Grenada is the most southerly of all the Windward Islands, about 100 miles of the coast of Venezuela. It is a volcanic island traversed by crater lakes, and a mountain range, the highest peak of which is Mount Saint Catherine at well over 2000 feet.  The state includes the island of Grenada and the southern half of the archipelago known as the Grenadines, a group of largely uninhabitable small islands and islets north of Grenada.  The island of Grenada like most Caribbean islands is subject to hurricanes.  In September 2004 Hurricane Ivan struck the island, devastating it.  Then it was struck again by hurricane Emily in July of 2005.    

The Arwak Indians were the first to inhabit Grenada, but they were all eventually massacred by the Carib Indians.  Columbus’ arrival in 1498 did not have the devastating impact it had on the Caribs living on other islands.  They continued to rule over the island for 150 years after Columbus’ arrival.

 In 1672 the French took control of Grenada, and then the British took control of the island in 1783.  The British colonists imported African slaves and established sugar plantations.  In 1967, Grenada became an associated state of Britain with full internal self government.  In February 1974, Grenada achieved full independence and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.     

 In 1979 a successful bloodless coup took place establishing the People’s Revolutionary Government under Prime Minister Maurice Bishop.  This government’s Marxist views and friendly attitude towards both Cuba and the Soviet Union strained relations with the United States.  In October of 1983, Bishop and his associates were assassinated by radicals from their own government.  The United States, with token forces from several Caribbean nations invaded and occupied Grenada.  A general election in 1984 established a democratic government with Herbert Blaize as Prime Minister.  In the following decade Grenada has received aid from western nations, and expanded their tourism industry.  Unfortunately, in other aspects the economy did not appear to improve. 

 The capital, main port, and commercial center is Saint George’s.  Grenada’s economy is primarily agricultural, and cocoa, bananas, nutmeg, mace, and fruit are exported.  Tourism is a developing industry.  All of these industries are still recovering from the hurricanes, especially Ivan that impacted the island.  Grenada’s’ currency is the Easter Caribbean Dollar, which has an exchange rate with the one dollar bill of One ECD to One U.S. Dollar.