Archeological evidence indicates that the Arawak Indians where the first to leave  a mark on Anguilla history. The tribe have traces on many of the Caribbean Islands and once inhabited Anguilla. For a period of Anguilla history the island was known as “Malliouhana”. The Europeans first marked Anguilla history when Columbus sighted Anguilla in 1493 and named it for its eel like shape(Anguilla means “eel” in Spanish) In 1650, Anguilla history changed again as the island became a British Crown Colony and was colonized by English settlers who started corn and tobacco plantations. The soil throughout Anguilla history however proved thin and rainfall scant making the conditions for a plantation economy unfavorable. Therefore, the plantations on Anguilla were small and could not employ many slaves. Though most of the inhabitants through Anguilla history have been of African descent, the people of Anguilla have worked on the water. Slavery in Anguilla history was officially abolished in 1834.

      Anguilla was governed as part of St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla from the early 18th Century. Anguilla became a separate dependency with its own internal self-government following a British intervention to end two years of rebellion. This was formalized with the Anguilla Act of 1980. Today, Anguilla is a dependency of the United Kingdom and is flourishing with its renewed direction toward a better tourist industry. Never in Anguilla history has there been a more economic boom. The beautiful beaches and breath-takingly blue waters ensure that people will flock to the island for years to come.