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{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info ---------------->| official_name = City of Freeport
|official_name name = City of = Freeport
|name other_name = Freeport
| settlement_type = City
|other_name =
| image_skyline = Lucayan Harbor JonWorth.jpg
|settlement_type = City
| image_caption =
|image_skyline = Lucayan Harbor JonWorth.jpg
|imagesize image_flag = 260px
|image_caption flag_size =
|image_flag image_seal = =
|flag_size seal_size = =
|image_seal image_shield = =
|seal_size shield_size = =
| nicknames = The Industrial Capital<br>The Second City
|image_shield =
|shield_size motto = <!-- images and maps ----------->
|nicknames image_map =The IndustrialFreeport Capital<br>Thein SecondBahamas City(zoom).svg
|motto mapsize =
| map_caption = The city of Freeport highlighted in red in Bahamas
<!-- images and maps ----------->
|image_map image_map1 =
|mapsize mapsize1 = =
|map_caption map_caption1 = =
| pushpin_map = Bahamas<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|image_map1 =
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|mapsize1 =
| pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------>
|map_caption1 =
| pushpin_map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Bahamas<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| coordinates = {{coord|26|31|43|N|78|41|48|W|region:BS|display=inline,title}}
|pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| subdivision_type = Country
|pushpin_mapsize =
| subdivision_name = {{flag|The Bahamas}}
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of islands of the Bahamas|Island]]
|pushpin_map_caption =
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of the Bahamas|District]]
|coordinates = {{coord|26|31|43|N|78|41|48|W|region:BS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type4 =
|subdivision_name = {{flag|The Bahamas}}
| subdivision_name1 = [[Grand Bahama]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[List of islands of the Bahamas|Island]]
| subdivision_name2 = City of Freeport
|subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of the Bahamas|District]]
| subdivision_name3 =
|subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name4 = <!-- Politics ----------------->
|subdivision_type4 =
| established_title = [[Hawksbill Creek Agreement|Established]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Grand Bahama]]
| established_date = August 4, 1955
|subdivision_name2 = City of Freeport
| established_title2 =
|subdivision_name3 =
| established_date2 =
|subdivision_name4 =
| established_title3 =
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| established_date3 = <!-- Area --------------------->
|established_title = [[Hawksbill Creek Agreement|Established]]
| government_footnotes =
|established_date = August 4, 1955
| government_type = District Council
|established_title2 =
| leader_title = Chief Councillor
|established_date2 =
| leader_name = Kendal Culmer
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
<!-- Area --------------------->
| unit_pref =
|government_footnotes =
| area_footnotes =
|government_type = District Council
| area_magnitude =
|leader_title = Chief Councillor
| area_total_km2 = 558
|leader_name = Kendal Culmer
| area_total_sq_mi = 215
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 area_land_km2 =
| area_land_sq_mi =
|unit_pref =
| area_water_km2 =
|area_footnotes =
| area_water_sq_mi =
|area_magnitude =
| area_water_percent =
|area_total_km2 = 558
| area_urban_km2 =
|area_total_sq_mi = 215
| area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_land_km2 =
| area_metro_km2 =
|area_land_sq_mi =
| area_metro_sq_mi =
|area_water_km2 =
| area_blank1_title =
|area_water_sq_mi =
| area_blank1_km2 =
|area_water_percent =
| area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Population ----------------------->
|area_urban_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 elevation_m = =10
| elevation_ft = <!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|area_metro_sq_mi =
| population_total = 26,914
|area_blank1_title =
| population_as_of = 2000
|area_blank1_km2 =
| population_footnotes =
|area_blank1_sq_mi =
| population_density_km2 = 48
<!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_density_sq_mi = 125
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| population_urban =
|elevation_m = 10
| population_density_urban_km2 =
|elevation_ft =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| population_metro = 55,500
|population_total = 26,914
| population_density_metro_km2 =
|population_as_of = 2000
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_footnotes =
| population_blank1_title =
|population_density_km2 = 48
| population_blank1 =
|population_density_sq_mi = 125
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
|population_urban =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information --------------->
|population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_note =
|population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| postal_code_type =
|population_metro = 55,500
| postal_code =
|population_density_metro_km2 =
| area_code = [[Area code 242|242]]
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| website = http://gbpa.com/home/
|population_blank1_title =
|population_blank1 city_logo = =
| citylogo_size =
|population_density_blank1_km2 =
| image_dot_map =
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
| dot_mapsize =
<!-- General information --------------->
| dot_map_caption =
|population_note =
|postal_code_type dot_x =
| dot_y = <!-- |governing body = City of Freeport District Council UNUSED -->
|postal_code =
| leader_title2 = Deputy Chief Councillor
|area_code = [[Area code 242|242]]
| leader_name2 = Ernie Barr
|website = http://gbpa.com/home/
|city_logo leader_title3 = =
|citylogo_size leader_name3 = =
|image_dot_map leader_title4 = =
|dot_mapsize leader_name4 = =
|dot_map_caption timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone]]
| utc_offset = -5
|dot_x =
| timezone_DST =
|dot_y =
| utc_offset_DST =
<!-- |governing body = City of Freeport District Council UNUSED -->
|leader_title2 blank_name = Deputy[[IATA Chiefairport Councillorcode]]
|leader_name2 blank_info = Ernie Barr '''FPO'''
| blank1_name = [[ICAO airport code]]
|leader_title3 =
|leader_name3 blank1_info = ='''MYGF'''
|leader_title4 =
|leader_name4 =
|timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|blank_name =[[IATA airport code]]
|blank_info ='''FPO'''
|blank1_name = [[ICAO airport code]]
|blank1_info ='''MYGF'''
}}
'''Freeport''' is a [[List of cities in the Bahamas|city]], [[Local government in the Bahamas|district]] and [[free trade zone]] on the island of [[Grand Bahama]] of the northwest [[Bahamas]]. In 1955, [[Wallace Groves]], a [[Virginia]]n financier with lumber interests in [[Grand Bahama]], was granted {{convert|50000|acres|ha|order=flip}} of [[Bahamian pineyards|pineyard]] with substantial areas of [[swamp]] and scrubland by the [[The Bahamas|Bahamian]] government with a mandate to economically develop the area. Freeport has grown to become the second most populous city in the Bahamas.
 
The main airport serving the city is the [[Grand Bahama International Airport]], which receives domestic flights from various islands of the Bahamas as well as several international flights from the United States, Italy, and Canada. Freeport is also served by domestic Bahamian ferry services to other islands, and an international ferry connection to Miami.
 
The [[Grand Bahama Port Authority]] (GBPA) operates the free trade zone, under the [[Hawksbill Creek Agreement]] signed in August 1955 whereby the Bahamian government agreed that businesses located in the Freeport area would pay no taxes before 1980, later extended to 2054.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blount|first=Steve|title=Freeport, Bahamas|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/experience/cruise/destinations/bahamas/2013/07/01/freeport-bahamas-port-guide/2455245/|publisher=USA Today|access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> The area of the land grants within which the Hawksbill Creek Agreement applies has been increased to {{convert|138000|acres|ha|order=flip}}.<ref name="A">{{cite encyclopedia| title=Freeport Grand Bahama | encyclopedia=Government of the Bahamas| date=25 October 2023| url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/640195/West-Indies}}</ref>
 
==History==
Freeport is a {{convert|230|sqmi|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} free trade zone on Grand Bahama Island, established in 1955 by the government of The Bahamas. The city of Freeport emerged from a land grant comprising {{convert|50000|acre|ha|order=flip}} of swamp and scrub to become a cosmopolitan centre.
The [[Grand Bahama Port Authority]] (GBPA) operates the [[free-trade zone]], under special powers conferred by the government under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement,<ref>{{cite web|title=The History of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island|url=http://the-bahamas.net/the-islands/freeport-bahamas/|access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> which was recently{{when|date=September 2019}} extended until August 3, 2054. The agreement also increased the land grants to {{convert|138000|acre|ha|order=flip}}.
 
The [[Grand Bahama Port Authority]] (GBPA) operates the [[free-trade zone]], under special powers conferred by the government under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement,<ref>{{cite web|title=The History of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island|url=http://the-bahamas.net/the-islands/freeport-bahamas/|access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> which was extended until August 3, 2054. The agreement also increased the land grants to {{convert|138000|acre|ha|order=flip}}.
The city was severely impacted by [[Hurricane Dorian]] with damage still being assessed as of 12 September 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/sep/02/hurricane-dorian-category-5-storm-bahamas-florida-south-north-carolina-updates|title=Storm pummels Grand Bahama for 24 hours – as it happened|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 September 2019|last1=Lyons (Now)|first1=Kate|last2=Rourke|first2=Alison|last3=Singh|first3=Maanvi|last4=Weaver (Earlier)|first4=Matthew}}</ref>
 
The Hayward and St. George families own the GBPA, which they have used to fund estates in Great Britain such as [[Dunmaglass, Scotland|Dunmglass]], the purchase of the football club [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.]], and to pay the multi-million dollar legal fees incurred due to disputes between the two families. Meanwhile, inheritance and contract disputes within the Hayward family has likewise incurred multi-million dollar fees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hayward’s children launch new court case |url=https://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/aug/24/haywards-children-launch-new-court-case/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.tribune242.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Jack says Port deal settled, court says no {{!}} Grand Bahama, Bahamas {{!}} Bahamas Local News - Grand Bahama, Bahamas |url=https://www.bahamaslocal.com/newsitem/2365/Sir_Jack_says_Port_deal_settled_court_says_no.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.bahamaslocal.com}}</ref> Bahamian politicians such as the [[Free National Movement|FNM]] opposition leader [[Michael Pintard]] have described the legal dispute between the Haywards and St. Georges as damaging to Freeport's economy, while in March 2024 Prime Minister [[Philip Davis (Bahamian politician)|Philip Davis]] asserted that according to a [[PwC|PriceWaterhouseCoopers]] audit, the GBPA owes the Bahamian government $357 million USD. As of August 2024, GBPA has not paid what the government of The Bahamas says is due.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-18 |title=Opposition Leader warns of familiar path in Davis administration's approach to GBPA dispute |url=https://ewnews.com/opposition-leader-warns-of-familiar-path-in-davis-administrations-approach-to-gbpa-dispute |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Eye Witness News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kemp |first=Sandra |date=2024-05-06 |title=Prime Minister Philip Davis's Address to the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce |url=https://opm.gov.bs/prime-minister-davis-grand-bahama-chamber-commerce-gbpa/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Office of the Prime Minister |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
The city was severely impacted by [[Hurricane Dorian]], which stalled above Grand Bahama for 12 hours, caused storm surges between 12-18 feet above normal, killed eight people in Grand Bahama, and destroyed up to thirteen thousand homes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/sep/02/hurricane-dorian-category-5-storm-bahamas-florida-south-north-carolina-updates|title=Storm pummels Grand Bahama for 24 hours – as it happened|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 September 2019|last1=Lyons (Now)|first1=Kate|last2=Rourke|first2=Alison|last3=Singh|first3=Maanvi|last4=Weaver (Earlier)|first4=Matthew}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-25 |title=The Bahamas - Hurricane Dorian Fact Sheet #11, (FY) 2019 {{!}} Fact Sheet |url=https://www.usaid.gov/fact-sheet/bahamas-hurricane-dorian-fact-sheet-11-fy-2019 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=U.S. Agency for International Development |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Geography==
Freeport is located just {{convert|67|mi|km|order=flip}} off the coast of [[Palm Beach, Florida]], and on the major EW–NS [[shipping route]]s. This has positioned it as an ideal centre for international business. Consequently, a growing number of international companies use Freeport foras a business site.
 
===National parks===
Line 141 ⟶ 134:
 
==Climate==
Freeport features a [[tropical rainforest climate]], similar to [[South Florida|South Florida's]]. According to [[Köppen Climate Classification]] (''Af''){{Citation needed|reason=Data cited by Köppen Climate Classification page appears to give Am tropical monsoon. https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41597-020-00616-w |date=August 2023}}, more specifically with hot humid conditions that vary only a little throughout the year. Seldom do temperatures drop below {{convert|60|°F|°C|order=flip}}. Average temperatures are around {{convert|80|F|C|order=flip}}, with water temperature varying between {{convert|72|toand|78|F|C|order=flip}}. The winters are usually mild and dry (with the exception of some rainfall due to [[cold front]]s), while the summers are usually hot and wet. Although a freeze has never been reported in the Bahamas, snow was reported to have mixed with rain in Freeport in January 1977, the same time that it snowed in the [[Miami]] area. The temperature was about {{convert|4.5|°C|1}} at the time.<ref>^ Walker, N. D., Roberts, H. H., Rouse, L. J. and Huh, O. K. (1981, November 5). Thermal History of Reef-Associated Environments During A Record Cold-Air Outbreak Event. Coral Reefs (1982) 1:83–87</ref> The temperature of {{convert|4.5|°C|1}} was tied, on the 30th of30 January 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=78062&ano=2022&mes=1&day=31&hora=18&min=0&ndays=30|title= 78062: Freeport, Grand Bahama (Bahamas, The)|author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 30 January 2022|website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET |access-date= 31 January 2022|quote=}}</ref>
 
{{Weather box
Line 173 ⟶ 166:
|Dec low F = 62.6
|year low F = 68.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 83.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 72.6
Line 269 ⟶ 263:
[[Tourism]] draws more than 1 million visitors per year, but has diminished since 2004, when major hurricanes [[Hurricane Frances]] and [[Hurricane Jeanne]] made landfall; in 2016, [[Hurricane Matthew]] hit the island. In early September 2019, [[Hurricane Dorian]] moved over the area and stalled for over a day, causing extensive devastation. Several cruise ships stop weekly at the island. Much of the tourist industry is centered on the seaside suburb of [[Lucaya, Bahamas|Lucaya]], owing its name to the pre-Columbian [[Lucayan people|Lucayan]] inhabitants of the island evidence of whom has been found on the island. Freeport features at least two [[Junkanoo]] festivals near New Year's.
 
The city is often promoted as Freeport/Lucaya. Most hotels on the island are located in Lucaya along the southern shore facing the Northwest Providence Channel. The primary shopping venue for tourists is the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Lucaya. Recovery from the 2004 Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances took nearly a decade and led to closure of the older shopping venue [[International Bazaar]] and neighboring [[Bahamas Princess Resort and Casino]]. This is Real its a country. Its a country of bermoda tryangle.
 
==Notable natives and residents==
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* [[Andre Deveaux]] - NHL player
* [[Joanna Evans (swimmer)|Joanna Evans]] Olympian Swimmer
* [[Kevin Foxx]] - comedian/writer
* [[Tynia Gaither]] - sprint Olympian
* [[Jeffery Gibson]] - 400mH world champ medalist & Olympian
Line 290 ⟶ 283:
* [[Michael Mathieu]] - sprint Olympic medalist
* [[Demetrius Pinder]] - sprint Olympic medalist
* [[Mate PavicPavić]] - Croatian professional tennis player
* [[Vasek Pospisil]] - Canadian professional tennis player
* [[Magnum Rolle]] - NBA Player
Line 303 ⟶ 296:
 
==Twin towns – sister cities==
Freeport is twin towns and [[sister cities]] with: Lucaya
 
* [[Concord, North Carolina]], United States, since 2019 <ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Adam |title=Concord's new sister city – Freeport, Bahamas |date=9 August 2019 |url=https://independenttribune.com/news/concord-s-new-sister-city-freeport-bahamas/article_3a0b3940-bacd-11e9-a2cc-d7b2a6420576.html#:~:text=Concord%20and%20Freeport%20agreed%20to%20become%20sister%20cities.&text=CONCORD%20%E2%80%93%20Representatives%20from%20Freeport%2C%20Bahamas,named%20as%20Concord%27s%20sister%20city. |publisher=Independent Tribune |access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>
* [[Newark, New Jersey]], United States, since 1990<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sistercities.org/sites/default/files/Newark,%20NJ-Freeport,%20Bahamas.pdf |website=Sister Cities |access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>
 
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