of 2008 it has a population of 18,126, most who originate from the
British Caribbean. Known as the island's Sunrise Side, San Nicolaas was once a
bustling company town, when Lago Oil and Transport operated its oil refinery
from 1924-1985. The refinery was closed from 1985 to 1990, when Coastal Corp
reopened the oil refinery. It was then sold toValero, and it was open for a number
of years, and closed in 2009; in December 2010, Valero announced plans to
reopen the refinery