Gonaïves Arrondissement

Gonaïves (Haitian Creole: Gonayiv) is an arrondissement in the Artibonite department of Haiti. It has 452,704 inhabitants. Postal codes in the Gonaïves Arrondissement start with the number 41.

The arondissement consists of the following municipalities:

1. Gonaïves🏛️

2. Ennery

3. L'Estère

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Location in Haiti

Neighboring Arrondissements

Northeast↗️	Plaisance Arrondissement
East➡️	Marmelade Arrondissement
South⬇️	Dessalines Arrondissement
⬅️West	Gulf of Gonâve
↖️Northwest	Gros-Morne Arrondissement

Meet the municipalities

Gonaïves🏛️ (356,324) Founded in 1422 by the Taino natives, this city - the capital of the Artibonite Department - is one of the oldest cities in the country. It is a highly symbolic place - by its participation in the Haitian Revolution, this city will prove throughout history to be a place of resistance and is recognized as the "Cradle of Independence." Its strategic location in the makes it a kind of crossroads allowing access to important cities in the Far West, the North, the Central Plateau and the Capital. In addition, it is located near one of the main agricultural granaries of the country. The local economy is largely suppoprted by salt production and trade.

Ennery (51,221) This small town, one of the oldest in Haiti, has been described as the most picturesque place in the north and in the Artibonite. It is essentially a valley sprinkled by a river, and surrounded on all sides by a belt of green mountains. In this valley, one would think oneself completely away from the rest of the world. The local economy is based on agriculture (beans, corn, millet, plantains, and mangoes) and livestock. It is also the birthplace of Toussaint L'ouverture, one of the great leaders of the Haitian Revolution.

L'Estère (45,159) This historical rural town in Haiti's rice growing area has a lot going on for it. It is where the famous battle of the Haitian Revolution took place on February 23, 1803 between the troops of Rochambeau and Dessalines at the Ravine-à-Couleuvres. Many residents are into farming, while livestock keeping is a common pasttime in the town. The economy is largely supported by agriculture (rice, sorghum, and maize).

History

Gonaïves served as the second-class military and financial district of the Artibonite Department, with a population of around 42,000 residents. It included four municipalities: Gonaïves, the capital of the arrondissement, as well as Gros-Morne, Ennery, and Terre-Neuve. The district underwent school inspections that also covered the schools in the Marmelade and Hinche areas. Municipal districts within this region included Poteaux, located in the rural section of the same name, and Anse-Rouge. The national guard for the Gonaïves district consisted of 2,000 infantry soldiers and 300 cavalry members.

The region encompassed 511 urban properties, 160 residential units, and 1,626 squares of land used by farmers, all of which are part of the national domain. Urban properties generated a rental income of $1,929, while rural properties brought in $9,613. The district's boundaries, established by law on October 17, 1821, were clearly defined: it shared its southern border with the Saint-Marc district from the Estère River's mouth to the corresponding bridge. From this point, the boundary extends to Crete-Sale, aligning with the Mirebalais district line; it then proceeds east-northeast until it reaches the division between the municipalities of Marmelade and Ennery, subsequently following a northwest trajectory along the Coupe de la Marmelade to Morne Laporte. Continuing northward along the ridge west of the Piment canton until it met the Borgne municipality limits, the line then turns westward, tracing the ridges of Mosquitoes, descending southwest past the hot springs of Port-à-Piment to the west, finally reaching the left bank of the pier of the same name.

Consequently, the Gonaïves district is bordered to the west by Saint Nicolas, to the north by Port-de-Paix, to the northeast by Borgne, to the east by the Plaisance municipality, to the southeast by the Marmalade district, and to the south by Saint-Marc, which occupies the coastal stretch from the mouth of the Estère to the pier of Port-à-Piment.

_{Michael VedrineMichael Vedrine}