September 19: Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
Christopher Columbus visited a Caribbean island in 1493 and encountered the Carib people living there. He named the island Saint Christopher, after his patron saint. The English shortened the name to Saint Kitts after they arrived in the 1600s. The English also settled the nearby island of Nevis.
Sugar production became central to the economy, with enslaved laborers growing and processing sugar cane. Alexander Hamilton, who became a leader in the American Revolution, was born on the island of Nevis, in either 1755 or 1757.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere in terms of size and population. About 55,000 people live there. About 75% belong to one of several Protestant denominations, with smaller percentages of Roman Catholics, Hindus, Rastafarians, and other religious groups.
Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved full independence from the United Kingdom on September 19, 1983. As sugar sales slumped, the islands have emphasized tourism and financial services as key to the country’s economy. About one million tourists visit the country each year, mostly by cruise ship.
This 2023 photo shows a cruise ship visiting Saint Kitts. Photo by Anthony Giarrusso / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
The Sugar Hill String Band from the island of Nevis performs 'Joy to the World'.
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