Editing Nassau, The Bahamas (section)

===Urban development===
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2021}}
[[File:IMRAY(1884) p0210 BAHAMAS, NASSAU.jpg|thumbnail|Nassau in the 1880s]]
During the 19th century, Nassau became urbanized, attracting rural residents. Growth since the 1950s has been outwards from the town. The 1788 heart of Nassau was just a few blocks of buildings between Government House and the harbour, but the town gradually expanded east to Malcolm's Park, south to Wulff Road, and west to Nassau Street. Grants Town and Bain Town south of the city became the main residential areas for those of African descent, and until about 30 years ago was the most populous part of the city.

Those of European descent built houses along the shore, east as far as Fort Montagu, west as far as Saunders Beach, and along the ridge edging the city. During the 20th century, the city spread east to Village Road and west to Fort Charlotte and Oakes Field. This semicircle of residential development was the main area of settlement until after the Second World War, and marks a distinct phase in the city's expansion, the outer boundary to this zone being the effective limit of the continuous built-up area. The wealthier residents continued to spread east (to East End Point) and West (to [[Lyford Cay]]).

In the last 40 years, residential development has been quite different. It has consisted mainly of planned middle-income sub-divisions. Since the 1960s, government has sponsored low-cost housing developments at Yellow Elder, Elizabeth Estates, and Pinewood Gardens, in the outer ring.

====City centre====
[[File:BahamianParliamentPanorama.jpg|thumb|The [[Bahamian Parliament Building|Bahamian Parliament]]]]
The city centre is the hub for all activities in Nassau. Thousands of people visit daily, to shop, dine, sightsee and to enjoy the tropical climate of the city. While the busiest part of central city is the Bay Street thoroughfare and the Woodes Rogers Walk, located across the street from the port and parallel to Bay, the area extends for several blocks in each direction. It starts at West Bay, around the Junkanoo Beach area. A few hotels and restaurants are located on West Bay.

The next landmark is the British Colonial Hotel, which marks the beginning of Bay Street proper. Pirates of Nassau Museum is just across from the [[British Colonial Hilton Nassau|British Colonial Hilton]]. The next few blocks of Bay Street are wall-to-wall boutiques, with a few restaurants and clubs interspersed throughout the retailers.
[[File:Queen's staircase, Nassau, Bahamas.jpg|thumb|[[Queen’s Staircase - Nassau|Queen's staircase]]]]
Historical landmarks are also in the vicinity, including Vendue House, Christ Church Cathedral, and the [[Nassau Public Library]]. Although the tourist part of the city centre peters out after about seven blocks, smaller, more local shops are located down Bay Street. At this point, Bay Street becomes East Bay.

The Straw Market is a tourist destination in the city centre. A new market was opened in 2011 after a fire in 2001 destroyed the original Fish, Vegetable and Straw Market. The market is open on all sides, and contains a number of Bahamian craft stores.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ingraham |first1=Hubert |title=Remarks: A Celebration of Bahamian Imagination & Ingenuity |url=http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/gov/government/news/Nassau%20Straw%20Market%20Opening%20Remarks%20by%20Hubert%20Ingraham/!ut/p/b1/vZTJkqM4FEW_JT_AiRgkYCnbzJPNYAMbAkgmY2zZGAP--iKrozuyO7qrNl0lrRQ6uve9q4hHxVRIxZf02VTpo7le0vPnOUYJCxQLY06wBBlhoAWszEIDs8qepo5UqEbMtL1qoywdEugxFlkH-dzW1gkv8L49CkxTkv3tIOrBPqEhGMoy7-mX2wQ871gf64fW9d2wE4Vd6pbS3DIvwjG3KndRTeKskqJrjLVZ9rXu0U7VYbAKbMhRFLrHuhN6mA22ATZRtsKoOJNpW_MKi7FXTGEOr7OLeZSIpjPv0tBpVb5GUdsQMJyLiBzrVRsMH503PrdKO92OJVzvaaWVuLel8WhpHPzHwuBnufzx_i9AgQAtwM7EO15lHA78PNf478i_KHwHflTiDxUM5k9AcThLWgAHCjLQaB-aOyTSwhpQ0QLwXxT8A1gAgF2P3gOB5ymfCgGXeKeZaK_25Z5eHuNJ0LSlyaQlhu6l19HOZM22ddvHkjtVme42Z2UiEbnlFzREyGgqLECGZ_5p5jC-uJhtaGQEEHgK-yvNFOgISza8v8OQWcJDv9MM_gozxbH2m88Y_fVnjKyqYmSyjkT_TrP_9890Km6y7n3Mu3fwDjkaQpFmRLRc8TRPHS4R4rNKm6RlDsXuLRxT3tc8L_AcpSby-Xp9SnPksQLox76-r3ZyyGGSEZXwJ5bppUJ_hCgl03TPDrKwzINz5-dmHvTTORj0le3cjBPr9amte4_zI8-TwWg_Tvazpx-re_3KB9FxrUscTSNJ01GH-lqvmmvpGWZ0r7ZyYjDKZltuFDlMg1yo25URBjXnJKN9eTR1-SHEZByZoijsp-7pK2MVjP19Iuh1YpR-1k-S2jxv4tqcfV7d7rhEQkI5y6DT-GPwRtnqtSso0j0NE7lSaX_d3Ns3yeS8Vw!!/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403151337/http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/gov/government/news/Nassau%20Straw%20Market%20Opening%20Remarks%20by%20Hubert%20Ingraham/!ut/p/b1/vZTJkqM4FEW_JT_AiRgkYCnbzJPNYAMbAkgmY2zZGAP--iKrozuyO7qrNl0lrRQ6uve9q4hHxVRIxZf02VTpo7le0vPnOUYJCxQLY06wBBlhoAWszEIDs8qepo5UqEbMtL1qoywdEugxFlkH-dzW1gkv8L49CkxTkv3tIOrBPqEhGMoy7-mX2wQ871gf64fW9d2wE4Vd6pbS3DIvwjG3KndRTeKskqJrjLVZ9rXu0U7VYbAKbMhRFLrHuhN6mA22ATZRtsKoOJNpW_MKi7FXTGEOr7OLeZSIpjPv0tBpVb5GUdsQMJyLiBzrVRsMH503PrdKO92OJVzvaaWVuLel8WhpHPzHwuBnufzx_i9AgQAtwM7EO15lHA78PNf478i_KHwHflTiDxUM5k9AcThLWgAHCjLQaB-aOyTSwhpQ0QLwXxT8A1gAgF2P3gOB5ymfCgGXeKeZaK_25Z5eHuNJ0LSlyaQlhu6l19HOZM22ddvHkjtVme42Z2UiEbnlFzREyGgqLECGZ_5p5jC-uJhtaGQEEHgK-yvNFOgISza8v8OQWcJDv9MM_gozxbH2m88Y_fVnjKyqYmSyjkT_TrP_9890Km6y7n3Mu3fwDjkaQpFmRLRc8TRPHS4R4rNKm6RlDsXuLRxT3tc8L_AcpSby-Xp9SnPksQLox76-r3ZyyGGSEZXwJ5bppUJ_hCgl03TPDrKwzINz5-dmHvTTORj0le3cjBPr9amte4_zI8-TwWg_Tvazpx-re_3KB9FxrUscTSNJ01GH-lqvmmvpGWZ0r7ZyYjDKZltuFDlMg1yo25URBjXnJKN9eTR1-SHEZByZoijsp-7pK2MVjP19Iuh1YpR-1k-S2jxv4tqcfV7d7rhEQkI5y6DT-GPwRtnqtSso0j0NE7lSaX_d3Ns3yeS8Vw!!/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 3, 2018 |website=The Government of The Bahamas |access-date=April 3, 2018}}</ref>

====Cable Beach====
{{Main article|Cable Beach, Bahamas}}
Cable Beach is recognized as the hotel district of Nassau. Five hotels—two of which are all-inclusive—are located on this strip. [[File:Hilton resort Nassau.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Hilton Resort in Nassau]] The area is also known for its dining, with most of the area's restaurants in the hotels or across the street. There is a bit of shopping, most of it in the Wyndham and at Baha Mar. In 2017, the development of Baha Mar, a luxury resort and casino, brought more than 2,000 hotel rooms and the largest gaming and convention facility in the Caribbean to this section of New Providence Island.