Bridgetown, population 5,928 (1990), formerly the Town of Saint Michael, is the capital city lies in the Caribbean island nation of Barbados. Bridgetown is located in the Parish of Saint Michael. The site of the present day city was founded by the British in 1628. Its location is on the southwest coast of Barbados along the Caribbean Sea, and is situated along the border of the Parish of Christ Church.

Bridgetown is also a major West Indies tourist resort, the city acts as an important financial centre.

History

Although the island was totally abandoned or uninhabited when the British landed there, some of the only traces of a indigenous tribe's pre-existing on the island was a very primitive bridge constructed over the Careenage canal in the centre of the town of Bridgetown. It is suspected that this bridge was created by a people indigenous to the Caribbean known as the Arawak Indians. It is believed the Arawaks were driven from Barbados to the neighboring island of Saint Lucia, during an invasion by another peoples indigenous to the region known as the Carib Indians tribe. Eventually after 1654 when a new bridge was constructed over the Careenage by the British, the town became known as Bridgetown, and the name stuck.

Overview

Bridgetown serves as one of the main centres of commercial activity in Barbados, as well as a central hub for the islands' public transport network. The city serves as a financial services centre, and houses many of the ministries and deparments of the island's government.

The city has the qualities of a fully modern and thriving city. There is access to many services including a pipe-bourne water supply (said to be naturally among the purest in the world), electricity, natural gas supply, cutting-edge telecommunications, wireless services, internet cafes, and a good overall infrastructure. Bridgetown has local branches to some of the largest banks in the world and English-speaking Caribbean.

The city has access to daily flights via the islands' lone Airport the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) located on the ABC Highway/Highway 7 in Seawell, Christ Church

Around Town

The city has a main street named Broad Street, which it is best known for which runs through the centre. Another major traffic artery to the city is Bay Street(which turns into Highway 7) and will lead you toward the South Coast of Barbados and the Parish of Christ Church and other notable streets.

Other notable streets in Bridgetown included:

• Swan Street - which is paralell to Broad Street, to the north.
• Roebuck Street - which leads towards Queens Park to the North, and East of Swan Street.

-and-

• Tudor Street - which comes from the north, intersects Swan Street and runs perpendicular to Broad Street.

The City

Landmarks / Points of Interest

• National Heros Square (formerally Trafalgar Square),
• Parliament Buildings of Barbados,
• Trafalgar Square/Fountain Garden [1] (http://www.funbarbados.com/Sights/S_trafalgarsquare.CFM),
• Saint Michaels Cathedral,

Attractions

• Pierhead Development Complex

Economy

Main article: Economy of Barbados

Barbados' main exports are Sugar, rum, and molasses. Other industries Barbados is involved in are tourism and offshore sector.

Business / Specifics

Business: Banks are open 8am-3pm, Hours: Monday to Thursday, and 8am-5pm on Fridays.

The main banks are:

• Barclays Bank,
• Bank of Nova Scotia,
• Barbados National Bank,
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC),
• Caribbean Commercial Bank and
• Royal Bank of Canada

Cash dispensers (ATM)s are available.

Shops are open:

• 8am-6pm weekdays and
• 8am-noon Saturdays.

Payment cards are widely accepted.

Electricity: 110 volts AC, 50 cycles. Most hotels have 220 AC.

Telecommunications: the international dialling code for Barbados is 1-246 followed by seven digits. On the island, use the seven digits alone.

Time: GMT-4

Transportation

Main article: Canada and the United States.