Georgetown (pop. 24,849; met. area pop. 118,363) is the capital and chief city of Guyana, a country in northeastern South America. The city lies on the east bank of the Demerara River, facing the Atlantic Ocean. Most Georgetown residents have African or Indian ancestry. Some are of Chinese, European, or Indigenous (native) descent.
Georgetown lies 10 feet (3 meters) below sea level. A sea wall and a network of canals protect the city from heavy flooding. Georgetown’s architecture reflects the styles of the area’s early British, Dutch, and French colonists. St. George’s Cathedral, built in 1892 and dedicated in 1894, is one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. It stands about 145 feet (44 meters) tall.
The British established a fort near the mouth of the Demerara River in 1781. The next year, the French claimed the area and established the settlement of Longchamps. The settlement came under Dutch rule in 1784, and the name was changed to Stabroek. The British reoccupied the area in 1803. In 1812, they renamed the city Georgetown.
See also Guyana; Lloyd, Clive.
