The département of 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 1.1.2004 estimates: 393,000 inhabitants. It has a Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of .mq.
History
Main article: History of Martinique
Colonized by France in 1635, the Carib Expulsion occurs in 1660 when the island's indigenous peoples are 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.
Birthplace of Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.
On May 8 1902 Mount Pelée, a volcano on the island, erupted and destroyed the town of St. Pierre killing over 30,000 people. Only one resident survived the blast - a prisoner, 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
External links and references
