Aklins

This is one of a group of islands in a shallow lagoon known as Bight of Acklins , the largest of which are Crooked Island (197 km²) in the north and Aklins (311 km²) in the southeast, the smaller ones are Long Key (formerly Fortune Island (21 km²) in the northwest and Casle Island in the south. Acklins and Crooked Islands are located approximately 385 km (239 miles) southeast of Nassau. ^[one]

The islands were settled by American loyalists in the late 1780s, who founded cotton plantations on which more than a thousand slaves worked. After the abolition of slavery in the British Empire, plantations became unprofitable, and alternative revenues from underwater collection of sea sponges have also fallen. Today, residents are engaged in fishing and small-scale farming.

The main city of this group of islands is Colonel Hill on Crooked Island. Albert Town , on Long Key Island, now sparsely populated, was once a thriving town. The population was collecting sponges and extracting salt , as well as a base for stevedores looking for work on passing ships.

According to the 2010 census, the population of Aklins was 560, and Crooked Island - 323 people.

It is believed that the first post office in the Bahamas was opened in the city of Pitts Town ( Pitt's Town ) on Crooked Island.

Aklins is one of 32 areas of the Bahamas . On the map, it is indicated by number 1. The administrative center of the Area is Snug Corner ( Eng. Snug Corner ). The area of ​​the district is 389 km². The population is 560 people (2010).