Which is the capital city of Turks and Caicos?

Cockburn Town is the capital city of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This small coastal settlement is found on the western side of Grand Turk. The town is named after Sir Francis Cockburn, then governor of the Bahamas in the early 1800s. Cockburn Town is the oldest permanent settlement in the country, having been initially settled by sea salt producers from Bermuda in 1681.

The seat of government ever since 1766, Cockburn Town was the first permanent settlement on any of the islands, founded in 1681 by salt collectors who arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The city supposedly lies on the place where Juan Ponce de León first landed on the island.

The rise of the town was mainly due to the sea salt industry that once operated on Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos at a time when salt was a valuable commodity.

Historic 18th and 19th century Bermudian architecture line Duke and Front Streets in the town. The town is known for its long, narrow streets and old street lamps.