Mosquito Coast is located in Central America and trails along the entire eastern seaboard of Nicaragua. Mosquito Coast is named after the Miskito people, natives of Nicaragua, and the title for it is actually not meant to reference annoying pesky mosquitoes. The British and other Europeans encountered Mosquito Coast in the later 16th century – early 17th century. Despite Mosquito Coast being referred to as The Miskito Kingdom, historians reported that it was a much more egalitarian society.
On this day January 28th, in 1860, Britain returns Mosquito Coast to Nicaragua in the Treaty of Managua. This treaty was made on the basis that the Miskito people would control themselves, being that they had many of their own customs derived from their long history with the land.
The Miskito people have been allowed to live in autonomy for the most part, but they have been plagued by some of the rulers who disliked not having complete control. Mosquito Coast was incorporated into Nicaragua in 1894 and in 1960, a northern portion of it was granted to Honduras. Mosquito Coast’s population is 118,000 – 57% Miskito, 22% Creoles, 15% Ladino, and the rest of the population is mixed between Chinese, Rama, Garifinu and Suma.