Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency. On 7 September 2017, the island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Irma, particularly to communications and residential and business infrastructure.
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Area Comparative
About one-half the size of Washington, DC
Maritime Claims
Territorial sea: 3
nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200
nm
Climate
Tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Population Distribution
Most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast
Natural Hazards
Frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Environment Current Issues
Supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Geography Note
The most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
