Port-au-Prince

Port-au-Prince, population 846,200 (1995), is the capital and largest city of Haiti. It is located on a bay of the Gulf of La Gonave, at 18°32′ N 72°20′ W. The city exports coffee and sugar. Port-au-Prince has food-processing plants and soap, textile, and cement factories. The city used to export shoes, baseballs, etc.

It was founded in 1749 by French sugar planters. In 1770, it replaced Cap-Haïtien as capital of the colony of Saint-Domingue, and in 1804 it became the capital of newly-independent Haiti. Before independence it was captured by British troops on June 4, 1794.

Landmarks include the quay, the University of Haiti, the National Palace, the National Museum, and the Basilica of Notre Dame.