Matthew Town
Matthew Town | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
| Coordinates: 20°57′N 73°40′W / 20.950°N 73.667°W | |
| Country | Bahamas |
| Island | Great Inagua |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 430 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern Time Zone) |
| Area code | 242 |
| Great Inagua Lighthouse Southwest Point | |
| Coordinates | 20°56′00.7″N 73°40′27.4″W / 20.933528°N 73.674278°W |
| Constructed | 1870 |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Height | 34 metres (112 ft) |
| Shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower and lantern |
| Operator | Bahamas Port Department |
| Focal height | 37 metres (121 ft) |
| Range | 22 nautical miles (41 km; 25 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s. |
Matthew Town is the chief and only settlement on Great Inagua Island in the far south of the Bahamas. It is located on the southwest corner of the island. It was named after Bahamian Governor George Buckley-Mathew (1844–1849) and first settled during his tenure in office. It has several buildings dating to the 19th century including the 1870 Great Inagua Lighthouse.
Almost the entire population of Inagua resides in Matthew Town (approx. 1,000 people), and many of them are employed by the Morton Salt Company, the island's largest employer.