Anse la Raye District: History
In French colonial times, Anse la Raye was the site of sugar plantation, according to a plaque in a park in the town of Anse la Raye erected in 2010. There were as many as 107 estates in Anse la Raye in 1775, according to church records. During the French Revolution, slaves were freed and the name of the town was changed to L'Egalite. Slave were freed and the plantations were burned. Most people abandoned the land and turned towards fishing as a livelihood. Banana and coconut oil production became more important in the mid-20th century, as well as boat building. The area is known for feather racing boats and canoe races. In the late 1990s, a Friday Fish Night became a popular diversion in the town of Anse la Raye.
Severe hurricanes struck Saint Lucia in 1780 and 1817, destroying many ships moored in Anse la Raye.