Antigua

Antigua

an island in the Caribbean, one of the Leeward Islands: a British colony, with its dependency Barbuda, until 1967, when it became a British associated state; it became independent in 1981 as part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda. Area: 279 sq. km (108 sq. miles)

---

Antigua 

a British possession in the West Indies. Antigua includes the islands of Antigua, Barbuda (160 sq km), and Redonda (2.6 sq km). The total area is 442 sq km, and the population, mostly Negro, was 62,000 in 1968. The principal city and port is St. John’s. There are sugar cane and cotton plantations; the sugar is exported. Considerable income is derived from tourism.

In 1632, Antigua became a British colony. Attempts by the French in 1666–67 and at other times to capture Antigua from Great Britain were unsuccessful. From 1958 to 1962, Antigua was part of the West Indies Federation. In February 1967, Great Britain granted Antigua the status of an “associated state of Great Britain,” reserving the right to decide on matters concerning the territory’s international relations and defense.