SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH

October 1998 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH OF ABACO
by Patrick J Bethel

The physical structure of Abaco dates back for hundreds of thousands of years but it was not until about 500 AD that the islands were inhabited by the Lucayan Indians, after they had been chased north by a warlike tribe known as the Caribs. By the time Columbus arrived in 1492, the Lucayans had occupied many of the Bahama Islands.

During the 17th and 18th centuries pirates visited the islands, probably for water, wood and seafood as well as to bury treasure. The French had a small colony on the island in 1565, probably in south Abaco. But it was not until 1783 that the island was truly settled when Loyalists from North America, having been ejected because of their support for the Crown, arrived in September 1783. They landed at Carleton Point (named after Sir Guy Carleton, the British Commander in New York) immediately north-west of the lovely Treasure Cay beach.

By the end of the century the Loyalists had settled in Marsh Harbour, Hope Town, Green Turtle Cay and Cherokee Sound. Later, offshore cays like Man-O-War and Great Guana Cay were settled, followed by black communities such as Crossing Rocks, Blackwood, Coopers Town and others after the abolition of slavery in 1838.

During the first 150 years of our history the settlers survived by what they could grow on the land and catch from the sea. They became boat builders, farmers and fishermen, exporting pineapples and citrus during the second half of the 1800's and sisal and sponges during the early part of the present century. Life was hard, but the people survived through hard work and perseverance.

After the Second World War, the way of life began to change. Tourism began, supported by second home residents, and during the past 30 to 40 years has slowly grown until today it is the main bread earner employing, directly and indirectly, more than 60% of the population.

But tourism has not been the only industry. For more than 60 years the crawfish industry has employed hundreds of our male population on a seasonal basis and today provides in excess of $10 million annually to the economy of Abaco. The harvesting of the native pine was almost continuous from 1905 to 1941 and then again from 1959 to 1965. This industry also employed a few hundred people.

Agriculture has had its ups and downs during the past 50 plus years. In the early 50's an American industrialist by the name of J B Crockett pioneered modern farming just south of Marsh Harbour. During the second half of the 60's we experimented with sugar, which failed after two years, while in the 70's, 80's and 90's we again produced citrus for export as well as cucumbers. Today farming is in the doldrums but the potential is there for certain crops, both for export and local consumption. The island now boasts both chicken and pig farms, both of which suggest a bright future in the livestock industry.

On the social side, there has been an influx of non-Abaconians to the island - especially during the past 10-15 years - resulting in a much greater degree of international, inter-racial, inter-island and inter-Bahamian mixing.

What of the future? The fishing industry is under pressure while agriculture has many question marks. I predict tourism and second home ownership will continue to dominate the employment field well into the next century. In the long term, the future may lie in a deep water port on the south coast, with the island growing along similar lines to Freeport.

This Issue Table of Contents - - Previous Issues

Other Abaco Bahamas Links
Home Page (oii.net) - Message Board (AbacoBoard.com) - Latest Happenings (AbacoToday.com)