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The Corn Islands are two about east into the Bay of Moskitia, constituting one of 12 Municipality of the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region of Nicaragua. The official name of the municipality is Corn Islands (the English name is officially used in Spanish-speaking Nicaragua). Both Great Corn Island and Little Corn Island constitutes the archipelago of Corn Islands.
[[File:Canon overlooking Brig Bay, Big Corn Island, Nicaragua.jpg|thumb|left| Cannon on display overlooking Brig Bay on Great Corn Island]] The island was used to resupply firewood and water, repair their ships, and support their fishing activities. Puritan settlers of British people origin arrived on the island in the mid-18th century, bringing with them their slaves of origin. It is known that they came from Jamaica, settling in British Honduras (now Belize) until they reached the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua.
The first settlers preferred to inhabit the southeastern part of the island. This was for several reasons: Quinn Hill's height offered a panoramic view of the sea, from which they could see the arrival of pirate ships as they approached "Insurance Harbor", a strategic port on the island that provided facilities for anchoring and unloading boats. This port, "Insurance Harbour", also has historical importance since Colonel Alexander McDonald, superintendent of British Honduras (today Belize), landed on August 27, 1841.
This superintendent was the one who ordered to call the enslaved laborers, at the point called South West Bay, to declare them free from slavery, in the name of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and King Robert Charles Frederic of Mosquito Coast.
After the English colonists established themselves in the Corn Islands, a process of acculturation began. Most of the settlers came to these Islands as adventurers and explorers in search of fortunes and riches. They settled permanently and interacted with the enslaved laborers. A product of this relationship is the Creole peoples descent of the Corn Islands. Over time, these descendants gradually assimilated and adapted the customs and traditions of English culture. This is how the genetic profile of the Corn Island Creole ethnic group emerged.
Eleven years after the emancipation from slavery, on August 25, 1852, Reverend Edward Kelly from British Honduras founded the Ebenezer Baptist Church and School, the island's first church and educational center. Kelly was the one who evangelized the Corn Islands since, in previous years, the Moravians attempted but could not.
The Corn Islands were also part of the British protectorate of the Mosquito Coast, from 1740 to 1860. At some point, the islands were frequented by Caribbean pirates. In 1894, the government occupied the area militarily. The islands were handed over to the United States for a 99-year lease under the Bryan-Chamorro Treaty of August 5, 1914. Under the terms of that treaty, they were subject to U.S. law, but Nicaraguan sovereignty was maintained.
In 1940, Corn Island was elevated to a municipality in the Zelaya Region (as the region was known at the time) by presidential decree.
The United States maintained the right to the actual or potential use of the islands until April 25, 1971, the date on which the agreement was officially canceled with the repeal of the Chamorro-Bryan treaty, under the presidency of Anastasio Somoza Debayle, from July 14, 1970.
Before that event, the municipality had a governor rather than a mayor, as it does now. The mayors were previously elected in a community assembly, where, in addition to the highest municipal representative, the judge and secretary were also elected. The first popular vote elections in which all the people participated were at the beginning of the 20th century.
The islanders are primarily Afro-descendant, English-speaking Creole peoples, some mixed with indigenous people.
| Passion Street, Vicente, Pomar, South West Bay, Woula Point, Broad Bay. |
| Bluff Point, Hill Road |
| Long Bay, Mount Pleasant, Rama |
| Sally Peachie, Little Hill, Sand Fly Bay |
| North End, Back Road |
| The Village, Carib Town |
Little Corn Island is accessible by fast boats, usually three or four times per day depending on weather from Great Corn Island, and by a small cargo ship from the port at Southwest Bay on Great Corn Island (World Port Index No. 9775). Little Corn Island has no motor vehicles. Due to its small size, all transport on the island is done on foot.
, , , green sea turtles, and spotted eagle rays are among the Marine biology that can be seen around the islands.
Volleyball and Football are also Sports that many islanders play.
Corn Island's typical dishes include crab soup, rondon, fried fish, and rice with shrimp.
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