Gonaïves

Gonaïves
Gonayiv
Nickname(s): La Cité de l'Indépendance
The City of Independence
Gonaïves

Location in Artibonite, Haiti

Coordinates: 19°27′N 72°41′W / 19.450°N 72.683°W / 19.450; -72.683
Country Haiti
Department Artibonite
Arrondissement Gonaïves
Government
 • Mayor Pierilus Sainjustin
Elevation 6 m (20 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • City 300,000
 • Metro 104,825
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)

Gonaïves (Haitian Creole: Gonayiv) is a commune in northern Haiti, and the capital of the Artibonite Department. It has a population of about 300,000 people (2011 census). The city of Gonaives was founded in 1422 by Indians who named it "Gonaibo" (to designate a locality of caciquat of the Maguana). It is also known as Haïti's "independence city". The Bay of Gonaïves is named after the town.

History

The Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres

In 1802 an important battle of the Haitian Revolution, the Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres was fought near Gonaïves.

Haitian independence

Gonaïves is also known as Haiti's City of Independence because it was there that Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti, the former Saint-Domingue, independent from France on January 1, 1804 by reading the Act of Independence, drafted by Boisrond Tonnerre, on the Place d'Armes of the town.

Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité, the wife of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, died here in August 1858.

Recent history

In the early 2000s, Gonaïves was the scene of substantial rioting and violence primarily motivated by opposition to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and on February 5, 2004, a group calling itself the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front seized control of the city, starting the 2004 Haïtian rebellion. But in recent years the city has seen a complete return to calmness.

In September 2004, Hurricane Jeanne caused major flooding and mudslides in the city.

Four years later, the city was again devastated by another storm, Hurricane Hanna, which killed 529 people, mostly in flooded sections of Gonaïves, where the destruction was described as "catastrophic" and 495 bodies were discovered as late as September 5.[2][3] Haitian authorities said the tally would grow once officials were able to make their way through the city. "The assessment was only partial, because it was impossible to enter the city at that moment". Gonaïves Mayor Stephen Moise said at least 48,000 people from the Gonaïves area were forced into shelters.[4][5]

Media

See also

References

  1. ↑ Institut Haïtien de Statistique et d'Informatique (IHSI)
  2. ↑ "Hurricane Ike targets Gulf as Hanna hits Carolinas". Reuters. 2008-09-06. Archived from the original on 2009-09-19.
  3. ↑ "Haiti Impact". Hurricane Hanna Info. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  4. ↑ Charles, Jacqueline (2008). "Horrible scene in Haiti after Hanna". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  5. ↑ "Haiti - Politic : Michel Martelly in Gonaïves this Sunday". HaitiLibre. 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  6. ↑ "Radio New Star FM". Archived from the original on February 6, 2006.
  7. ↑ "Radio Metropole Haiti". Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  8. ↑ "VOA Nouvèl". Voice of America. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  9. ↑ "Radio Kiss FM". Archived from the original on 2011-09-03.
  10. ↑ "Radio Intrépide FM".

External links and further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gonaïves.

Coordinates: 19°27′N 72°41′W / 19.450°N 72.683°W / 19.450; -72.683

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