The town serves primarily as a retail and administrative centre of both Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

In 1796 there were more sailing vessels in Hillsborough Bay when Sir Ralph Abercromby met there to launch an attack on the Spanish.

The town is home to Carriacou National Museum, on Paterson Street, which used to be a cotton gin mill.

The port also operate the ferry service between Grenada and Petite Martinique and also to other Grenadine islands.

It serves as the island's transportation hub for public and private buses (mini-buses) around Carriacou.