| The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is located in | | | | It remained sparsely settled until the United |
| the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida, north of | | | | States expelled thousands of American Tories |
| Cuba and the Caribbean and consists of 700 | | | | and their slaves. About 8000 British |
| islands.The archipelago of the Bahamas has a | | | | Loyalists moved to the Bahamas in the late |
| total land area of 5,382 square miles and a | | | | 1700s from New York, Florida and the |
| population of approx. 310,000 concentrated | | | | Carolinas.Internal self-government was |
| on the islands of New Providence and Grand | | | | granted by the British in 1964. In 1973, |
| Bahama.The islands have a subtropical | | | | Bahamians achieved full independence while |
| climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream. | | | | remaining a member of the Commonwealth of |
| Nassau is the capital and largest city, | | | | Nations.The Bahamian economy has prospered on |
| located on New Providence. The largest | | | | tourism and financial services. But the |
| island is Andros Island. Freeport is the | | | | country still faces challenges in areas such |
| second largest city located on the island of | | | | education, healthcare, correctional facilites |
| Grand Bahama. The Caicos Islands and the | | | | and violent crime and illegal immigration. |
| Turks islands in the southeast, are not part | | | | Today, the country enjoys the third highest |
| of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.The | | | | per capita income in the western hemisphere |
| subtropical to tropical climate is moderated | | | | due to an urban renewal project to help |
| significantly by the waters of the Gulf | | | | impoverished urban areas in social decline in |
| Stream, particularly in winter. Summer and | | | | the main islands.Some say the name 'Bahamas' |
| autumn is hurricane season.It's believed that | | | | derives from the Spanish for "shallow sea". |
| Christopher Columbus first landed on the | | | | Others trace it to the Lucayan word for Grand |
| island of San Salvador in the southeastern | | | | Bahama Island.About 85% of the Bahamian |
| Bahamas and exchanged gifts with the | | | | population is black. The next largest |
| Amerindians, (Taino, also known as | | | | population group are whites at 12%. Nearly |
| Lucayan).Taino Indians moved into the | | | | all inhabitants speak English, being the |
| southern Bahamas about the 7th century AD and | | | | official language. A considerable number |
| became the Lucayans. They were deported to | | | | also speak Haitian Creole, Spanish and |
| Hispaniola as slaves and Taino societies | | | | Portuguese.Christianity is the main religion |
| ceased to exist as a separate population due | | | | on the islands, with Baptist forming the |
| to forced labour, warfare, disease, | | | | largest denomination (about one third), |
| emigration and outmarriage within 2 | | | | followed by the Anglican and Roman Catholic |
| decades.The Bahamian islands were deserted, | | | | churches.A large number of immigrants from |
| after the Lucayans were destroyed, until | | | | Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Jamaica |
| English settlers arrived from Bermuda in | | | | practice Obeah, a spiritistic religion |
| 1650. These people established settlements | | | | similar to Voodoo. While well-known |
| on the island now called Eleuthera.In 1718 | | | | throughout the Bahamas, obeah is shunned by |
| the Bahamas became a British crown colony. | | | | many people. |