Gros Islet is the most northern district of the island. The District was recently merged with Dauphin, to include all of the northern tip, known as “The Cap”. The Cap Estate area of Gros Islet is an affluent area and is home to world class golf courses and an international cricket stadium. It is home to many high end resorts and luxury amenities. Gros Islet also includes Rodney Bay, a main tourist hub that has shopping, a marina, and plenty of restaurants.
History:
The Arawak and Carib artifacts found in the area date all the way back to 1000 A.D. proving a long indigenous history. Saint Lucia was a pivotal island in the expansion of the French and British colonization. Due to its attractiveness, the island exchanged rule 14 times over the years. Part of the main battlegrounds was Pigeon Island, found in the north, which overlooks the bay at pigeon point, and was heavily fortified. In more recent history, a US Airforce base was built for World War 2 and the sand was dredged in the bay to create a landing strip. They also used some of the sand to connect Pigeon Island, making it now known as Pigeon Point. The base has since closed, but the strip is now home to many restaurants and boutique hotels.
Population (2010 census): 20,872
Estimated Average Nightly Short Term Rental Price (AirBnB 2023): $179 with a range of $40 to $300
