George Town, Cayman Islands

George Town

From top to the bottom and from left to right: The Lighthouse, West Bay Road, Cayman National Bank, 7Mile Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 7 Mile beach Road, Water Front, The Port, Owen Roberts International Airport.
George Town
Coordinates: 19°18′12″N 81°23′11″W / 19.3034°N 81.3863°W / 19.3034; -81.3863Coordinates: 19°18′12″N 81°23′11″W / 19.3034°N 81.3863°W / 19.3034; -81.3863
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Overseas Territory Cayman Islands Cayman Islands
Island Grand Cayman
Area
 • Total 29 km2 (11 sq mi)
Elevation 3 m (10 ft)
Population (2007)[1]
 • Total 28,836
 • Density 990/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Area code(s) +1-345

George Town is a city situated on Grand Cayman island of the Cayman Islands. It serves as the capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. As of 2007, the city had a population of 28,836, making it the second largest city (by population) of all the British Overseas Territories.[1]

George Town is the heart of the Cayman Islands financial services industry (there are close to 600 Bank and Trust companies in the Cayman Islands). The Caymanian government offices are located in the city.

Government

The Caymanian government offices are located in George Town. These offices include the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands, the Court Houses and the Government Administration Building. The Government Administration Building houses the offices of the Premier and other members of Cabinet, the Deputy Governor and his staff as well as other elected officials and civil servants. The former Old Courts Building located at the corner of Shedden Road and Harbour Drive is now the National Museum of Grand Cayman. The building was built more than 150 years ago and has served the Caymanian government not only as a court building but as a jail and the island's first official Post Office.

Geography

An aerial view of George Town in 1996

George Town's city limits extend from the east at the edge of the South Shore District, north just beyond Owen Roberts International Airport, south to Hog Sty Bay and west to Seven Mile Beach and the West Bay District. George Town's famous Seven Mile Beach is a long crescent of coral-sand beach extending up to the West Bay region of Grand Cayman and is the most popular and populated area for tourists on the island.

Climate

Climate data for George Town
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 27
(81)		 28
(82)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 27
(81)		 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 27
(81)		 27
(81)		 25
(77)		 27
(81)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 27
(81)		 27
(81)		 27
(81)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 71
(2.8)		 13
(.5)		 15
(.6)		 13
(.5)		 150
(6)		 137
(5.4)		 150
(5.9)		 114
(4.5)		 180
(7.1)		 226
(8.9)		 114
(4.5)		 99
(3.9)		 1,282
(50.6)
Average precipitation days 5 4 4 4 7 7 7 8 9 10 9 6 80
Source: Weatherbase[2]

Economy

Finance

Business buildings near the centre of George Town

The financial services generated CI$1.2 billion of GDP in 2007 (55% of the total economy), 36% of all employment and 40% of all government revenue. The Cayman Islands ranks fifth internationally in terms of value of liabilities booked and sixth in terms of assets booked. It has branches of 40 of the world’s 50 largest banks. The Cayman Islands are the second largest captive domicile in the world with more than 700 captives, writing more than US$7.7 billion of premiums and with US$36.8 billion of assets under management. There are more than 9,500 funds under licence with globally recognised legal, audit/accounting and fund administration services (incl. the Big Four auditors). Major law firms such as Maples and Calder have established themselves in the Cayman Islands. Similarly, large accounting firms such as KPMG, Ogier, Ernst & Young and Deloitte are also present. As a result, the Cayman Islands are a leader in captive domiciles, hedge fund registrations and is considered a major international banking center.

Tourism

The Waterfront near Harbour House

George Town is a popular port of call for the Caribbean with cruise ships anchoring in George Town Harbour Tuesday through Friday. Cruise ships calling at George Town anchor offshore and ferry their passengers ashore by tenders, also known as shuttle boats. Passengers disembark in George Town, in the center of the Grand Cayman shopping district and usually remain anchored from early morning until mid-afternoon.

Activities available to tourists in George Town include submarine tours of George Town Harbour, glass-bottom boat tours, snorkelling, scuba-diving, parasailing, charter boat tours, rum distillery tours, art galleries, a historical museum, and of course, shopping and eating. For nightlife, Seven Mile Beach is host to numerous nightclubs and bars. George Town's waterfront is also home to a Harley-Davidson shop, a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville franchise, and a Guy Harvey art studio and restaurant. Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman is the grandest hotel on the island.

Transportation

Air

The Observation Deck at the Owen Roberts International Airport

George Town, as well as the rest of Grand Cayman, is served by nearby Owen Roberts International Airport. It is one of the only two entrance points to the Cayman Islands by air, the other being Charles Kirkconnell Airport on Cayman Brac.

There are over 55 weekly flights into the Cayman Islands. Cayman Airways is the National Flag Carrier of the Cayman Islands and features five Boeing 737 jets and two Twin Otters. Non-stop service to Grand Cayman are available from Atlanta, Chicago, Tampa, Newark, London Toronto, New York, Montego Bay, Washington D.C., Havana, Miami, Panama City, La Ceiba and more.[4]

Road

Main street, George Town

The following highways serve the city:-

Buses

A fleet of Share taxi minibuses serve the city. The daily service starts at 6AM from the depot and the schedule is as follows from George Town to:[5]

Bus routes travelling through George Town
Line Route
Route 1
George Town to West Bay.
Route 2
George Town to West Bay.
Route 3
service between the depot in George Town and Bodden Town
Route 4
service between the depot and East End.
Route 5
service between North Side and East End.
Route 6
service between North Side and West Bay.
Route 7
George Town inter district service.
Route 8
service between the depot to Hutland in North Side.
Route 9
service between George Town through Frank Sound North Side.
George Town Harbour, home to cruise ships

Education

St Matthew's University campus, on the outskirts of George Town

Cayman Islands Education Department operates George Town Primary School, Red Bay Primary School, Prospect Primary School, John Gray High School and the University College of the Cayman Islands.

Caymanian children are entitled to free primary and secondary education. Various churches and private foundations operate several private schools that offer American and British based studies starting from nursery up to A Levels and College.[6] Montessori also operates 3 schools in George Town. The schools are located on South Church Street, Hind's Way (off Walkers Road) and Prospect Point Road in Red Bay.

St. Matthew's University, a Medical and Veterinary school is located on the outskirts of George Town.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "About Cayman". Gov.ky. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  2. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for George Town, Cayman Islands". Weatherbase.com. July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Cayman Islands Climate". Weather2travel.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  4. ↑ "Get to Cayman by Air - Cayman Island Flights". Cayman Islands. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  5. ↑ "Grand Cayman's Public Bus Service". Grandcayman4u.com. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Education". Cayman Islands Government. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  7. ↑ "A Grand Cayman Island Tour: Today and in History". Grand-cayman-wanderer.com. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2013-10-05.

External links

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