Grenada
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Grenada
Government type : parliamentary democracy
Capital - name : Saint George's
Capital - time difference : UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Population : 90,343 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Grenadian(s)
Nationality - adjective : Grenadian
Languages : English (official), French patois
Currency (code) : East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code : XCD
Grenada is located Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. The climate is tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds. The terrain is volcanic in origin with central mountains.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full independence was attained in 1974, making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.
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