Independence Year :
Population : 395000
Life Expectancy : 78.3
Capital : 2508
GNP : 2731.00
GNP Old : 2559.00
Local Name : Martinique
Government Form : Overseas Department of France
Location : Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean
Terrain : Mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Climate : Maritime tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October
Ethnic Group : African and African-white-Indian
Religions : Christianity 90%
Official Website :
www.martinique.pref.gouv.fr
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General Information - Martinique
Background
Martinique belongs to the Windward Islands, the southern group of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies.
Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.
Timeline
June 15, 1502 Columbus lands at Carbet on the Caribbean side of the island.
1635 First French settlement under Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc.
1636 King Louis XIII permits the introduction of slaves to the French West Indies.
1685 Establishment of Colbert's "Black Code" which, in 60 articles, officially governs the lives of slaves until 1848.
1762 - 1848 Martinique is occupied several times by the British.
May 22, 1848 Abolition of slavery.
May 8, 1902 Eruption of Mt. Pelée destroying St.-Pierre. Fort-de-France becomes the capital.
March 19, 1946 Martinique acquires the status of a French department. Four deputies and 2 senators represent it.
1983 The Regional Council is established following the French decentralization laws of 1982.
(Source: Martinique Promotion Bureau - martinique.org)
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