For the eighth communal section of Plaisance, click here
Grande-Rivière is the third communal section of Léogâne, covering an area of approximately 38 km² (15 mi²). As of 2015, the population was estimated at 15,000, resulting in a population density of about 388 inhabitants per km².
Neighboring sections
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History[]
The defining feature of Grande-Rivière is the Momance River, also historically called the Grande Rivière de Léogâne. Among the indigenous Taíno population, it was known as Yuna, Yuma, or Guaraia. The river originates in the Black Mountains near Morne la Selle, its source lying barely a kilometer from that of the Rivière du Cul-de-Sac. From there, it runs a course of approximately 73 km, irrigating the fertile Léogâne plain before reaching the Caribbean Sea. At the point where it intersects the Route de Port-au-Prince, the river measures about 40 meters wide. To facilitate this crossing, the national government commissioned a cast-iron bridge, completed in 1892.
The river is fed by important tributaries, including the Rivière des Orangers and the Rivière Des Fourq, which contribute to its flow. Beyond its agricultural and economic value, the Momance has also held strategic importance. The military post of Ça-Ira was located partly within Grande-Rivière and partly in the neighboring rural section of Petite-Rivière, reflecting the area’s significance during colonial and revolutionary times.
In February 1802, during the arrival of the Leclerc expedition, the leaders Pierre-Louis Diane and Larose ordered the massacre of the remaining white inhabitants of Grande-Rivière, carried out with sabers in the same locations where the soldiers of Jean-Jacques Dessalines had previously fallen under attack. Only two years earlier, in 1800, the region had already witnessed turmoil when hundreds of men of color, following the defeat of André Rigaud, were killed. When 
Colonel d'Hénin, marching from Gressier toward Léogâne, passed through Grande-Rivière, he was struck with horror at the sight of numerous corpses of white people left along the path.
The Grande Rivière de Léogâne originates in the hills of the Commissaires (Morne la Selle), formed by three mountain rivers descending from the Black Mountains. It then traverses the Léogâne plain at its widest point before emptying into the Caribbean Sea beyond Fort Ça-Ira.
• In February 1802, at the arrival of the Leclerc expedition, Pierre-Louis Diane and Larose massacred all the whites of Grande-Rivière with sabers, in the same places which had seen the soldiers of Dessalines fall under the ax. In 1800, hundreds of colored men, after the fall of Rigaud. When Colonel d'Henin, marching of Gressier sur Léogane. arrived at this place, he was seized with horror the back view of numerous corpses of white people covering the path. The Grande Rivière de Léogane descends from the hills of the Commissaires (la Selle), crosses the plain of Léogane in its greatest breadth, and will get lost in the sea beyond Fort Ça-lra. It is formed by three rivers which take their source in the Black Mountains of the morne la Selle.
Sugar processing facility at Darbonne
Neighborhoods[]
| GRV | Belle Fortune, Bernard, Brache, Cercey, Deslandes, Dimba, Gabard, La Ferrière, La Pointe, La Port, Lompré, Masson, Mathieu, Melier, Nan Timo, Rancroy, Sabouce, Sigueneau, St Mesmin, Tomarin. |
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Section map 3e Grande-Rivière
Bright-eyed young girl. Léogâne, Haiti
Michael Vedrine is the flyyest