Eleuthera

island, The Bahamas

Also known as: Cigatoo

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, located east of New Providence Island. It spans approximately 164 square miles (426 square kilometers) and has a population of 7,999. The island was part of the early English settlement efforts in the Bahamas, with the Company of Eleutherian Adventurers forming in London in 1647 to establish a plantation colony there. Despite initial hopes, the settlement faced challenges such as unproductive soil and internal discord.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Eleuthera
The Bahamas - British colonization

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

The Bahamas
Relief and soils
Eleuthera and Long Island (230 square miles [596 square km]) have the greatest number of hills exceeding 100 feet (30 meters). The highest point in The Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, at 206 feet (63 meters), is on Cat Island (150 square miles [388 square km]). Beneath…
Read More
Eleuthera and Long Island (230 square miles [596 square km]) have the greatest number of hills exceeding 100 feet (30 meters). The highest point in The Bahamas, Mount Alvernia, at 206 feet (63 meters), is on Cat Island (150 square miles [388 square km]). Beneath…
Read More
The Bahamas
British colonization
…is that they settled on Eleuthera, then known as Cigatoo. They had envisioned establishing a flourishing plantation colony, but unproductive soil, internal discord, and Spanish interference dashed their hopes. Some of the settlers, including Sayle, returned to Bermuda.
Read More
…is that they settled on Eleuthera, then known as Cigatoo. They had envisioned establishing a flourishing plantation colony, but unproductive soil, internal discord, and Spanish interference dashed their hopes. Some of the settlers, including Sayle, returned to Bermuda.
Read More