Martinique

Martinique is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France, located in the Caribbean Sea. The capital is Fort-de-France. Population at the 1999 census: 381,427 inhabitants. Population as of 2004 estimates: 393,000 inhabitants. It has an Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of .mq.

History

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.

Martinique was the birthplace of Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.

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 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.

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.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Martinique

Subdivisions

Main article: Subdivisions of Martinique

See also Communes of the Martinique département

Geography

Main article: Geography of Martinique

Economy

Main article: Economy of Martinique

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Martinique

Culture

Main article: Culture of Martinique

See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Martinique
• Transportation in Martinique
• Military: defense is the responsibility of France.
  Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
• Foreign relations of Martinique
• Holidays in Martinique

External links and references

• Some material from the CIA World Factbook
• The Martinique Promotion Bureau
• Maps and Pictures (French)