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Acklins

Comprised of a group of islands, Crooked Island in the North, Long Cay in the Northeast, and Castle Island in the South, lies in the shallow lagoon of Big Bight Acklins. From its widest point the island is 92 sq. miles long by four miles wide is in the Southeast of the chain and is the least know island in the Bahamas, with a population of just over 430 people. Settled was by Loyalist in the late 1780s, the island was home to 40 cotton plantations cared for by 1,000 slaves until their abolition from slavery, after which the Loyalist found it costly to ran the plantations and they remained domicile. This lead the way to a more profitable   industry in sponging, which became the economic cornerstone of these islands until the sponge beds were destroyed by a fungus, causing a decline in the industry, today Fishing and Farming are the two main staple of income on the Island. With two main resorts on the island and over 1,000 miles of shallow flats, Acklins is well known for Bonefishing, Big Game Fishing.

The Island is little or no landmarks except for what is said to be the remains of one of Largest Lucayan Indian settlement in the Bahamas, the site lies along the Pompey Bay Beach, south of Spring Point. Ten Lucayan sites have been excavated by the National Geographic Society in Samana Cay along, which is located on the northeast side of the island. Plana Cay, northeast of Spring Point, is a protected reserve for endangered Great Iguanas and the only native mammals of The Bahamas, the very rare estimated Hutias (guinea pig like rodents).

Crooked Island: In 1996 Acklins and Crooked Island were comprised of one district and has a population of 350 as if 2000 census.  Its main town Colonel Hill,  Crooked Island has other small settlements to include Cripple Hill, True Blue, French Wells, Gun Point and Pitt’s Point which is believed to have housed the first Post Office.  Albert Town, on Long Cay (Formerly Fortune Island) was once engaged in the prosperous salt and Sponge industry and as a transfer point for passing ships, now lay as a ghost town, sparsely populated.