Barbuda

Barbuda is a flat island in the sea.

It is part of Antigua and Barbuda. It sits north of Antigua.

The island has a big lagoon.

There are also high hills on the other side. You might see salty ponds and scrubland too.

A long time ago, people came by canoe. They were hunters. Later, other groups lived there too.

Today, many people work in tourism. Some people catch lobster in the sea. This helps the island make money.

It is a warm place to visit.

Many people live in the village of Codrington.

Barbuda is a flat island in the Caribbean Sea.

It is part of a twin-island state. This state is called Antigua and Barbuda. Barbuda sits north of the island of Antigua.

The island has many different parts. The west side has the Codrington Lagoon.

The east side has the Barbuda Highlands. These are high hills. You can also find salty ponds and scrubland across the island.

People lived on Barbuda a long time ago. The first settlers arrived by canoe. They were hunter-gatherers. Later, the Arawak and Kalinago people lived there too. In 1666, the English and French made a colony. Slavery was ended on the island in 1834. Since then, the people have worked the land together.

Today, most people live in Codrington.

The island has a warm climate. Many people work in tourism or for the government. Fishing is also very important. People catch a lot of lobster to sell.

In 2017, a big storm called Hurricane Irma hit the island. It broke most of the buildings. But many people have since returned home.

Barbuda is a beautiful island in the eastern Caribbean. It is part of a twin-island country called Antigua and Barbuda. The island sits just north of Antigua.

Barbuda is a very flat place compared to other islands. The western part is home to the large Codrington Lagoon.

On the eastern side, you will find the elevated Barbuda Highlands.

The rest of the land has salty ponds and scrubland. It has a warm, tropical marine climate.

The island has a very long and interesting history. Around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, the first people arrived by canoe. These early settlers were hunter-gatherers. Later, the Arawak and Kalinago people lived on the island. The Arawaks grew corn, peanuts, and sweet potatoes. They also made special pottery called Saladoid with white designs.

In 1666, the English and French formed a colony here. Later, the Codrington family held the island for many years. In 1834, slavery was finally abolished on Barbuda.

Life on the island has changed many times over the years. After slavery ended, Barbudans continued to farm the land together. This is called communal property. The island became part of Antigua in 1860. In 1981, Barbuda became part of the independent nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Today, the island has its own local government called the Barbuda Council.

This council helps manage things like money and farming. The council meets in the main village of Codrington.

Barbuda is a very quiet and peaceful place to live. It is one of the least crowded islands in the Caribbean. As of 2011, only 1,634 people lived there. Most people live in or around the village of Codrington.

In September 2017, a huge storm called Hurricane Irma hit the island. It was a Category 5 hurricane. The storm destroyed more than 90 percent of the buildings. Everyone had to leave for Antigua for a short time. However, most people returned by February 2019. The population is actually higher now than it was before the storm.

Many different things help the island's economy work. Most people find jobs in tourism or for the government. The government is one of the biggest employers on the island. Fishing is another very important way people make a living. The island exports many things from the sea. A large part of this is the lobster catching industry.

You can also see the waters that the Barbuda Council looks after.

This helps keep the island's natural beauty safe for everyone.

Barbuda is an island and a dependency located in the eastern Caribbean. It is part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda. The island functions as an autonomous entity, meaning it has a level of self-rule. Barbuda sits approximately north of its sister island, Antigua.

The island is characterized by a very flat landscape. The western portion is dominated by the Codrington Lagoon.

In contrast, the eastern portion features the elevated plateau known as the Barbuda Highlands.

Throughout the island, visitors will find salty ponds and scrubland under a tropical marine climate.

The physical geography of Barbuda creates distinct environments for its inhabitants. The Codrington Lagoon occupies much of the west. The Barbuda Highlands provide higher ground in the east. Most human settlements are concentrated in and around the village of Codrington.

This village serves as the primary residential and social center. The island's low population density makes it one of the most sparsely populated places in the Caribbean. As of 2011, the population was recorded at 1,634 people. This low density is much lower than the population density found on Antigua.

Human history on Barbuda began thousands of years ago. The first inhabitants arrived between 2,900 and 3,000 BC. These people belonged to the Archaic Age. Some scholars call them the Ciboney or Siboney. Others prefer the term "Archaic People" or "first settlers." These settlers arrived by canoe and lived as hunter-gatherers. They used tools made from sea shells. They crafted cutting blades, hoes, and picks from gastropods. They also made water containers from conch, trumpet, and whelk shells. Archeological sites have been found along the southwest coast and near the lagoon.

Later groups inhabited the island during the Ceramic period. The Arawaks arrived at least by 1,000 BC. They likely came from present-day Venezuela and Guyana. Their population on Barbuda reached a peak between 1,500 and 800 years ago. The Arawaks were skilled farmers. They grew corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, cotton, and tobacco. They also grew various medicinal plants. The Arawaks are famous for Saladoid pottery. This pottery features white-on-red designs with zoned-incised crosshatching. The Kalinago people also visited the island. They often came to harvest seafood and land animals. They called Barbuda "Wa'omoni," which may mean "Island of Herons."

European colonization changed the island's structure significantly. The Spanish traveled near the area in 1493, but it is unclear if they saw Barbuda. In 1625, Captain Smith and John Littleton attempted to colonize the island. By 1666, the English and French had formed a colony. The village of Codrington became the main residential area. In 1685, the island was leased to brothers John and Christopher Codrington. The Codrington family held the island until 1870. They were absentee owners, meaning they lived elsewhere. They used resident managers to run the island. In 1710, a French force led by John Bermingham attacked the Codrington castle.

Slavery was a dark period in Barbuda's history. The slave population grew from 172 people in 1746 to 503 in 1831. This led to several instances of resistance. In 1741, Beach's Rebellion occurred due to cruel treatment by an island manager. In 1774, another manager named McNish was killed during a rebellion. Slaves successfully occupied the Codringtons' castle during this time. Eventually, the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 led to the end of slavery in 1834. Because the island was one large land grant, Barbudans kept using the land as communal property. This right to communal land was later protected by law in 2007.

Modern Barbuda is part of a parliamentary, representative democratic monarchy. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. King Charles III is the current monarch of Antigua and Barbuda. Barbuda has a unique political system. It has a local government called the Barbuda Council. This council was established by the Barbuda Local Government Act in 1976. The council has 11 members. Nine are directly elected, and two are ex officio members. These two members represent Barbuda in the national Parliament. The council manages public works, finance, and agriculture.

The council sessions are held in Codrington.

Natural disasters have also shaped modern life. In September 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the island. This was a Category 5 hurricane. The storm was extremely powerful and destroyed more than 90 percent of Barbuda's buildings. The entire population had to be evacuated to Antigua. However, the island showed great resilience. By February 2019, most residents had returned home. Interestingly, the population is now higher than it was before the hurricane. Today, the economy relies on tourism, government jobs, and fisheries. The lobster catching industry is a major part of the island's exports.