Cockburn Town
Capital
Top: Aerial view of Cockburn Town; Middle:Downtown Cockburn Town, St. Mary's Cathedral; Downtown Turks & Caicos Island National Museum, Cockburn Town coastline
Turks and Caicos Islands position in the North Atlantic Ocean
Turks and Caicos Islands position in the North Atlantic Ocean
Map showing Cockburn Town's position with Turks and Caicos
Map showing Cockburn Town's position with Turks and Caicos
Coordinates: 21°27′32″N 71°08′20″W / 21.459°N 71.139°W / 21.459; -71.139
Country United Kingdom
Overseas territory Turks and Caicos Islands
DistrictGrand Turk
Founded1681
Area
 • Town6.71 sq mi (17.39 km2)
Population
 • Town3,700
ClimateBSh

Cockburn Town (/ˈkoʊbərn/ KOH-bərn)[1][2] is the capital[3] of the Turks and Caicos Islands, spreading across most of Grand Turk Island. It was founded in 1681 by salt collectors.

Geography

Cockburn Town is located on the largest island in the Turks Islands archipelago, Grand Turk. Historic 18th and 19th century Bermudian architecture lines Duke and Front Streets in the town. The town is known for its long, narrow streets and old street lamps.

The closest anchorage to Cockburn Town is Hawk's Nest Anchorage, which, though sheltered, should only be entered in good light because of reefs near the entrance.

History

The seat of government ever since 1766, Cockburn Town was the first permanent settlement on any of the islands, founded in 1681 by salt collectors who arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The city supposedly lies on the place where Juan Ponce de León first landed on the island. It is named for Francis Cockburn, former Governor of the Bahamas.

Main sights

National Museum

National Museum on Front Street

Cockburn Town is home to the Turks & Caicos National Museum, which is housed in the colonial-era Guinep House, on Front Street. The house is believed to be over 180 years old and much of its structural material came from local shipwrecks, including a ship's mast, which is one of the building's main supports. The site was donated to the Museum in 1990.[4]

Among the National Museum's collections is an exhibit of shipwrecks, including the oldest known European shipwreck in the Americas, the Molasses Reef Wreck, dated 1505.[5]

Other exhibits detail the history of the Lucayans, the Space Race, Turks and Caicos postage stamps, slavery and the history of the slave trade, the sisal and salt industries, royal events, as well as a general history of the islands. The museum also maintains a garden, which is adjacent to the Guinep House.[6]

Also of interest are the museum's research projects, including its Message in a Bottle Project, recording nearly 40 years' worth of messages to wash upon the shores of Grand Turk.[7]

Her Majesty's Prison

"Her Majesty's Prison" on Pond Street was built in the 1830s and remained in operation until 1994. In addition to the main cell block and offices for prison officials, it hosts a bell tower and its own museum.[8]

Climate

Grand Turk has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) with summer-like weather occurring all year round and a rainier season from September to December when the northeastern trade winds are strongest and hurricanes common.

Climate data for Grand Turk
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(80)		 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 28
(83)		 29
(85)		 30
(86)		 31
(87)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(74)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 27
(80)		 27
(80)		 27
(80)		 26
(79)		 24
(76)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 36
(1.4)		 33
(1.3)		 25
(1.0)		 36
(1.4)		 30
(1.2)		 56
(2.2)		 30
(1.2)		 41
(1.6)		 66
(2.6)		 76
(3.0)		 94
(3.7)		 86
(3.4)		 609
(24)
Source: Weatherbase [9]

Education

The sole high school is HJ Robinson High School.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Turks & Caicos travel information, caribbean.com, archived from the original on 2011-03-09, retrieved 2008-11-02
  2. ↑ Grand Turk Island, Turks & Caicos, Professional Travel Guide, retrieved 2008-11-02
  3. ↑ "Our Islands". Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Guinep House". Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine Turks & Caicos National Museum. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Molasses Reef Shipwreck". Archived 2010-01-23 at the Wayback Machine Turks & Caicos National Museum. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  6. ↑ Turks & Caicos National Museum. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Message in a Bottle". Turks & Caicos National Museum. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Her Majesty's Prison". Virtual Tourist. 9 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
  10. ↑ Hamilton, Dandrea S (2016-01-29). "PDM deeply saddened by tragic fire at Helena J. Robinson High School". Magnetic Media. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
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