Martinique

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Région Martinique
Flag of Martinique
(Unofficial region flag) (Region logo)
Location
Map of France highlighting the Region of Martinique
Administration
Capital Fort-de-France
Regional President Alfred Marie-Jeanne
(MIM) (since 1998)
Departments Martinique
Arrondissements 4
Cantons 45
Communes 31
Statistics
Land area1 1,128 km²
Population (Ranked 24th)
 - January 1, 2006 est. 399,000
 - March 8, 1999 census 381,427
 - Density (2006) 354/km²
1 French Land Register data, which exclude lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers
France

Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1,128 km². It is an overseas department of France. As with the other overseas departments, Martinique is also one of the twenty-six regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic. As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, and its currency is the euro. Its official language is French, although almost all of its inhabitants also speak Antillean Creole (Créole Martiniquais). Martinique is pictured on all euro banknotes, on the reverse at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomination.

On November 29, 2007, Martinique experienced an earthquake registering a magnitude of 7.4.[1]

Contents

Coconut palm
Coconut palm
Map of Martinique
Map of Martinique
  • Surface area: 1,128 km² (length 75 km, width 35 km)
  • Status: overseas department since 19 March 1946.
  • Prefectorial office: Fort-de-France (a total of 34 habitations).
  • Biggest towns: Fort-de-France (94,049 inhab, 25% of the population), Le Lamentin (35,460), Le Robert (21,240), Schœlcher (20,845), Sainte-Marie (20,098)
  • Population: 381,427 inhabitants after the census of 1999 (359,572 en 1990), estimated 399,000 in January 2005.
  • Population density: 338 inhab./km² (1999, estimated 354 in 2006)
  • Urban population: 42%
  • Life expectancy: 79 years (men) and 82 (women) (2000)
  • Official language: French
  • Principal religion: Roman Catholicism
  • GDP/inhab.: €14,283 (2000)
  • Total GDP: €5,496 million[citation needed]
  • Exports: €39 million (2002, cover of 14,1%)
  • Imports: €275 million euros (2002, deficit of €236 million)
  • Principal suppliers: Metropolitan France, European Union, Latin America
  • Unemployment rate: 23% (2004, (without taking into account "non-declared" revenues). 26,3% in 2000).

Main article: Politics of Martinique

All inhabitants of Martinique are French citizens with full political and legal rights.

Martinique sends four deputies to the French National Assembly and two senators to the French Senate.

Battle of Martinique in 1779 between France and Great Britain
Battle of Martinique in 1779 between France and Great Britain
Main article: History of Martinique

The island was under Britain's command during the Seven Years' War from 1762 to 1763; during the French Revolutionary Wars from 1794 to 1802; and again during the Napoleonic wars from 1809 to 1814. The last British governor was General Sir Charles Wale.

Napoleon's wife, Joséphine, was born in Martinique to a family of the wealthy Creole elite. The ruins of the Habitation de la Pagerie where she spent her childhood can still be visited in Trois-Ilets, across the bay from Fort-de-France, the island's capital.

During the French Revolution, severe conflicts rapidly broke out, developing into civil war. In 1789, a slave rebellion was put down. The following year open war broke out when monarchists, who wanted freedom from revolutionary France, massacred troops faithful to the Parisian revolutionary government. The royalist faction gained the upper hand in 1791 and declared the independence of Martinique followed by refusal to grant rights to the free people of colour. In 1793, the republican-Parisian faction gained support from the revolutionary government in Saint Lucia, which prompted the monarchists to invite British occupation in 1794.

Slavery was banned in 1869. People from India and China were brought to work the sugar cane plantations.

Mount Pelée erupted in 1902, killing 26,000 to 36,000 people and destroying Saint-Pierre.

During World War II the island was controlled by the Vichy regime from 1940-1943; later it was under the Free French Forces.

An important role in the independence movement was played by Aimé Césaire, a famous poet and essayist. Martinique was the home of Frantz Fanon (July 20, 1925 – December 6, 1961), an author, essayist, psychoanalyst, and anti-colonialist revolutionary, who was strongly influenced by Césaire.

Main article: Arrondissements of the Martinique department
Further information: Communes of the Martinique department

Tropical forest near Fond St-Denis
Tropical forest near Fond St-Denis

The north of the island is mountainous and lushly forested. It features dramatic pitons and mornes. The most dominating of the island's many beautiful mountains is the infamous volcano Mount Pelée. The volcanic ash has created beautiful grey and black sand beaches in the north, contrasting markedly from the white sands of Les Salines in the south.

The south is more easily traversed, though still features some impressive geographic features. Because it is easier to travel and because of the many beautiful beaches, the south receives the bulk of the tourist traffic. The beaches from Pointe de Bout, through Diamant (which features right off the coast the beautiful Roche de Diamant), St. Luce, the town of St. Anne all the way down to Les Salines are very popular.

Historical population
1700
estimate		 1738
estimate		 1848
estimate		 1869
estimate		 1873
estimate		 1878
estimate		 1883
estimate		 1888
estimate		 1893
estimate
24,000 74,000 120,400 152,925 157,805 162,861 167,119 175,863 189,599
1900
estimate		 1954
census		 1961
census		 1967
census		 1974
census		 1982
census		 1990
census		 1999
census		 2005
estimate
203,781 239,130 292,062 320,030 324,832 328,566 359,572 381,427 399,000
Official figures from past censuses and INSEE estimates.

Main article: Culture of Martinique
See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe

As an overseas "département" of France, Martinique's culture blends French and Caribbean influences. The city of Saint-Pierre (destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée), was often referred to as the Paris of the Lesser Antilles. Following traditional French custom, many businesses close at midday, then reopen later in the afternoon. The official language is French, although many Martinicans speak Antillean Creole. Mostly based on French, Martinique's Créole also incorporates a few elements of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and African languages. Originally passed down through oral storytelling traditions, it continues to be used more often in speech than in writing.

Most of Martinique's population is descended from African slaves brought to work on sugar plantations during the colonial era. Today, the island enjoys a higher standard of living than most other Caribbean countries. The finest French products are easily available, from Chanel fashions to Limoges porcelain. Studying in the métropole is common for young adults. For the rest of the French, Martinique has been a vacation hotspot for many years, attracting both upper-class and more budget-conscious travellers.

Martinique has a hybrid cuisine, mixing elements of French, African, and Asian traditions. One of its most famous dishes is the Colombo, a unique curry of chicken, meat or fish with vegetables, spiced with a distinctive masala of Bengali or Tamil origins, acidulated with tamarind and often containing wine, coconut milk, and rum. There is also a strong tradition of créole desserts and cakes, often employing pineapple, rum, and a wide range of local ingredients.


Martinique was the main setting of the 1944 film To Have and Have Not starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The island is mentioned in the song Uffington wassail by Half Man Half Biscuit.

Saint-Pierre
Saint-Pierre

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v • d • e
Overseas departments and territories of France
Overseas departments1 French Guiana · Guadeloupe · Martinique · Réunion
Overseas collectivities Mayotte2 · Saint Barthélemy · Saint Martin · Saint Pierre and Miquelon · Tahiti · Wallis and Futuna
Special status New Caledonia
Uninhabited lands Clipperton Island
French Southern and Antarctic Lands  (Amsterdam Island • Saint Paul Island • Crozet Islands • Kerguelen Islands • Adélie Land
Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean:  Bassas da India3 • Europa Island3 • Glorioso Islands2, 3, 4 • Juan de Nova Island3 • Tromelin Island5)
1 Also known as overseas regions • 2 claimed by Comoros • 3 claimed by Madagascar • 4 claimed by Seychelles • 5 claimed by Mauritius
v • d • e
Countries and territories of the Caribbean
Sovereign states
Commonwealth Realms Antigua and Barbuda · Bahamas · Barbados · Grenada · Jamaica · St. Kitts and Nevis · St. Lucia · St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Commonwealth republics Dominica · Trinidad and Tobago
Other republics Cuba · Dominican Republic · Haiti
Dependencies and other territories
United Kingdom Anguilla · British Virgin Islands · Cayman Islands · Montserrat · Turks and Caicos Islands
Netherlands Aruba · Netherlands Antilles  (Bonaire • Curaçao • Saba • Sint Maarten • Sint Eustatius)
France Guadeloupe · Martinique · St. Barthélemy · St. Martin
United States Puerto Rico · U.S. Virgin Islands
v • d • e
States and dependencies of Middle America
States  —  Dependencies
v • d • e
Outlying territories of European countries
Territories under European sovereignty but closer to or on continents other than Europe (see inclusion criteria for further information)
Denmark Greenland
France
Italy Pantelleria · Pelagie Islands (Lampedusa • Lampione • Linosa)
Netherlands Aruba · Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire • Curaçao • Saba • Sint Maarten • Sint Eustatius)
Norway Bouvet Island · Peter I Island1 · Queen Maud Land1
Portugal Azores Islands · Madeira Islands
Russia Khabomai · Ratmanov Island · Shikotan
Spain Canary Islands · Ceuta · Isla de Alborán  · Isla Perejil  · Islas Chafarinas  · Melilla  · Peñón de Alhucemas  · Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera
United Kingdom

Coordinates: 14°40′N, 61°00′W

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