Saint George, Antigua and Barbuda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parish of Saint George
Parish
Dutchman Bay
Country	Antigua and Barbuda
Established	1725 (split from Saint Peter)
Capital	Fitches Creek
Population  (2018)
• Total	8,817
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)

Saint George is a special area, called a civil parish, in the country of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located on the island of Antigua. In 2011, about 7,976 people lived here. By 2018, the population grew to 8,817.

Discover the History of Saint George

Saint George was once part of another parish called Saint Peter. It was created when a larger area, North Sound, was split into two parts: New North Sound and Old North Sound. New North Sound became the Parish of Saint George. This means that the area of New North Sound is the only main division within Saint George.

The Parish Boundaries Act, a special law, explains what Saint George includes. It covers all the homes, farms, and lands in New North Sound. It also extends west to include parts of Old North Sound, including Long Island.

Old Sugar Mills and Estates

Long ago, many parts of Saint George were sugar cane plantations with mills to process the sugar. Here are some of these historic places:

Barnacle Point

Barnacle Point is a piece of land by the sea, north and east of the airport. It used to be owned by a person named R. Allen Stanford. He built a restaurant, a place for boats to dock, and a maintenance area for private jets here.

Barnes Hill

There is no sugar mill left at Barnes Hill today. People say it was at the western end of Powell's road. It was taken down to make space for planes flying low near the airport runway. You can still see small stone ruins covered in plants at the top of the hill. Like most old estates, the highest point was chosen for building. This allowed people to enjoy the cool breeze and see most of their land. Today, residents of Barnes Hill have amazing views of the northern part of the island and the water.

Blackman's or Mount Lucie

Blackman's is located near Parham Harbour, not far from the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. There is no sign that this mill ever used steam power. The old mill is still there and in good condition, but it is now home to many honey bees. The main house collapsed after a hurricane, but some stone steps and garden walls remain. The area is now completely surrounded by thick jungle.

This mill's location was great for sending sugar directly from the estate by sea. This was faster than moving it overland by ox and cart.

Carlisle’s

The mill at Carlisle's still stands, and it seems it never switched to steam power. One of the small, old stone buildings next to the mill is still used as a home. The original estate house is gone, and the hillside is now a neighborhood. From the top of the hill where the mill is, you can see the entire runway of the V.C. Bird International Airport.

The land here was once part of Winthorpe's estate. It was sold to Major William Barnes, who then sold it to Captain Francis Carlisle. Carlisle Bay, a beautiful beach on the south side of the island, is also named after the Carlisle family.

Date Hill

The mill on Date Hill is in perfect condition. It was once part of the Sugar Mill Hotel and served as a bar for guests. This land was also bought by R. Allen Stanford, who had everything else on the property removed, except for the mill. Date Hill, like many estates, was built on a hill. It offered wide views of the area, including nearby islands and other estates. This view was especially helpful for spotting storms coming from the northeast. This farm also grew food supplies.

Donovan’s or Vaughan’s

At this location, you can still find a mill, a cattle pen, various walls, and large ponds filled with pink water lilies. Donovan's and Gunthorpe's estates were connected when Gunthorpe's was updated to use steam. The Sir Viv Richards Cricket Stadium is now located just south of this estate.

Fitches’ Creek

The land of this estate has become a nice private housing area. The old mill is no longer there. St. George's Anglican Church, one of the oldest churches on the island, was built in 1687 on land given to Daniel Fitch. This church has been rebuilt several times after hurricanes. Some people say the area is haunted by a young man seen pacing outside the churchyard wall.

It is believed that the estate house and works were on a hill beyond Fitches' Creek. From there, they would have had great views of the countryside, the sea, and felt the trade winds. This estate was one of the largest on the island, covering over 500 acres.

Gravenor’s

This was a small plantation with 83 acres in 1829. The mill is in excellent condition, even though it's hard to reach due to overgrown plants. From this land, you can see the ocean at what is now Jabberwock beach. The stonework of this mill is unique, with a large rectangular pit on the floor not seen at other mill sites. There's also a boat landing called Gravenor's Landing in Barbuda, near Spanish Point.

Giles Blizzard’s

The mill and a tombstone here are in excellent condition. They are located in a house garden but are being surrounded by the growing village of New Winthorpes. The top part of the mill was closed off to create a water tank for the town, which is no longer used. The mill equipment is outside the mill and could be removed for scrap metal. The government has planned twice to turn this hilltop into a park, but it hasn't happened yet. An inscription above the mill's door says, "Giles Blizzard est Anno Domini 1778."

This estate was very large, with 830 acres in 1821. In 1942, the community of Winthorpes had to move from its original spot because the land became part of the US Air Base, which is now the V.C. Bird International Airport runway.

Gunthorpe’s

Nothing remains on this property to show where the old estate buildings or home were. However, Mackie Hill would have been a perfect spot because it has a brick water tank and overlooks the flat countryside. This area later became the site of one of the island's biggest factories, the Antigua Sugar Plant.

Hight Point (High)

The estate house here has been turned into apartments, and the mill has been taken down. The stone structure of the house has lasted, but its wooden parts, like the balconies, are gone. The Lord Nelson Club, Tides, and Cecelia's Restaurant are all located in Dutchman's Bay below High Point.

Judge Blizzard’s (Blizard)

There is still a mill here, and it's a bit different because it's taller and narrower than others. This mill is in good shape and still has some wood visible at the top. There's no sign that this estate ever used steam. The remains of the works and the buff house are behind the mill. The house was destroyed by hurricanes in the 1950s and was too expensive to fix. Many pieces of old china pottery have been found on the slope nearby.

Long Island

The mill on Long Island was recently fixed up, but it doesn't work as it used to. The first mill, built in 1749, was destroyed by 1835.

Long Island was first settled by the Siboney people around 400 BC. Later, the Arawak people arrived. The Spanish forced them out in the 1520s, but the Caribs continued to raid the islands. Long Island is known for a very high-quality flint stone. This stone has been used for centuries by Native Americans across the Caribbean islands. One homeowner turned Flinty Bay into a sand beach, so the flint is no longer found there.

The Jumby Bay Hawksbill Project started in the late 1980s to protect the Hawkesbill sea turtle. In 2015, about 450 nesting hawksbills were tagged. Many older female turtles still return to lay eggs, along with new ones. Since 1996, the Hawkesbill turtle has been listed as severely endangered. This is because people used to hunt them for their beautiful shells, which were used for sunglasses and jewelry. Turtle eggs were also a popular food, and turtle meat was sold in markets.

The Hawkesbill turtle needs a lot of help because only about one in a thousand of them survive to become adults.

Millars

There is still a mill here, hidden in the bushes across from the road that goes around the airport and into Fitches Creek. This estate did not use steam technology.

Much of the site was destroyed, but parts of the airport runway were rebuilt. The ruins of the buff house can still be seen next to the runway. Below the mill, in Fitches Creek, there is a three-room "dungeon" built into the hill. It was later used to store ammunition during World War II and also corn.

Nibb's

The mill at Nibb's is in excellent condition, except for a tree growing out of its top. You can see it from the road near the Free Trade Zone buildings.

North Sound

Paynter's or Painter's

There is no mill left in Painter's. The estate house was damaged by hurricanes and later taken down when Sunnyside School built its auditorium. Today, only the cow corral at the bottom of the road remains. When the school was new, plays and presentations were held in the old house's gallery, with people watching from chairs on the lawn.

Sherwood’s or Lebanon’s

There is no mill at this location anymore. Sherwood's is north of Stoney Hill, between Gunthorpe's and Cedar Hill. It's about a mile off Freeman's Road, northeast of Midway Gas Station. In 1736, a rebellion was planned nearby in Stoney Hill Gulley. The area also has a lot of petrified wood from an ancient forest, but much of it has been removed.

Weir’s (Ware’s/Glanville’s/Little Zoar)

There is still a mill here, and it's in great shape. There is no sign that this estate ever switched to steam. The historic estate house has been renovated, and new homes have been built nearby.

Will Blizard’s

This mill is starting to break down. Nothing else of the estate is left because the US Navy Station was built extensively on the land. The mansion was perfectly located near the water, with views of Maiden and Long Island.

Winthorpes

Although there isn't a mill here anymore, this place is interesting because the Winthrop family from Massachusetts landed here. This was unusual, as most settlers came from Britain. This shows how the colonies, including Australia, were connected by ships and family ties. The island's airport was built here using the original American structures when it was part of an American base during World War II.

Populated Places

The parish includes the city of Piggotts and other communities:

• Barnes Hill
• Carlisle
• Coolidge
• Fitches Creek
• Gunthorpes
• Hodges Bay
• Marble Hill
• New Winthorpes
• Osbourn
• Paradise View
• Paynters
• Sea View Farm

Features and Landmarks

Saint George Parish is home to some important places:

• V.C. Bird International Airport: The main airport for Antigua and Barbuda.
• Stanford Cricket Ground: A cricket stadium.
• Coolidge Cricket Ground: Another cricket stadium.
• Dutchman Bay: A beautiful bay.

Demographics: Who Lives Here?

The 2011 Housing and Population Census for Antigua and Barbuda provides details about the people living in Saint George Parish.

Individual Characteristics

Most people in Saint George are of African descent. There are also smaller groups of people from other backgrounds, including Caucasian/White, East Indian, Mixed heritage, Hispanic, and Syrian/Lebanese.

Household Information

In Saint George Parish, there are 2,932 households. Most households (93.86%) use a public garbage truck for waste disposal. About 81% of households have a mobile device, and 43.35% have internet access.

Borders

Saint George Parish does not have any international borders. It shares borders with other parts of Antigua:

• Saint John - To the South and West
• Atlantic Ocean - To the North
• Saint Peter - To the East

Places of Interest

• Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
• Coolidge Cricket Ground
• Dutchman Bay

See also

In Spanish: Parroquia de Saint George (Antigua y Barbuda) para niños