Kingstown (Redirected from Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Kingstown | |
---|---|
Top:Aerial view of Kingstown; Middle: Carnegie Old Public Library, Fort Charlotte; Bottom: St. George's Cathedral, Botanic Gardens St. Vincent | |
Nickname: City Of Arches | |
Coordinates: 13°09′28″N 061°13′30″W / 13.15778°N 61.22500°W | |
Country | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Island | Saint Vincent |
Parish | Saint George |
Founded | 1722 |
Population (2012) | |
• Total | 12,909 |
Time zone | UTC-4 (Eastern Caribbean Time Zone (ECT)) |
Area code | 784 |
Climate | Af |
Kingstown (pronounced in English: [ˈkɪŋsˌtaʊn]) is the capital city of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The city has the main port and the biggest commercial center of the islands. In the 2005 census, it had a population of 25,148 inhabitants[citation needed], being the city founded in 1722 by the French. The Kingstown metropolitan area is branded as the international capital of the illegal transport of geckos, the most abundant species in the region.[citation needed]
History
The modern capital, Kingstown, was founded by French settlers shortly after 1722, although Saint Vincent enjoyed 196 years of British rule before its independence.
The botanical garden, conceived in 1765, is one of the oldest in the Western hemisphere. William Bligh, made famous from the Mutiny on the Bounty, brought seed of the breadfruit tree here for planting, c. 1793.
Geography
The town is surrounded by steep hills. Secondary education is provided by the Thomas Saunders Secondary School at Richmond Hill.
Transportation
The city is served by Argyle International Airport, which has commercial passenger services to the United States, Canada and to the United Kingdom.
Sights
- Botanic Gardens St. Vincent: Located on the northern outskirts of Kingstown are the Botanical Gardens. Kingstown is overlooked by Fort Charlotte on the north side of town. It is located 190 metres (620 ft) above sea level.
- The St. George's Cathedral
- The Cruise Ship Berth