Ragged Island is a small island (9 square miles) and district in the southern Bahamas. Image File history File links From Image:Bf-map. ... The Districts of the Bahamas provide a system of local government everywhere in the Bahamas except New Providence, whose affairs are handled directly by the central government. ...

Until recently it had an active salt industry, the salt ponds having been developed in the 19th Century by a Mr. Duncan Taylor, after whom Duncan Town, the only settlement, is named. In chemistry, salt is a term used for ionic compounds composed of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, so that the product is neutral and without a net charge. ...

The island was badly affected by Hurricane Donna and there has been a gradual emigration to more prosperous islands such as New Providence. The population of Ragged Island in the 2000 census was just 72. Hurricane Donna in the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season was a classic Cape Verde-type hurricane that interfered with the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispanola, Cuba, The Bahamas, and every single state on the eastern seaboard of the United States. ... (This article is about the island in the Bahamas. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

Fishermen say that the best bone fishing can be found on the Ragged Island.

Ragged Island is part of the Jumentos cays and Ragged Island Chain. The croissant shaped chain measures over 110 miles in length and includes cays known as Racoon Cay, Hog Cay and Double-Breasted Cay.

Duncan town is the only settlement of the entire chain and is situated within a bay of shallow water. The island relies on the "mail boat" for transportation to and from the major islands and for freight and commerce. The island contains a small air strip and a harbor.

Most of the inhabitants are the direct descendants from the original settlers and they bear their original family names such as Curling, Lockhart, Maycock,Munroe, Wallace, and Wilson. The familiar heritage and their remoteness have resulted in the islands being part of the “family islands” or “out island”.

Although the island is remote and sparsely populated, many of its descendents have taken important roles within politics, athletics, entertainment and business.