Windwardside

The first permanent European settlements on Saba began in the 1640s.{{Cite book |last=Hartog |first=Johannes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xf00AAAAIAAJ&q=history+of+saba+hartog |title=History of Saba |date=1975 |publisher=Saba Artisan Foundation |location=Netherlands Antilles |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Crane |first=Julia G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vip7AAAAMAAJ&q=windwardside+settled |title=Educated to Emigrate: The Social Organization of Saba |date=1971 |publisher=Round the World Publishing |isbn=978-90-232-0702-3 |language=en}} By the 1860s, Windwardside was one of 7 main districts on the island, with The Bottom, St. John's, Booby Hill, Hell's Gate, Mary's Point (Palmetto Point), and Middle Island. The Windwardside district had its own elected head, as did the other six districts. In 1860, the St. Paul's Conversion Church, Saba was built on the grounds of the former quarantine station in Windwardside.{{cite web |title=The Church of Rome on Saba |url=https://thesabaislander.com/2014/02/28/the-church-of-rome-on-saba/ |access-date=5 May 2021 |website=The Saba Islander|date=28 February 2014 }} In 1865, the population of Windwardside was 573 inhabitants.

Throughout the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, most men in Windwardside engaged in farming or fishing. Most women engaged in domestic work in the home, as well as local drawn thread work known as Saba Lace.

File:Collectie_NMvWereldculturen,_TM-10021162,_Repronegatief_'Een_Rooms-katholieke_kerk_met_kerkhof_op_Saba',_fotograaf_niet_bekend,_1947.jpg

File:Gezicht_op_het_dorp_Windwardside_op_Saba,_Bestanddeelnr_252-8254.jpg

File:De_Church_of_St_Pauls_Conversion_in_Windwardside_op_Saba,_Bestanddeelnr_252-8264.jpg

By 1900, Windwardside was one of four main villages on Saba, along with The Bottom, St. John's, and Hell's Gate. The early- to mid- 1900s saw extensive emigration from Saba. In 1972, the population of Windwardside had decreased to 302 inhabitants.

In the late 20th century, Windwardside began expanding. The Tourism Office opened in Windwardside along with restaurants, grocery stores, a bank, a post office, hotels, and gift shops. In 2001, the population of Windwardside was 418 inhabitants.{{cite web|url=http://digitallibrary.cbs.cw/CBS0000228/00001 |title=Geodata 2001, Saba & Sint.Eustatius, Census 2001 |website=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Netherlands Antilles|access-date=3 May 2021|year=2001|page=17}}

Most of Windwardside is located in a saddle between a dormant volcano (Mount Scenery) and a hill (Booby Hill). The saddle's elevation is about 1,400 ft (427 m) above sea level. Some Windwardside homes are located up the mountainside of village. Many homes are located up the hillside of the village, on Booby Hill and an area of Booby Hill called The Level. The elevation of The Level is about 1,584 feet (483 m) above sea level.{{Cite web |title=The Level, Saba, BQ Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data |url=https://weatherandclimate.com/bonaire/saba/the-level#:~:text=Located%20at%20an%20elevation%20of,0.93%25%20lower%20than%20Bonaire's%20averages. |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=weatherandclimate.com}} The Mas Cojones Hill is also a scenic tourist destination.

Windwardside has several hotels and inns which serve mostly tourists who come to the island to dive and enjoy Saba's nature. There are multiple grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, and a dive shop located there as well.

The Harry L. Johnson Museum is located in Windwardside. The museum is located inside an authentic 19th-century Saban cottage,{{Cite web |date=2018-06-29 |title=Harry L. Johnson Museum {{!}} Saba Tourism |url=https://www.sabatourism.com/museums/the-harry-l-johnson-museum/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=en-US}} with few changes having been made to the original cottage.{{Cite web |title=Harry L Johnson museum |url=https://www.museum-saba.com/HLJohnson/index.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.museum-saba.com}} Inside, visitors can view 19th and early 20th-century furniture, linens, china, nautical instruments, and a 100-year old organ harmonium. Also on display are photographs and documents, as well as Amerindian artifacts from archaeological sites on the island. The museum grounds feature tropical vegetation and a children's play area.

The Mt. Scenery Trail, Saba's most popular hiking trail,{{Cite web |title=Hiking on Saba {{!}} Sea Saba Dive Center |url=https://www.seasaba.com/hiking-on-saba |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=seasaba |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Greaves-Gabbadon |first=Sarah |date=March 27, 2013 |title=This 5-square-mile Island Has a 'Disappearing Beach' — and It's Called the 'Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean' |url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/saba-island-caribbean-7371775 |work=Travel + Leisure}}{{Cite web |last=Werner |first=Laurie |title=Ultimate Caribbean Seclusion: The Under The Radar, Newly Reopened Island Of Saba |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewerner/2021/05/13/ultimate-caribbean-seclusion-the-under-the-radar-newly-reopened-island-of-saba/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Forbes |language=en}} begins in Windwardside. The trailhead is located on the road just outside Windwardside, across from the Trail Shop.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-22 |title=The Trail Shop {{!}} Saba Tourism |url=https://www.sabatourism.com/shopping/information-services/the-trail-shop/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=en-US}} The trail is a strenuous out-and-back trail, which goes up to Mt. Scenery's summit and back, and takes about 90 minutes each way.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-14 |title=Mt. Scenery {{!}} Saba Tourism |url=https://www.sabatourism.com/hiking/mt-scenery/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |language=en-US}}

File:Windwardside.jpg|Windwardside, with Mount Scenery in the background

File:House Windwardside Saba.JPG|Cottage in Windwardside

File:Narrow Streets of Windwardside.jpg|Side street in Windwardside

File:Sabaisland.jpg|Harry L. Johnson Museum

File:Saba Tourist Bureau with Mount Scenery Peak in Backdrop.jpg|Saba Tourism Bureau, with Mount Scenery in the background

File:St. Paul's Cemetery (6550027741).jpg|St. Paul's Cemetery

File:St. Paul's Conversion Church, Windwardside, 1860 (6550026663).jpg|St. Paul's Church

File:Playground on Saba.jpg|Playground in Windwardside

File:Red Roofs of Windwardside (6550041659).jpg|Cottages in Windwardside

File:WindwardsideRue.jpg|The Road going through Windwardside, past a grocery store

File:Blick auf Windwardside.jpg|Windwardside, with Old Booby Hill in the background

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Windwardside|Windwardside}}

• [https://www.museum-saba.com/HLJohnson/index.html Harry L Johnson Museum website]
• [https://www.sabatourism.com/about-saba/#getting-around Saba Tourism: Saban Villages]

{{Populated places in Saba}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Saba (island)