In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests on the island, was granted 50,000 acres (200 km²) of swamp and scrubland by the Bahamian government with mandate to economically develop the area. The city of Freeport was built, which has grown to be the second most populous city in The Bahamas (26,910 in 2000) after the capital, Nassau.
The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) operates the free trade zone, under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement signed in August of 1955 whereby the Bahamian Government agreed that businesses in the Freeport area will pay no taxes before 2054. The area of the land grants has been increased to 138,000 acres (558 km²).
Freeport, infos taken from
Wikipedia. -
(close page)