Georgetown, Ascension Island

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Georgetown is the capital of Ascension Island on the west coast of the island. It is strictly not a capital city as it does not fit the requirements on becoming a city in the UK (see City status in the United Kingdom), but it is the capital town.

The town is centred around St Mary's Church and the Exile's Club, which was is on the site of the original Royal Marine's barracks from the times of Napoleon's exile to St. Helena in the early 19th century. As well as the chuch, there is a pier, an athletics track, a small supermarket, Royal Mail Post office, police station, hospital, dental surgery and a library. There is no school however and pupils must travel to Two Boats village, further inland.

There is a hill overlooking the town called Cross Hill, which has a fort on it with some victorian cannons used to repel a German attack during World War II with surprisingly great success - the germans did not try to occupy the island again. There is another old fort on the other side of the town, which plays host to the museum

The town is the centre of culture on Ascension. It usually hosts local athletics events as well as being the start of the annual dew pond race to the highest point on the island on Green Mountain. Ascension day activities (to celebrate the discovery of Ascension) are often hosted here too. The population is around the 560 mark(2003).

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