Basseterre was founded in 1627 by the French, under Sieur Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc. It served as the capital of the French colony of Saint-Christophe, which consisted of the northern and southern extremities of the island of St. Kitts

Sandy Point is the second largest town in the island of Saint Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis. This town is situated on the north-west coast of St. Kitts and is the capital of Saint Anne Sandy Point Parish. After being founded in the 1620s, the town became the commercial centre of St. Kitts and was one of the busiest anchorages in the region.

Features of the peninsula include the Great Salt Pond, the country's largest lake, St. Anthony's Peak, Turtle Beach, and several bays (including Ballast Bay, Major's Bay, and Cockleshell Bay). Until recently, this scrubby, low-lying peninsula, was less extensively developed than the rest of the island, being accessible mainly by boat. The construction of an all-weather road during the 1990s has led to some development, particularly around Turtle Beach