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Anguilla[ang-gwil´u] Pronunciation Key, island and British dependency (1995 est. pop. 7,500) 35 sq mi (91 sq km), West Indies, northernmost of the Leeward Islands. The capital is the town of The Valley. Its population, which is mainly of African descent, speaks English, the official language. Most Anguillans are Anglican or Methodist. Fishing (mainly lobsters), stock raising, and salt mining are the mainstays of the economy, which includes tourism and offshore banking industries.
In 1967 the British possessions of Anguilla, St. Kitts, and Nevis were united in the self-governing state of St. Kitts–Nevis–Anguilla, associated with Great Britain. Anguilla, claiming political and economic discrimination, seceded in the same year and returned to British colonial rule in 1971. It was officially separated from St. Kitts and Nevis in 1980. A new constitution in 1982 gave Anguilla significant control over its internal affairs. The island was severely damaged by Hurricane Luis in 1995.
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