About Spanish Wells
Spanish Wells is one of the districts of the Bahamas, a small town on the island of St. George’s located approximately 1,600 feet off the northern tip of Eleuthera island.
Population 1600
Area ~ 426 acres = 1/3 of a mile by 2 miles
- 220 miles E of Miami
- 50 miles NE of Nassau
- 7 miles NW of Harbour Island
History
The first colonists were the Eleutheran adventurers from Bermuda (intending to be some of the first settlers of Eleuthera), who shipwrecked on a reef, known as the “Devil’s Backbone” off Eleuthera in 1647. After living in a cave known as “Preacher’s Cave” on Eleuthera, they ended up at Spanish Wells. Among other later groups of settlers, were Crown loyalists, who left the United States after the American Revolutionary War. Historically, the island was used as a last stop for Spanish ships returning to Europe, where these ships refilled their water supply from wells created for this purpose – thus the English name of the settlement: Spanish Wells.
The area suffered extensive property damage during a direct hit from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Floyd in 1999.
Economy
Currently, Spanish Wells is a centre for lobster fishing and tourism in the Bahamas.
