Saint John’s (city, Antigua and Barbuda)

Saint John’s (city, Antigua and Barbuda), also Saint Johns, city, Antigua and Barbuda, northwestern Antigua island, on an inlet of the Caribbean Sea. It is capital of the island state and a center for the export of sugar, rum, and Sea Island cotton and for the production of handicrafts, fiber products, pottery, and textiles. The city also is a tourist center. Points of interest include the Court House (1747), the remains of Fort James (1703), Saint John's Anglican Cathedral (1834), and picturesque houses and alleys. Settled in 1632 by English colonists from Saint Kitts, Saint John's grew after 1663 when more colonists arrived from England. It was the West Indies headquarters of the Royal Navy in the 18th century; Coolidge Field, east of the city, was used by the United States during World War II (1939-1945). In 1981 Saint John's became the capital of the newly independent state of Antigua and Barbuda. Population (2003 estimate) 27,516.