Bridgetown is the capital and only seaport of the island nation of Barbados in the West Indies. It is also the country's largest city. It is located on Carlisle Bay at the southwestern end of the island.

Places of interest

Bridgetown is a picturesque mixture of the old and the new. St. Michael's Anglican Cathedral was built of coral rock in the 18th century. Trafalgar Square has a statue of the English admiral Lord Nelson, reflecting the island's history as a British colony. Across the square lies the Careenage, an arm of the sea that stretches inland and is lined with boats. Queen's Park is notable for its tropical vegetation. The Savannah, once a parade ground, is now used for sporting events and public gatherings.

Government House dates from the early 18th century. Modern government buildings stand on the shores of Carlisle Bay. Bridgetown is the site of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of West Indies.

Economy

Bridgetown is the commercial and industrial center of Barbados. Sugar refining, rum distilling, and tourism are important to the economy. A deepwater harbor for commercial shipping became operational near the town in 1961.

History

The British founded the town in 1628 as Indian Bridge. In about 1660 the town came to be called St. Michael's Town. This name remained in use into the 19th century. Fires repeatedly destroyed much of the town, and in 1854 a cholera epidemic killed some 20,000 people. Population (1990 estimate), 6,070.