George Town, Cayman Islands
George Town is a city situated on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. It serves as the capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. As of 2019, the city had a population of 40,200 making it the largest city (by population) of all the British Overseas Territories.[1]
George Town | |
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.jpg.webp) Downtown George Town | |
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  George Town The location of George Town within the Cayman Islands  George Town George Town (Caribbean) | |
| Coordinates: 19.3034°N 81.3863°W | |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Overseas Territory |  Cayman Islands |
| Island | Grand Cayman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 29 km2 (11 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Population (2019)[1] | |
| • Total | 40,200
37.7% Black 34.0% Multiracial 19.3% Asian 6.4% White |
| Area code(s) | +1-345 |
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. According to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network in 2016, George Town is classed as a Beta city.[2]
Government
The Caymanian government offices are located in George Town. These offices include the Parliament 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.
Demographics
George Town is known to be a melting pot of different cultures, with more than 100 nationalities calling the city home. Most of George Town's residents are expatriates, with Jamaicans being the largest immigrant group to populate the city. Most Caymanians live outside of George Town, in West Bay and the eastern districts. There is also a large Asian community consisting mainly of Filipinos and Indians, as well as many more nationalities living in and around George Town.
Nationality
- Caymanian: 39.1%
- Non-Caymanian: 66.8%
Geography
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.[3]
Climate
Georgetown has an Am or tropical monsoon climate, with a hot and wet season from May through November, and a warm and dry season from December through April. As with most tropical climates, there is only a slight variation in monthly mean temperatures during the course of the year.
| Climate data for George Town (Owen Roberts International Airport) 1981–2010, extremes 1971–2013 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 39.2 | 42.6 | 43.3 | 43.5 | 45.4 | 43.8 | 45.5 | 44.8 | 44.8 | 44.1 | 43.1 | 43.1 | 45.5 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.2 (90.0) |
31.7 (89.0) |
32.2 (90.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
33.9 (93.0) |
34.4 (94.0) |
34.4 (94.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
34.4 (94.0) |
33.6 (92.4) |
32.8 (91.0) |
32.2 (90.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) |
28.6 (83.4) |
29.1 (84.3) |
29.9 (85.9) |
30.7 (87.3) |
31.6 (88.9) |
32.2 (89.9) |
32.2 (89.9) |
31.7 (89.0) |
31.0 (87.8) |
29.6 (85.2) |
28.6 (83.5) |
30.3 (86.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.8 (78.4) |
26.1 (79.0) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29.2 (84.6) |
29.6 (85.3) |
29.7 (85.5) |
29.3 (84.7) |
28.5 (83.3) |
27.5 (81.5) |
26.2 (79.2) |
27.9 (82.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.2) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.7 (74.6) |
24.7 (76.4) |
25.5 (77.9) |
25.7 (78.2) |
25.6 (78.0) |
25.3 (77.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
24.1 (75.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
24.2 (75.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) |
15.0 (59.0) |
16.1 (61.0) |
16.7 (62.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
21.7 (71.0) |
20.6 (69.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
18.0 (64.4) |
14.1 (57.3) |
14.1 (57.3) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 52 (2.04) |
38 (1.50) |
34 (1.32) |
32 (1.27) |
151 (5.96) |
157 (6.20) |
147 (5.78) |
150 (5.90) |
222 (8.74) |
220 (8.65) |
154 (6.05) |
71 (2.79) |
1,427 (56.20) |
| Average precipitation days | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 68 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 76 | 76 | 75 | 75 | 77 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 78 | 78 | 77 |
| Source 1: National Weather Service (Cayman Islands)[4] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather In Cayman[5] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for George Town | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average sea temperature °C (°F) | 26.6 (79.9) |
26.6 (79.9) |
26.8 (80.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
28.3 (82.9) |
28.7 (83.7) |
29.2 (84.6) |
30.0 (86.0) |
29.9 (85.8) |
29.3 (84.7) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.0 (82.4) |
27.9 (82.2) |
| Mean daily daylight hours | 11.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 12.2 |
| Average Ultraviolet index | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10.5 |
| Source #1: seatemperature.org[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: Weather Atlas[7] | |||||||||||||
Economy
Finance
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 centre.
Tourism
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 centre 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
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.[8]
Road
The following highways serve the city:
- East/West Arterial
- Linford Pierson Highway
- Esterly Tibbetts Highway
Education
The 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.
John Gray High is in the former George Hicks High School building since 2012.[10]
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.[11]
Private schools include:
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.[13]
References
- "About Cayman". Gov.ky. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- "The World According to GaWC 2016". GaWC. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- "Beaches in Grand Cayman | Frommer's". Frommers.com. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- "Cayman Data Table". Meteorological Service (Jamaica). Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- "Weather In Cayman". Weather In Cayman. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- "George Town Sea Temperature". seatemperature.org. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- "George Town, Cayman Islands - Climate data". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- "Get to Cayman by Air – Cayman Island Flights". Cayman Islands. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- "Grand Cayman's Public Bus Service". Grandcayman4u.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- "New School Year Begins – Clifton Hunter High School Opens!" Cayman iEyenews. August 29, 2012. Retrieved on September 15, 2016.
- "Education". Cayman Islands Government. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
- "Youth Service Providers Directory." Government of the Cayman Islands. Retrieved on September 15, 2016. p. 27/64. "St. Ignatius Catholic School Physical Location: 599 Walkers Road District: George Town"
- "A Grand Cayman Island Tour: Today and in History". Grand-cayman-wanderer.com. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
