St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda

Prior to its establishment, a small group of houses in what is now St. John's lined an area known as "the Cove", now St. John's Harbour. St. John's was laid out following the French invasion of 1666, due to the site's strategic location on St. John's Harbour. An act was passed to build a town on the harbour in April 1668. On 16 September 1675, a sitting of the island’s legislature in Old Road established six places of trade, one of which being St. John’s. This was a significant increase from the traditional two. By 1689, St. John’s was as large as Falmouth. In 1736, a plan by St. John's resident Prince Klaas to turn Antigua into an independent African kingdom was discovered, resulting in his being killed. 132 other co-conspirators were also punished. The plot caused a large scare, and in 1741, barracks were built on Rat Island, and in 1753, in the centre of the town. In 1768, the city was hit by a major fire. By this time, St. John's was also the seat of government of the British Leeward Islands, a title it maintained until the colony's permanent abolishment in 1959. In 1772 the island was hit by a hurricane, resulting in significant damage to the city's shipping industry. In 1782, the city was again damaged by a fire that occurred in one of the most densely populated parts of the city. In 1784, the city's night watch was established, and citizens of the city were subjected to a tax to pay for it. To prevent another fire, building regulations were also improved, with most public buildings being required to have brick walls and tiled or slate roofs. In 1786, another tax was established due to the prevalence of vermin, reptiles, prickly pear bushes lining the streets. The roads were also not paved at the time, nor were they kept clean. Gaming tables were also outlawed. In 1790, the parish vestry was granted the ability to tax traders, which impacted the city due to it being the parish's economic centre. In the early 1800s, the present-day Government House was built. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, St. John's once had an elected city council. The council no longer exists, and there is no longer a city-wide local government. In Downtown St. John's, the St. John's Development Corporation continues to handle a degree local government. St. John's is now the country's primate city, being home to around a quarter of its population, and about half of the population of the parish. St. John's was once home to an airstrip in the 1940s at the Old Runway area of Villa, but is now served by V. C. Bird International Airport. While no law explicitly states St. John's is the island's capital, the city is home to the Government Complex in the Botanical Gardens neighbourhood, which is home to the High Court, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Parliament Building. The Parliament building was opened in 2006. The Labour Party largely dominates the city's politics, carrying the city in the 2023 election. ==Geography and climate==

St. John's was laid out on a gentle slope east of St. John's Harbour. The city is bordered by primarily flat land, allowing a large network of roads to converge in the city. Due to this gentle elevation gradient, wastewater runoff is common due to poor planning along with a high concentration of high concentration of clayey loam soil above a high water table. The high water table allows for an easy source of water for the city's wells. The gentle slope also allowed for ease in constructing roads and pedestrian walkways. The coastline of the city is prone to flooding due to its low elevation. • ==Demographics==

The majority of the population of St. John's reflects that of the rest of Antigua: people of African and mixed European-African ancestry, with a European minority, including British and Portuguese. There is a population of Levantine Christian Arabs. St. John's is among the most impoverished locations in the country. This is due to a large number of immigrants from abroad, and many people from rural areas looking for work. Despite this influx, the population of the city has been declining for a few decades. ==Economy==

St. John's is one of the most developed and cosmopolitan municipalities in the Lesser Antilles. The city is famous for its shopping malls as well as boutiques throughout the city, selling designer jewellery and haute-couture clothing. St. John's attracts tourists from the resorts on the island and from the cruise ships which dock in its harbour at Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay several times a week. These two quays are where the city's tourist activity is centred, with Redcliffe Quay having a good historic reputation, and Heritage Quay being significantly more modern and crowded. Botanical Gardens is the headquarters of the government of Antigua and Barbuda and the largest park area in the city. The investment banking industry has a strong presence in the city. Major world financial institutions have offices in St. John's. There is a market on the southwestern edge of the city where fresh produce, meats, and fresh fish are sold daily. The Antigua Rum Distillery is located at the Citadel and is the only rum distillery on the island. ==Government==

St John's is the home of the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. St John's is the capital of the Parish of Saint John. The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority has its headquarters on Factory Road in St. John's. St John's is twinned with Waltham Forest borough in London, England. The current Executive Director of the city centre is Craig B. Whyte, while the current City Manager is Carolyn Thomas-Parker. ==Culture==

There are several museums, including the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda and the Museum of Marine Art, a small facility containing fossilised bedrock, volcanic stones, petrified wood, a collection of more than 10,000 shells, and artefacts from English shipwrecks. Just east of St. John's is the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, a multi-use stadium in North Sound, that was created mostly for cricket matches, and has hosted the matches during the 2007 Cricket World Cup. The Antigua Recreation Ground, Antigua and Barbuda's national stadium, is located in St. John's. The city's skyline is dominated by the white baroque towers of St. John's Cathedral. The Botanical Garden is near the intersection of Factory Road and Independence Avenue. This small park's shaded benches and gazebo provide a quiet refuge from the bustle of activity of St. John's. Sandy Island is a lighthouse located on a small island about 5 km off the coast leading the way to St. John's harbour. Fort James stands at the entrance to St. John's harbour, across from Fort Barrington. Other fortifications on the island include Fort Berkeley, Fort George, Fort Charles, and Fort Shirley (Shirley Heights). Government House is the governor's residence, originally a 19th-century parsonage building. It is included on the World Monuments Fund's 2018 list of monuments at risk, following exposure to severe weather events. ==Education==

St. John's is home to two medical schools – the American University of Antigua and University of Health Sciences Antigua. Secondary schools include Christ the King High School, Princess Margaret School and the Antigua Girls High School. Private grade schools include St. John's Lutheran School of the WELS ==Transportation==

St. John's is served by the V. C. Bird International Airport. Fort Road Heliport is located in the city, on Fort Road. . ==References==