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Commune of Pointe-à-Pitre |
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| Location | |
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| Location of the commune (in red) within Guadeloupe | |
| Time Zone | UTC-4 |
| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Guadeloupe |
| Department | Guadeloupe (sous-préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Pointe-à-Pitre |
| Intercommunality | none as of 2007 |
| Mayor | Henri Bangou (1965–present) |
| Statistics | |
| Land area¹ | 2. UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. France is divided into 26 regions or régions (in French of which 21 are in continental Metropolitan France, one is the island of Corsica, Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629 sq In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629 sq Subprefectures (sous-préfectures are the administrative towns of arrondissements in France that do not contain the prefecture for its department. The 100 French departments are divided into 342 arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts. The arrondissement of Pointe-à-Pitre is an arrondissement of France located in the Guadeloupe département, in the Guadeloupe The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government 66 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
20,948 |
| - Density | 7,875/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 97120/ 97110 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0. As of January 1, 2008, 64473140 people live in the French Republic. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume The INSEE code is a numerical indexing code used by the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE to identify various entities including communes Postal codes were introduced in France in 1972, when La Poste introduced automated sorting. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. C D E | |
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Pointe-à-Pitre (French: Pointe-à-Pitre, pronounced [pwɛ̃tapitʁ]; Creole: Lapwent, pronounced [lapwɛ̃t]) is the largest city of Guadeloupe, an overseas région and département of France located in the Lesser Antilles, of which it is a sous-préfecture, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Pointe-à-Pitre. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Antillean Creole is a French -lexified Creole language spoken primarily in the Lesser Antilles. Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629 sq Overseas region (Région d'outre-mer is a recent designation given to the overseas departments which have similar powers to those of the regions of Metropolitan Overseas department (départements d’outre-mer or DOM) is a designation under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic that was given to the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Caribbees, are part of the Antilles, which together with the Bahamas and Greater Antilles form the Subprefectures (sous-préfectures are the administrative towns of arrondissements in France that do not contain the prefecture for its department. The arrondissement of Pointe-à-Pitre is an arrondissement of France located in the Guadeloupe département, in the Guadeloupe
Although it is not Guadeloupe's administrative capital (that distinction goes to Basse-Terre), Pointe-à-Pitre is nonetheless the largest city and economic capital of Guadeloupe with a population of 171,773 inhabitants in its urban area in 1999, only 20,948 of whom lived in the city (commune) of Pointe-à-Pitre proper. This article is about the city of Basse-Terre For the island on which the city is located see Basse-Terre Island. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The inhabitants are called Pointois.
Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport, Guadeloupe's main international airport, is located 3 km north of downtown Pointe-à-Pitre in the commune of Les Abymes. Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport or Pointe-à-Pitre - Le Raizet Airport, also known as Aéroport Guadeloupe Pôle Caraïbes in French Les Abymes is the most populated commune in the French Overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser
Contents |
Name
- Source for this section: L’origine toponyme de Pointe-à-Pitre in Guide de Pointe-à-Pitre (édition 2006-2007).
The name Pointe-à-Pitre, literally the "headland of Pitre", is often said to derive from a Dutch or Jewish sailor/fisherman named Peter who settled in the 17th century on a promontory facing the Îlet à Cochon ("Hogs Islet"), just to the south of today's downtown Pointe-à-Pitre. Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment The promontory came to be called "Pointe-à-Peter" (the "headland of Peter") and later "Pointe-à-Pitre".
This explanation, however, is nowadays contested. A map from 1667 by Engineer François Blondel shows near today's downtown Pointe-à-Pitre a morne de Pitre ("Pitre hill") and a marigot de pitre ("Pitre swamp"). Other maps from the end of the 17th century show a îlet à Pitre ("Pitre islet") and a rivière à Pitre ("Pitre river") in the same area. It is unlikely that a Dutch or Jew called Peter would have settled at the same time on a promontory, on a hill, on an islet, near a swamp and along a river.
It seems more likely that the name "Pitre" comes from Spanish pitera meaning "agave" or "sisal", whose very resistant fibers were used to make ropes. Agave is a succulent Plant of a large Botanical Genus of the same name belonging to the family Agavaceae. Sisal or sisal hemp is an Agave Agave sisalana that yields a stiff Fiber used in making Rope. Agave or sisal are also known as pita in Spanish, and the word was borrowed in French creole where it is known as pite (particularly in Haiti). A French creole, or French-based creole language, is a Creole language based on the French language, more specifically on a 17th century koiné Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: It is thus possible that pitera grew on the islets, the headlands and around the swamps, and that it gave its name to the area. The headland named after the pitera plant then later gave its name to the city of Pointe-à-Pitre.
History
Idealy located at the junction of Guadeloupe's two main islands (Basse-Terre Island and Grande Terre), French colonial authorities had long thought about establishing a city on the current location of Pointe-à-Pitre, but several attempts around 1713-1730 failed due to the insalubrious swampy ground . For the largest city on the island of Basse-Terre and capital of Guadeloupe see Basse-Terre. Grande Terre may refer to the following The main island of New Caledonia - Grande Terre (New Caledonia. Year 1713 ( MDCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1730 ( MDCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a
It is only during the English occupation of Guadeloupe (1759-1763) that a settlement appeared on a hill overlooking the swamps. The British expedition against Guadeloupe was a military action from November 1758 to May 1759, as part of the Seven Years' War. Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1763 ( MDCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a After the return of Guadeloupe to France in 1763, the city of Pointe-à-Pitre was officially founded in 1764 by a royal edict and the swamps where downtown Pointe-à-Pitre stands today were drained in the following years, thus allowing the urban development of the city. Year 1764 ( MDCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a
The development of the city was important and relatively rapid, partly thanks to the corsairs. Corsairs were French Privateers from the north-western French port of St-Malo, located on the northern coast of Brittany. Unfortunately, in 1780, a great fire entirely destroyed the city. Sixty three years later, in 1843, it was again destroyed by an earthquake. The history of Pointe-à-Pitre is marked by many disasters: the fires of 1850, 1871, and 1931, the earthquakes of 1851 and 1897, and the hurricanes of 1865 and 1928. The city also experienced several epidemics of cholera. Its ideal location and large sheltered port have nonetheless allowed Pointe-à-Pitre to become Guadeloupe's largest city and economic capital.
Geography
Pointe-à-Pitre is situated on the southwest portion of the island of Grande-Terre, facing the Caribbean Sea and is an ideal place in the center of Guadeloupe and is near the Rivière Salée ("Salt River"), which separates Grande-Terre from Basse-Terre Island. Grande Terre is also the name of the main island of New Caledonia, and the name of the largest of the Kerguelen Islands. For the largest city on the island of Basse-Terre and capital of Guadeloupe see Basse-Terre. The town of Pointe-à-Pitre is surrounded by the communes of Les Abymes, Baie-Mahault and Le Gosier. Les Abymes is the most populated commune in the French Overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Baie-Mahault is the fourth most populated commune in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe Le Gosier is the third most populated commune in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe, in the Pointe-à-Pitre is on a limestone plateau, which was a factor for the construction the the city. The bay, Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin, offers a sheltered port.
Climate
Like any other Eastern Caribbean city, Pointe-à-Pitre experiences quite evenly spread rainfall during the year, with a wetter season between July and November which coincides with hurricane season. The city receives 1500-2000 mm of rainfall. Tropical heat is the norm, bringing steady highs of around 32°C (89°F) that drop to 20°C (68°F) at night.
The trade winds blow from the northeast and often temper the climate. The trade winds (also called trades) are the prevailing pattern of easterly winds found in the Tropics near the Earth's Equator.
Demographics
The tiny commune (municipality) of Pointe-à-Pitre is the center of a larger urban area covering seven communes. The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. This urban area, with 171,773 inhabitants at the 1999 census, is the largest in Guadeloupe.
Here are the seven communes making up the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre, with their population at the 1999 census:
- Les Abymes: 63,054 (Les Abymes is the most populated commune in the urban area and indeed in Guadeloupe, and so the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre is also often called the "Pointe-à-Pitre-Les Abymes" urban area)
- Le Gosier: 25,360
- Baie-Mahault: 23,389 (the location of the urban area's main seaport and largest industrial park)
- Pointe-à-Pitre: 20,948 (the historic, commercial and administrative heart of the urban area; facing competition from its suburbs, the congested commune of Pointe-à-Pitre has been losing businesses and inhabitants in the past years)
- Petit-Bourg: 20,528
- Lamentin: 13,434
- Goyave: 5,060
Economy
The city is the commercial capital of Guadeloupe, serving as the main port of call for cargo and passengers alike. Les Abymes is the most populated commune in the French Overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Le Gosier is the third most populated commune in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe, in the Baie-Mahault is the fourth most populated commune in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe Petit-Bourg is the seventh-largest commune in the French overseas département of Guadeloupe. See Le Lamentin for the commune of Martinique Lamentin is a French commune in the overseas department of Guadeloupe Goyave is a commune in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. The main seaport is the Port de Jarry located across the Bay of Cul-de-Sac Marin in the commune (municipality) of Baie-Mahault. The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. Baie-Mahault is the fourth most populated commune in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe It has one of the biggest container terminals in the Eastern Carribean with a quay 600m[1] long. The main exports are food crops (bananas, cocoa, coffee and sugar), animal products (beef, milk, yogurt) and manufactured goods (refined petroleum, textiles and medicines). The extensive Zoning Industriel de Jarry, directly west of Pointe-à-Pitre is a major centre of commercial and light industrial activity, notably for warehousing and distribution. Agricultural production continues in the east of the area where cattle rearing, banana and sugarcane growing continues. The nearby suburb of Le Gosier is Guadeloupe's main seaside resort. Le Gosier is the third most populated commune in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe, in the
Sights
Unfortunately, Pointe-à-Pitre doesn't have the old-world charm of Fort-de-France on Martinique, and what beauty it does possess is often hidden behind closed doors. Fort-de-France is the Capital of France 's Caribbean Département d'outre-mer of Martinique. Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km²
A few colonial and modern buildings complement each other: white bungalows with red roofs are separated by tree-lined parks and a large market square. However, 20th century apartment blocks and condominiums form a high-rise backdrop over jerry-built shacks and industrial suburbs. The rather narrow central streets are jammed during the day with a colorful crowd that creates a permanent traffic jam. However, after sunset the town's central streets become eerily deserted creating a seedy atmosphere around the waterfront, except for the comparatively lively central square, Place de la Victoire.
Most visitors just drop in to Pointe-à-Pitre for shopping. It's best to visit the town in the morning (you can easily cover it in half a day), taking in the waterfront and outdoor market (the latter is livelier in the early hours).
Shopping is a main attraction where you can buy perfumes and other luxury made-in-France products. Rosebleu and A La Pensee on Rue Frebault are among the most popular places to shop. Rues de Nozieres and Schoelcher also have shops carrying French imports as well as madras cottons, watches, silver and china. Centre Saint-John Perse, on the harbor front, showcases many specialty shops, a hotel and several restaurants.
Place de la Victoire at the town's center is a park shaded by palm trees and poincianas. Here you'll see some old sandbox trees said to have been planted by Victor Hugues, the mulatto who organized a revolutionary army of both whites and blacks to establish a dictatorship. In this square he kept a guillotine busy, and the death-dealing instrument stood here until modern times.
Musée Saint-John Perse is a museum on 9 Nozières Street and it occupies an attractive 19th-century colonial building with ornate wrought-iron balconies. The museum is dedicated to the renowned poet and Nobel laureate Alexis Léger (1887-1975), better known as St John Perse, who grew up just down the street at No 54. Saint-John Perse (pseudonym of Alexis Léger, also Alexis Saint-Léger Léger) ( 31 May, 1887 &ndash 20 September, 1975 The house offers both a glimpse of a period Creole home and displays on Perse's life and work.
Musée Victor Schoelcher is a museum that dedicates to the life of Victor Schoelcher, who was the chief organizer against slavery in Guadeloupe. Victor Schoelcher ( 22 July 1804, Paris - 25 December 1893, Houilles) was a French Abolitionist writer The visitor will find exhibits and artifacts of the slave trade housed in a pink and white colonial period building.
The Basilica of St Peter and St Paul (La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul) on place Gourbeyre features arches constructed of riveted iron girders, reflecting the influence of past hurricanes and earthquakes.
In Bas du Fort district, between the city and Gosier, is the powerful 18th century hilltop fortress of Fort Fleur D`Epee built in solid Vauban style[2]. In the same area the Guadeloupe Aquarium allows visitors to contemplate a lot of fish[3].
La Fete des Cuisinieres or the Festival of the Women Cooks occurs in early August. To honor their patron Saint Lawrence, brightly clothed women carry baskets of food in processions to the cathedral. Banquets and dancing occur in the evening.
Sister city
The town of Orly, France is its sister city. Orly is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 12
See also
External links
- City official website (in French)
References
- ^ http://www.kalmarind.com/show.php?id=26151
- ^ Le Guide du Routard, 2008 Guadeloupe, p97
- ^ www. Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport or Pointe-à-Pitre - Le Raizet Airport, also known as Aéroport Guadeloupe Pôle Caraïbes in French guadeloupeaquarium. com
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