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Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda

Coordinates: 17°7′N 61°50′W / 17.117°N 61.833°W / 17.117; -61.833
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parish of Saint John[1]
(from top: left to right) Sea Grapes Beach, Dickenson Bay Beach, a street in St. John's, the Government House
Location of Parish of Saint John[1]
CountryAntigua and Barbuda
IslandAntigua
EstablishedJanuary 11, 1692; 332 years ago (1692-01-11) (old style)
January 21, 1692; 332 years ago (1692-01-21) (new style)
CapitalSt. John's
Government
 • MPsGaston Browne
Melford Walter Nicholas
Steadroy Benjamin
Maria Bird-Browne
Richard Lewis
Charles Fernandez
Daryll Mathew
Anthony Smith
Jamale Pringle
Molwyn Joseph
Algernon Watts
Asot Michael
Area
 • Total74 km2 (28.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2018 estimate)[2]
 • Total56,736
 • Density770/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
DemonymSaint Johnstonian
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)

Saint John, officially the Parish of Saint John, is a civil parish of Antigua and Barbuda, on the northwestern portion of Antigua island. Its capital is the city of St. John's. Saint John borders Saint Mary, Saint Peter, Saint George, and Saint Paul. Saint John faces the Caribbean Sea. Saint John is surrounded by some of Antigua's most premier beaches. Saint John had a population of 56,736 in a 2018 estimate, making it home to the majority of the population in Antigua and Barbuda.[3]

While Saint John is a civil administrative division, the Anglican parish church is located in the city of St. John's. Saint John is mostly centered around the St. John's urban area and the northern tourist area, but is also home to more rural areas in the southern salient and in the Five Islands-Yeptons area. Due to Saint John holding the majority of the population of Antigua and Barbuda, it is home to hundreds of populated locations some of which are vastly different from another. The island of Redonda is also under the administration of Saint John.[4]

Saint John was created in August 1681, when Antigua was divided into five parishes.[5] Saint John and the four other parishes were permanently established in July 1692, and confirmed in January 1693.[5] The primary objective of the establishment of parishes was providing for the parish church. Outside of the city, most of the rural areas of the parish were originally used as sugar mills. Many remnants of the parish's past are still visible in the modern day, such as with the Cedar Valley Plantation,[6] or the Weatherill's plantation.[7]

Demographics

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Governance

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Saint John coincides with the boundaries of Magistrates' Court District "A".[8] While local government is nearly nonexistent in Antigua, there is a limited form of local government in the city centre of St. John's, known as the Saint John's Development Corporation.[9] As the country's primary political and cultural hub, Saint John is granted significantly more autonomy than the other parishes, with various governmental offices belonging exclusively to the parish. Historically, when village councils were active, there were proposals to create village councils in Potters, Cedar Grove, Five Islands, and St. Johnston and Clare Hall. A village council in the city of All Saints, which extends across three parishes, was also constituted.[10]

Education

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Island Academy International, the sole international school in the country, is located in the town of Buckleys within Saint John Parish.[11][12] It was formerly Oliver's Estate Island Academy.[13]

References

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  1. ^ http://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-304.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda 2018 Labour Force Survey Report" (PDF). Antigua & Barbuda Statistics Division (statistics.gov.ag). October 2020. Retrieved 2022-09-03. Table 6.2.1
  3. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda 2018 Labour Force Survey Report" (PDF). Antigua & Barbuda Statistics Division (statistics.gov.ag). October 2020. Retrieved 2022-09-03. Table 6.2.1
  4. ^ "Chapter 373: The Redonda Annexation Act". Laws of Antigua & Barbuda (PDF). Antigua & Barbuda Ministry of Legal Affairs (laws.gov.ag).
  5. ^ a b The Laws of the Island of Antigua: Consisting of the Acts of the Leeward Islands, Commencing 8th November 1690, Ending 21st April 1798; and the Acts of Antigua, Commencing 10th April 1668, Ending 7th May 1804. Strand, London: Samuel Bagster. 1805.
  6. ^ "Cedar Valley Plantation – Antigua Sugar Mills". Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  7. ^ "Weatherill – Antigua Sugar Mills". Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  8. ^ "IN THE MAGISTRATE COURT" (PDF). oas.org. 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  9. ^ http://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-392.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  10. ^ http://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Cap-466-Village-Council.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  11. ^ Island Academy International.com: website (Webcitation.org: Archive of Island Academy International homepage) . retrieved on September 29, 2015.
  12. ^ Island Academy International.com: Directions & Map
  13. ^ Webcitation.org: Archive - Oliver's Estate Island Academy, "Oliver's Estate PO Box W1884, Buckley's Main Rd, Buckleys, Antigua & Barbuda" . retrieved on September 29, 2015.

17°7′N 61°50′W / 17.117°N 61.833°W / 17.117; -61.833