This page will contain additional articles about martinique, as they become available.MartiniqueMartinique is an island located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a total area of 1,128 km². It is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France. Like the other DOMs, Martinique is also one of the 26 régions of France (as a région d'outre-mer), and an integral part of the Republic. |
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| Capital | Fort-de-France |
| Land area¹ | 1,128 km² |
| Regional President | Alfred Marie-Jeanne (MIM) (since 1998) |
| Population - Jan.1, 2005 estimate - March 8, 1999 census - Density |
(Ranked 24th) 398,000 381,427 353/km² (2005) |
| Arrondissements | 4 |
| Cantons | 45 |
| Communes | 34 |
| Départements | Martinique |
| 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 |
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Main article: History of Martinique
Colonized by France in 1635, the Carib Expulsion occurred in 1660 when the island's indigenous peoples were deported and banned from returning by the French occupying forces. The island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.
From 1635 (arrival of Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc, a French aristocrat who took possession of the island for France) to 1946, Martinique lived as a French colony producing tropical trade goods such as cane sugar, coffee, rum or cocoa. African captives were brought from West Africa to form the slave population who is at the origin of most of today's population.
Martinique was the birthplace of Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. She was the daughter of white slave-owning aristocrats. The remnants of her parent's plantation, La Pagerie, can still be seen at Les Trois Ilets, across the bay from Fort-de-France.
On May 8, 1902 Mount Pelée, a volcano on the island erupted, destroying the town of St Pierre killing over 30,000 people. Only one resident survived the blast — a prisoner by the name of Ludger Sylbaris, who was protected by the thick walls of his prison cell.
Martinique became an overseas département of France on March 19, 1946. This means it is treated equally to every other département in France and has full representation in the National Assembly and Senate.
Martinique is especially well known for the number of great authors that have come from the island and become extremely famous in France and throughout the world. It has also become known for a form of music called zouk, which developed in the 1980s.
Main article: Politics of Martinique
Main article: Subdivisions of Martinique
See also Communes of the Martinique département
o rly?Main article: Geography of Martinique
Main article: Economy of Martinique
Main article: Demographics of Martinique
Main article: Culture of Martinique
See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe
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See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe. o rly?Main article: Geography of Martinique. the town near Adelaide Lonsdale, South Australia. See also Communes of the Martinique département. the car Lonsdale (car). Main article: Subdivisions of Martinique. Lonsdale ward. Main article: Politics of Martinique. Lonsdale hundred. It has also become known for a form of music called zouk, which developed in the 1980s. Lonsdale, the valley of the River Lune, UK. Martinique is especially well known for the number of great authors that have come from the island and become extremely famous in France and throughout the world. the town of Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, UK. This means it is treated equally to every other département in France and has full representation in the National Assembly and Senate. a clothing brand, originally a brand for boxing garments, named after Hugh Cecil Lowther, fifth Earl of Lonsdale. Martinique became an overseas département of France on March 19, 1946. a type of cigar, named after Hugh Cecil Lowther, fifth Earl of Lonsdale. Only one resident survived the blast — a prisoner by the name of Ludger Sylbaris, who was protected by the thick walls of his prison cell. Hugh Cecil Lowther, fifth Earl of Lonsdale. On May 8, 1902 Mount Pelée, a volcano on the island erupted, destroying the town of St Pierre killing over 30,000 people. The remnants of her parent's plantation, La Pagerie, can still be seen at Les Trois Ilets, across the bay from Fort-de-France. She was the daughter of white slave-owning aristocrats. Martinique was the birthplace of Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. African captives were brought from West Africa to form the slave population who is at the origin of most of today's population. From 1635 (arrival of Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc, a French aristocrat who took possession of the island for France) to 1946, Martinique lived as a French colony producing tropical trade goods such as cane sugar, coffee, rum or cocoa. The island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation. Colonized by France in 1635, the Carib Expulsion occurred in 1660 when the island's indigenous peoples were deported and banned from returning by the French occupying forces. Main article: History of Martinique. . Like the other DOMs, Martinique is also one of the 26 régions of France (as a région d'outre-mer), and an integral part of the Republic. It is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France. Martinique is an island located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a total area of 1,128 km². |