Saint Anne Sandy Point | |
Parish | |
Country | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
---|---|
Capital | Sandy Point Town |
Area | 13 km2 (5 sq mi) |
Population | 3,140 (2001 est.) |
Density | 241.54/km2 (626/sq mi) |
Saint Anne Sandy Point is one of 14 administrative parishes that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the smallest parish on St. Kitts in terms of area, at just 5 square miles (13 km2). It is located on the main island of Saint Kitts and the parish capital is Sandy Point Town.
The parish itself is triangular in shape. The coastline of the parish is 4.06 miles (6.53 km) in length, with black sandy beaches, such as Pump Bay and Belle Tête dominating the southern coast, with sheer cliffs to the north. The lower slopes of the parish are dominated by abandoned sugarcane fields, as well as numerous small holdings, cultivating provision crops and tropical fruits. The town of Sandy Point, the second largest town on the island, skirts the southern coast, whilst the village Fig Tree rests just North of it. Moving inwards (East), the terrain shifts from the gently sloping coastal plain to the steep mountains of the North West Range, which, above 1000 feet, above sea level, is draped in tropical forests.
Cranston Ghaut marks the northern border of the parish, whilst Sandy Point Ghaut (an ill-defined ravine near Brimstone Hill Road) marks the southern.
The main settlement in the parish is Sandy Point Town, the federation's second largest settlement, with a population near 3,000. The town rests along the South coast of the parish. The other settlements of the parish act as suburbs to the town, and are usually annexed in local reference to Sandy Point. These are Fig Tree, La Vallée, and Sir Gillee's. Abandoned estate houses dot other areas further inland.
Capital - Sandy Point Town
Other Villages:
The town of Sandy Point is home to a small factory, owned by Harowe Servo Controls, which manufactures electrical equipment. Despite its small size, it is the main employer in the parish, and the largest industrial area outside of Saint George Basseterre Parish. Tourism is the other main employer for the parish. The Sandy Point Area's rich history has left it awash with many of the nation's premier historical sites, such as Fort Charles, and many warehouse building ruins, remnants of when Dutch tobacco trade reigned in the town. Offshore, just West of Sandy Point Town, lies the Sandy Point National Marine Park, often noted as one of the premier dive sites in the Eastern Caribbean.