The Third Cycle of Population (18th Century - Boavista, Maio, S. Vicente and Santa Luzia)
- Demography
In 1731 the population of Boavista was reported to be represent only 2% of the overall population, although it is the fourth largest island. At this time the first village on the island was founded, Povoação Velha, and the population grew there, thanks to the demand for salt from foreign ships. In 1800 there were 2,299 inhabitants in Boavista.
Maio and Boavista (and before them the islands of the north and Brava) had previously been islands of “montado” (oak forest), in which thousands of heads of cattle grazed and then were slaughtered and sold by cattle farmers, who went there annually due to malaria. At this time there was also a flow of established settlers - 400 were counted in that year.
At the end of the 18th Century S. Vicente and Santa Luzia also received population. Mindelo quickly became the economic centre of Cape Verde, due to the port and to coal, and this meant that apart from growing rapidly, its population became cosmopolitan, attracting people from neighbouring Santo Antão, and also from other islands and even other countries.
In 1731 the population of Boavista was reported to be represent only 2% of the overall population, although it is the fourth largest island. At this time the first village on the island was founded, Povoação Velha, and the population grew there, thanks to the demand for salt from foreign ships. In 1800 there were 2,299 inhabitants in Boavista.
Maio and Boavista (and before them the islands of the north and Brava) had previously been islands of “montado” (oak forest), in which thousands of heads of cattle grazed and then were slaughtered and sold by cattle farmers, who went there annually due to malaria. At this time there was also a flow of established settlers - 400 were counted in that year.
At the end of the 18th Century S. Vicente and Santa Luzia also received population. Mindelo quickly became the economic centre of Cape Verde, due to the port and to coal, and this meant that apart from growing rapidly, its population became cosmopolitan, attracting people from neighbouring Santo Antão, and also from other islands and even other countries.
