Saint-Marc

Saint-Marc
Commune
Saint-Marc Welcome Sign at Frecyneau
Saint-Marc Location in Haiti
Coordinates: 19°7′0″N 72°42′0″W / 19.11667°N 72.70000°W / 19.11667; -72.70000Coordinates: 19°7′0″N 72°42′0″W / 19.11667°N 72.70000°W / 19.11667; -72.70000
Country	Haiti
Department	Artibonite
Arrondissement	Saint-Marc
Population (2003 Census)
• Total	160,181
Climate	BSh

Pointe de Saint-Marc Lighthouse

Haiti
Location	Pointe de Saint-Marc Artibonite Department Haiti
Coordinates	19°02′44.6″N 72°49′12.7″W / 19.045722°N 72.820194°W / 19.045722; -72.820194
Year first constructed	1924
Foundation	concrete basement
Construction	metal skeletal tower
Tower shape	square pyramidal skeletal tower
Markings / pattern	white tower
Height	12 metres (39 ft)
Focal height	29 metres (95 ft)
Light source	solar power
Range	9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi)
Characteristic	Q (9) W 15s.
Admiralty number	J5404
NGA number	14224

Saint-Marc (Haitian Creole: Sen Mak) is a commune in western Haiti in Artibonite. Its geographic coordinates are 19°7′N 72°42′W / 19.117°N 72.700°W / 19.117; -72.700. At the 2003 Census the commune had 160,181 inhabitants. It is the biggest city between Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien.

The port of Saint-Marc is currently the preferred port of entry for consumer goods coming into Haiti. Reasons for this may include its location away from volatile and congested Port-au-Prince as well as its central location relative to a large group of Haitian cities including Cap-Haïtien, Carrefour, Delmas, Fort-Liberté, Gonaïves, Hinche, Limbe, Pétion-Ville, Port-de-Paix, and Verrettes. These cities, together with their surrounding areas, contain nearly eight million of Haïti's ten million people (2009).

In 1905 the Compagnie Nationale or National Railroad built a 100 km railroad north to Saint-Marc from the national capital of Port-au-Prince. The track was later extended another 30 km east to Verrettes.