Fort-Liberté Fòlibète Bayaha • Fort-Dauphin • Fort Saint Joseph • Fort Castries • Fort-Royal |
|
---|---|
Commune | |
A view from the north of Fort-Liberte
|
|
Location in Haiti | |
Coordinates: 19°40′4″N 71°50′23″W / 19.66778°N 71.83972°WCoordinates: 19°40′4″N 71°50′23″W / 19.66778°N 71.83972°W | |
Country | Haiti |
Department | Nord-Est |
Arrondissement | Fort-Liberté |
Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Population (7 August 2003) | |
• Total | 30,110 |
Fort-Liberté (Haitian Creole: Fòlibète) is a commune and administrative capital of the Nord-Est Department of Haiti. It is close to the border of the Dominican Republic and is one of the oldest cities in the country. Haiti's independence was proclaimed here on November 29, 1803.
The area around Fort-Liberté was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples of the Americas, and later by Spanish colonists, who founded the city of Bayaja in 1578, but abandoned it in 1605. The site was reoccupied by the French in 1732 as Fort-Dauphin; it was captured by Spanish forces in 1794, restored to the French in 1801 and then surrendered to the British on 8 September 1803, shortly before the declaration of independence. The city has undergone a succession of name changes: Bayaja (1578), Fort-Dauphin (1732), Fort St. Joseph (1804), Fort-Royal (1811) and finally Fort-Liberté (1820). The town is the see city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort-Liberté.
The population of Fort-Liberté is 11,465.Haitian Creole is spoken in this area, with the more educated people also speaking French. The most common religious affiliations are Roman Catholic and Haitian Vodou.
Fort-Liberté is part of Nord-Est Department, which borders the Dominican Republic. Nord-Est (North-East, Haitian Creole: Nòdès) is one of the ten departments (départements) of Haiti. Nord-Est has an area of 1,805 square kilometres (697 sq mi) and a population of 283,800 (2002). The arrondissement consists of the three municipalities of Fort-Liberté, Ferrier and Perches. In the colonial era, it was a major plantation area, and today it remains an important coffee-producing area. Its pine forests are heavily exploited for charcoal. In addition, several colonial-era forts, mostly in ruins, are situated here.