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Saint Barthélemy

Collectivity of Saint-Barthélemy
Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy
Flag of Saint-Barthélemy
Coat of arms of Saint-Barthélemy
Unofficial flag Coat of arms
Anthem: La Marseillaise
Location of  Saint Barthélemy  (circled in red)in the Caribbean  (light yellow)
Location of  Saint Barthélemy  (circled in red)

in the Caribbean  (light yellow)

Status Overseas collectivity
Capital
and largest city
Gustavia
Official languages French
Local languages
Ethnic groups ()
Demonym Saint-Barth
Sovereign state France
Government Dependent territory
François Hollande
• Prefect
Anne Laubies
• President of the Territorial Council
Bruno Magras
• Deputy
Daniel Gibbs
• Senator
Michel Magras
Overseas collectivity
• French colony
1648
• Exchanged with Sweden
1 July 1784
• Sold back to France
16 March 1878
• Overseas collectivity
22 February 2007
Area
• Total
25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) (not ranked)
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• Jan 2013 estimate
9,279
• Density
361/km2 (935.0/sq mi) (26th)
Currency Euro () (EUR)
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
Calling code +590c
ISO 3166 code BL
Internet TLD
  1. French East Asians.
  2. Assigned, but not in use.
  3. Shared with Guadeloupe and Saint Martin.

in the Caribbean  (light yellow)

Saint Barthélemy (French pronunciation: ​[sɛ̃baʁtelemi]), officially the Territorial collectivity of Saint-Barthélemy (French: Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy), called Ouanalao by the indigenous people, is an overseas collectivity of France in the West Indies. Often abbreviated to St-Barth in French, and St. Barths or St. Barts in English, the island lies about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southeast of St. Martin and north of St. Kitts. Puerto Rico is 240 kilometres (150 mi) to the west in the Greater Antilles.

Saint Barthélemy was for many years a French commune forming part of Guadeloupe, which is an overseas region and department of France. In 2003, the island voted in favour of secession from Guadeloupe in order to form a separate overseas collectivity (COM) of France. The collectivity is one of four territories among the Leeward Islands in the northeastern Caribbean that comprise the French West Indies, along with Saint Martin, Guadeloupe (200 kilometres (120 mi) southeast), and Martinique.

Saint Barthélemy, a volcanic island fully encircled by shallow reefs, has an area of 25 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi) and a population of 9,279 (Jan. 2013 census). Its capital is Gustavia, which also contains the main harbour to the island. It is the only Caribbean island which was a Swedish colony for any significant length of time; Guadeloupe was under Swedish rule only briefly at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Symbolism from the Swedish national arms, the Three Crowns, still appears in the island's coat of arms. The language, cuisine, and culture, however, are distinctly French. The island is a popular tourist destination during the winter holiday season, especially for the rich and famous during the Christmas and new year period.


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