (born 1952) – a footballer.
• Desai Williams (1959–2022) – an Olympic bronze medalist in relay running for Canada.

See also

In Spanish: Basseterre para niños