• The jersey

Jersey

For other uses, see Jersey (disambiguation).

Bailiwick of Jersey

(In Detail) (Full Size)
Official languages	English, French (Jèrriais recognised as regional language)
Capital	Saint Helier
Duke of Normandy	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief	Sir John Cheshire
Bailiff	Sir Philip Bailhache
Currency	Jersey pound (on par with Pound Sterling)
Time zone	UTC (DST +1)
National anthems	Ma Normandie God Save the Queen
National holiday	May 9: Liberation Day
Internet TLD	.JE
Calling Code	44-1534

Table of contents

1 History 2 Politics 3 Geography 4 Economy 5 Demographics 6 Culture 7 See also 8 External links

History

Jersey was seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy in 933. His heir the Conqueror, conquered England in 1066, which led to the Duchy of Normandy becoming an adjunct to the Crown of England. King John lost all his territories in mainland France in 1204, but retained possession of Jersey, along with Guernsey.

Jersey was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1940 after the fall of France, and was held until 9 May, 1945- the end of World War II.

Politics

Jersey's legislature is the States of Jersey. Government departments are run by committees of the States. The civil head of the Island is the Bailiff.

Geography

Jersey is a 43 sq. mi. (112 km²) island in the English Channel, approximately 12 mi. from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy,France.

Economy

Jersey's economy is based on financial services, tourism, internet trade and agriculture. There is no free movement of people from within the United Kingdom or other countries of the European Union to Jersey.

Jersey issues its own banknotes and coins.

Demographics

Culture

Jèrriais, the island's Norman language, is spoken by a minority of the population, although it was the majority language in the 19th century. Many place names are in Jèrriais, and French and English place names are also to be found.

Some neolithic carvings are the earliest works of artistic character to be found in Jersey. Only fragmentary wall-paintings remain from the rich mediaeval artistic heritage, after the wholesale iconoclasm of the Calvinist reformation of the 16th century.

Printing only arrived in Jersey in the 1780s, but the island supported a multitude of regular publications in French (and Jèrriais) and English throughout the 19th century, in which poetry, most usually topical and satirical flourished.

John Everett Millais, Elinor Glyn and Wace are among Jersey's artistic figures.

See also

• Communications in Jersey
• Transportation in Jersey
• Jersey Post

• Jersey Tourism
• States of Jersey
• CIA World Factbook [1] 2000
• BBC Jersey

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