Dondon is a commune in the Northern Department of Haiti. The population was 34,604 at the 2015 census.
"Dondon's sign" at Morne Bouk
Location in Haiti
About[]
Dondon is located within the North Department and the Saint-Raphaël Borough. It is the third oldest town in the Northern department, established after Acul (1492) and Cap-Haïtien (1670). The commune is divided into five communal sections: Brostage1, Cayman Basin2, Matador3, Laguille4, and Haut du Trou5. Surrounded on all sides by mountains, Dondon lies within the Chaîne du Bonnet à l'Évêque range, with the iconic Citadel La Ferrière to its north. It has the second highest mean elevation in the region, with its highest point located in Haut-du-Trou at 1,028 meters (3,372 feet) above sea level—just below the elevation of the town of Pilate, which stands at 1,047 meters.
Known for its elevated terrain and cooler climate compared to coastal areas, Dondon is celebrated for its natural beauty, including caves and sweeping mountain views. The town plays an important role in the local economy through farming and artisanal crafts.
Etymolygy[]
In addition to its current boundaries, the area once encompassed lands that were later split off to form the communes of Saint-Raphaël (incorporated in 1881), Ranquitte (1889), and Pignon (1924). Historically, Dondon was part of the former Borough of Limonade before becoming part of the Borough of Grande-Rivière-du-Nord, and later the Borough of Saint-Raphaël.
To the west of the town center rises the prominent Morne Bouk, the hill that gave the region its name. Shaped like an elongated woman, lying on her back with her head pointed toward the Citadel, this densely wooded hill struck the first French settlers as resembling a large, hairy woman—a likeness that matched the old French word dondon. The name has endured ever since.
Town of Dondon, with the imposing Morne Bouk in the background
History[]
André Minguet, the first European settler of Dondon, granted land in 1698 for his role in the siege of Cartagena.
Dondon’s history stretches back to the colonial era, shaped by layers of indigenous Taíno heritage and French colonial settlement. The most documented phase of its past begins in the late 17th century(1600s), when the area—then known as Trou-Dondon (meaning “Dondon Hole”)—was granted to the buccaneer-surgeon André Minguet, the first European colonist to settle in the region. On September 11, 1698, shortly after the Treaty of Ryswick was signed between France and Spain, Jean-Baptiste du Casse, governor of Santo Domingo, awarded Minguet a concession encompassing “the place commonly called Trou-du-Dondon,” bounded by the mountains of the Cape, Grand Fond, Limbé, and the Pimentier River. This grant was in recognition of Minguet’s service during the siege of Cartagena. In the forested hills of Dondon, Minguet established a rudimentary hospital where he tended to sick and wounded buccaneers.
Despite this early presence, Dondon did not grow into a permanent settlement until around 1727. By 1789, under the jurisdiction of the now-defunct Borough of Limonade, the parish of Dondon had become a small but significant colonial outpost. It was home to approximately 600 whites, 200 freed people, and 9,000 enslaved Africans. The local economy included an indigo works, six food processing facilities, and 210 coffee plantations, with around 300 white and free men bearing arms.
During the Haitian Revolution, Dondon and its surrounding region became a stronghold of resistance and a refuge for freedom fighters. The town played a crucial role in the struggle for liberation, and many of its people actively participated in the fight against French colonial rule. Over the centuries, Dondon has preserved much of its cultural and historical identity. Architectural landmarks, oral traditions, and local folklore continue to reflect the town’s colonial roots and revolutionary legacy.
Dondon Central Square
Geography[]
Dondon is a mountainous commune located in northern Haiti, at 19°32′0″N 72°14′0″W nestled within the Northern Mountain Range. Covering a total area of 120.36 square kilometers (46.47 square miles), the commune is predominantly rural, with 79% of its land (120 km2) classified as rural, 20% (24 km2) suburban, and less than 1% (0.75 km2) urban, according to the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI). Dondon is subdivided into five communal sections and comprises over 50 localities. It is bordered by Acul-du-Nord and Plaine-du-Nord to the north, the commune of Grande-Rivière-du-Nord to the east, Saint-Raphaël to the southeast, and the Artibonite towns of Saint-Michel and Marmelade to the southwest and west.
The terrain is rugged and varied, with elevations ranging from 390 meters (1,200 feet) in areas like Brostage and neighboring Grand-Gilles, to as high as 1,028 meters (3,373 feet) in Haut-du-Trou. The region’s cool, highland climate and fertile calcareous soil support agriculture and foster a rich natural landscape. This soil composition has also given rise to an abundance of caves, sinkholes, and underground features—known locally as “zing” holes—making Dondon a site of considerable ecotourism potential. The Bouyaha River traverses the commune, contributing to local agriculture and biodiversity.
Commune map of Dondon, Nord, Haiti
Neighborhoods[]
| DON | Dondon | 34,604 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VDN | Ville de Dondon | Urban | 11,659 | |
| BGT | 1ère Section Brostage | Rural | 5,827 | Amadi, Bois Pin, Carrefour Seize, Congo, Ginette, Lagon, La Pète, Latou, Ménard, Vaseux |
| BCM | 2ème Bassin Caïman | Rural | 3,957 | Bassin-Caïman, Bois-Neuf, Fève, Jean-Charles, La Fague, Peujot, Platon-Prière |
| MTD | 3ème Section Matador | Rural | 7,021 | Bellevue, Blaise, Bois Jumeau, Boisson, Carrefour, Cusson, Fontaine, Gros-Roche, Mare Laroche, Prester, Trois Cajoux |
| LGL | 4ème Section Laguille | Rural section | 3,022 | Audate, Bernice, Desroches, Doverne, Garde Champêtre, Habitation Guillaume, Laguilde, La Voute, La Voute Miguette, Leroy, Nan Michel, Plaine-Coursac, Toussaint, Vasè |
| HAT | 5eme Section Haut du Trou | Rural | 3,118 | David, Dessources, Haut-du-Trou, Piguer, Saint-Germain, Soufrière |
Demography[]
The inhabitants of the town call themselves Dondonnais.
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 9,800 | |
| 1890 | 10,000 | +2% |
| 1950 | 21,954 | +120% |
| 1971 | 17,191 | -22% |
| 1982 | 30,968 | +80% |
| 1998 | 42,587 | +38% |
| 2004 | 46,145 | +8% |
| 2009 | 31,469 | -32% |
| 2015 | 34,604 | +10% |
Residential neighborhood of Dondon, Haiti
Climate[]
Dondon’s climate is typical of the humid highlands of the Northern Mountain Range, shaped by both its elevation and exposure to seasonal winds. The region lies open to the influence of spring trade winds and autumn north winds, contributing to a cool, moist tropical highland climate. With elevations ranging from about 390 to over 1,000 meters (985 to 3280 ft.), the area enjoys mild temperatures year-round, with an average annual temperature of 25°C (77°F).
The coldest months are December and January, while June through September are the hottest. Rainfall is abundant and well distributed throughout the year, averaging 2,500 mm (100 inches) annually. Although May, June, and July are comparatively drier, Dondon does not experience a true dry season. The combination of consistent rainfall, cooler mountain air, and fertile soils makes Dondon especially suitable for agriculture—particularly coffee—and enhances its potential as a destination for ecotourism and nature-based activities.
Economy[]
Dondon, Haiti
The local economy is based on agriculture, with the majority of residents engaged in small-scale farming and crop cultivation. The region produces a variety of food and cash crops, including coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, limes, beans, peas, corn, bananas, figs, yams, and various vegetables and fruits.
Coffee remains the town’s most important export, supported by approximately 3,000 local producers affiliated with three active cooperatives that process and market beans to European and American markets. Dondon is also known for cultivating rare or endangered crops in Haiti, such as parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes, and the Jambosier (Syzygium malaccense). Livestock raising—especially of poultry, goats, and rabbits—provides farmers with supplementary income, though larger animals like cattle and horses remain uncommon due to cost.
Trade plays a vital role in the local economy and is often led by women, who dominate local commerce, while men typically handle the transport and sale of exportable goods such as coffee, cocoa, and dried orange peels to markets in Cap-Haïtien, Port-au-Prince, and the Central Plateau. Dondon's strategic location and road connections, particularly via Saint-Raphaël, give its Tuesday and Saturday market days regional significance. A new municipal market, built in 2007 with FAES support, has further boosted local trade.
In addition to farming, Dondon supports a network of skilled artisans and small businesses—including tailors, carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, cobblers, basket weavers, and woodcarvers. Small-scale manufacturing, such as bakeries, corn mills, coffee and fruit processing plants, Clairin distilleries, and even an ice plant near Labbé, contribute to the commune’s growing economic diversity. In recent years, eco-tourism development has emerged as a promising sector, aiming to leverage Dondon’s rich natural beauty and historical heritage to create sustainable income opportunities.
Dondon, Haiti
Infrastructure[]
Dondon has essential public infrastructure, including a town hall, schools, community centers, and a municipal market built in 2007. Access to clean water and sanitation varies, with some areas still facing challenges. Electricity is limited and often unreliable, so many people use alternative sources. While services are modest, some improvements have been made through local efforts and outside support.
Transportation[]
Dondon is strategically positioned within Haiti’s transportation network, benefiting from a combination of national and local road connections. The town is crossed by Route Nationale 3, a major thoroughfare that links Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien, passing through Hinche, Pignon, and Saint-Raphaël, and serving as a vital corridor between the capital and the northern region. An additional regional road, constructed in 1999, connects Dondon to Saint-Michel, facilitating trade and movement within the Central Plateau. Inside the commune, all five communal sections are interconnected by a web of local roads, dirt tracks, and footpaths. Although many of these roads remain unpaved or in rough shape, ongoing improvement efforts aim to enhance access—especially for agricultural transport and market connectivity. Day-to-day transportation is largely informal, relying on motorcycles, pickup trucks, and walking, with limited availability of formal public transit options.
Dondon, Nord, Haiti
Education[]
Dondon hosts a well-rounded and diverse educational landscape, featuring 17 primary schools—only three of which are public—along with a public secondary school, a congregational school, and two vocational training centers. The Ministry of National Education is represented locally through a school inspection office. Among the vocational institutions, EMAD (École moyenne d'agriculture de Dondon) focuses on agricultural research and training, while PETECHDON offers instruction in videography, photography, cooking, and baking, with proposals underway to expand into fields such as building construction, music, men's haircutting, and floral art.
Approximately 80% of the commune’s schools are privately run, often operating under difficult conditions. Many are overcrowded, under-resourced, and lack essential infrastructure such as libraries, playgrounds, toilets, and access to clean water. To address these challenges, organizations like the Haitian Vision Foundation (HVF) provide critical support. HVF offers a scholarship program covering tuition, uniforms, books, and supplies for children whose families cannot afford school. Entirely funded by donations, HVF continues to seek support to sustain and expand access to education in Dondon and its surrounding areas.
Health[]
Healthcare in Dondon is unevenly distributed. The Ministry of Public Health does not have an official office in the town. The main facility is the Dondon Health Center, which has a general doctor, two nurses, three nursing assistants, four community health workers, and five support staff. It only has one adult bed and a delivery room, and is run with help from the Ministry of Public Health and the Charity Hospital of Pignon. The center also supports local midwives and traditional healers called “leaf doctors.”
Until recently, rural areas lacked any formal health infrastructure, leaving many residents without access to care. Two small clinics offer some basic services: the Saint-Joseph Clinic, run by Catholic sisters, and the Henri-Eugene Dispensary. Both provide general consultations, family planning, and sell basic medicines. Saint-Joseph is staffed by a nurse and three assistants trained on the job.
In a major step forward, a new health center has opened in Brostage, part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Public Health to expand care across the Northern Department and better serve people in remote communities.
Organizations such as ODID continue to support access through mobile clinics and outreach events, while the Haitian Vision Foundation is actively fundraising to build a permanent clinic in town.
Utilities[]
Electricity[]
Most residents in Dondon do not have regular access to electricity. In the town center, two diesel generators with a total output of 210 kW supply power to about 500 households. Managed by a local citizen group (COLECDON) with support from the municipality, this system typically provides electricity for about three hours each night. In the Brostage section, a smaller generator serves around 135 homes in the La Paix area, offering about two hours of electricity in the evening. Both systems offer intermittent but essential power access to residents in town and nearby areas.
Rivière Bouyaja, Dondon, Haiti
Water[]
Water access in Dondon comes from a mix of natural and community-managed sources. The commune is home to two rivers, a spring, and a lagoon, and about 30 water sources have been captured for local use. Most households do not have indoor plumbing, so residents collect water from public access points. A public water system, originally built in 1982 by the Northern Development Organization (ODN) and repaired in 2002, serves the town center, Leblanc, and part of Brostage. It includes public fountains and a few private household connections, managed by a local administrative committee (CAEP), with subscribers paying a small fee.
Administration[]
In terms of local governance, the town has a mayor’s office and a municipal council that manage public affairs.
The commune's administrative and judicial infrastructure includes a Court of Peace for local legal matters and a Police Station for public safety. However, there is no prison within the commune.
Historically, Dondon has had a garrison presence, which included a gendarmerie company, administrative police, National Guard, rural police, and an artillery line from Grande Rivière du Nord.
Culture[]
Religion
In Dondon, Vodou and Christianity are the dominant religions. As typically seen throughout the country, there are a large number of Vodou colonnades in the town. Nevertheless, Christianity also holds great importance as evidenced by the Catholic Parish of Saint-Martin of Dondon which was established in the 1700s, seven Catholic chapels, and 63 Protestant churches of various denominations such as, Baptiste Dondon, one of the oldest churches, which was founded on May 1, 1852.
Catholic Parish of Saint-Martin of Dondon
Organizations[]
With regard to the political parties and other organizations, there were two popular organizations, one non-commercial cooperative, and one NGO.
- ODID (Organisation pour le Développement Intégral de Dondon) runs cultural events (Festival des Grottes), ecotourism, women’s empowerment, youth programs, and health initiatives including mobile clinics and the Dondon Music School.
- HVF (Haitian Vision Foundation) provides scholarships, operates a chronic disease clinic, organizes annual mobile clinics, and supplies preventative healthcare.
- CACGAVA (Cooperative Agricultural Coffeemaker Gabart Levaillant) partners with the UN’s World Food Programme to sell produce and support local farmers.
- EMAD (École Moyenne d’Agriculture de Dondon trains agro-trainers and young farmers in modern agricultural practices.
- Singing Rooster trains farmers cooperatives in Dondon on business, crop improvements, and provides financing via Root Capital in partnership with Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture.
- Food and Agriculture Organization / World Food Programme supplies school meals and buys local produce via CACGAVA, benefiting Dondon farmers.
- Hands Up for Haiti operates remote clinic sites, including one in Dondon, offering hypertension treatment, malnutrition programs, and community outreach via volunteer nurses and local staff.
Communication[]
Dondon has a modest but developing communication system that many residents rely on every day. Most people use mobile phones to stay in touch, with networks like Digicel, COMCEL, and HAITEL offering coverage, although signal strength varies by location—reception is strongest in elevated areas like Morne Dubréton. Since 2006, Digicel began extending its services to the area, with infrastructure work initiated at Morne Corneille. For many in the community, radio is still the most trusted source of information. Radio Dondon FM, which began in 1996 and is run by Mr. Guynel Ménard, broadcasts every evening on 101.1 FM, keeping people informed and entertained. In addition to local programming, radio signals from Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, and even the Dominican Republic are also received clearly in Dondon.
Television is less common in the area because there’s no local station and electricity isn’t always reliable. The town doesn’t yet have its own newspaper or magazine either. Still, some progress has been made. TELECO runs a small, solar-powered call center in town, with around 30 home phone connections that make it possible to call anywhere in the country or abroad. Since 2005, the CIDTECH (Centre d'Informatique Et de Développement Technique) cybercafé has offered internet and photocopy services, giving students, professionals, and residents a place to connect with the outside world. Even so, internet is still expensive and not always fast, so many people continue to rely on churches, schools, neighbors, and word of mouth to share news.
A state-appointed mail carrier is responsible for delivering letters, though the commune does not yet have an official post office.
Leisure[]
Parc Central; Dondon, Haiti
Leisure in Dondon is shaped by its breathtaking natural surroundings, strong community ties, and deeply rooted cultural traditions. While the town lacks modern entertainment venues such as libraries, museums, or movie theaters, daily life is rich with meaningful social and recreational activity. The parish hall occasionally serves as a makeshift theater, hosting plays or gatherings, and the town square remains a vital space for community life.
Football (soccer) is a central part of recreation in Dondon, particularly among youth. During the summer holidays, a much-anticipated championship takes place on the grounds at Pont-des-Dames, just off Route Nationale 3. Smaller-scale ti football tournaments are organized throughout the neighborhoods and schoolyards, bringing together students who study in other cities and return home for the summer. Sunday afternoons are especially lively during the season, with matches on the field west of the public square drawing enthusiastic crowds.
Basketball has grown in popularity in recent years, with a vibrant summer championship held in the courtyard of the Saint-Charles Borromeo School. Looking to the future, HVF has plans to build Dondon's first full-size basketball court, designed to meet NBA regulations — a significant step for organized sports in the town.
Beyond sports, Dondon’s leisure life flourishes through music, storytelling, and shared time in public spaces. Residents gather in churchyards, town squares, and markets to socialize, dance, and discuss matters of the day. Traditional celebrations, seasonal festivals, and religious events offer additional opportunities for communal joy and cultural expression.
Nature plays a central role in recreation as well. The surrounding hills are ideal for hiking and exploration, and two significant natural sites — the Voute à Minguet in Laguille and the Grotte des Dames near Pont-des-Dames — hold both recreational and spiritual significance. Once sacred temples to the island’s Indigenous people, these sites continue to draw pilgrims from across Haiti each year, who come to offer sacrifices and honor ancestral traditions.
Despite limited infrastructure, Dondon’s leisure landscape thrives — sustained by its people’s creativity and pride in place. Here, joy is built not from wealth or technology, but from community, culture, and the land itself.
Heritage[]
Festival des Grottes - Cave Festival, Dondon, Haiti
Dondon is a town with deep historical roots, especially from the colonial and revolutionary periods. It is home to landmarks like the Dondon Caves, which were used as shelters and strategic hideouts by freedom fighters during the Haitian Revolution. Some colonial-era buildings and old trails still exist today, showing Dondon’s long history. Stories about the past are passed down through oral tradition, folk songs, and by elders in the community. Religion plays a big part in keeping the town’s culture alive, especially through the Catholic Church and local Vodou practices. These traditions help preserve Dondon’s identity and history.
Cultural events in Dondon are often tied to religious celebrations and community gatherings. There are local bands that perform during carnival, and a theater group that puts on performances. The feast of Saint-Martin, celebrated on November 11, is one of the main cultural events. Other celebrations include Sainte-Agnès in Haut du Trou on the last Sunday of January, Our Lady of Perpetual Secours in Brostage on June 27, and Mount Carmel in Bassin Caiman on July 16. These events are usually organized by local youth, community groups, and people who return to Dondon during the holidays.
Monuments and sites
The Voute à Minguet (English: Vault in Minguet) is a cave, place of worship of the Taïnos in pre-Columbian times, and today vodun place of worship. Moreau de Saint-Mery describes it and reports that it was the first habitation of the Minguet buccaneer at Dondon. It must also be noted that there are about ten caves in this municipality. such as Voute des Dames, Marc Antoine Cave, Voute la smoke, Cadelia, including the caves to which have not yet been given a name. Next to the caves, there are other sites such as Negro Square at Mathador, a site at Brostage, and many more.
Celebrities
Jean-Baptiste the Pers (died in 1743, in Dondon), French Jesuit Vincent Ogé (around 1755, in Dondon - beaten up in 1791, in Cape-Français), figure of the Haitian revolution André Mainguet
References[]
"Grottes. La Voute à Minguet, Dondon, Haiti" [1]
"Dondon - Ecotourisme" [2]
"Up the mountain to Dondon" [3]
Commune de Dondon - Site officiel d'ODID [4]
About Dondon - Haitian Vision Foundation [5]
Dondon, Haiti - Ken Josephson Dorcin [6]
Destinations - Dondon Grottoes [7]
Dondon - Fanny Leon (OGDNH) [8]
Dondon - Alex Jacob [9]
Andre Josepfh Minguet - Wikipedia [10] Michael Vedrine