La Ville des Gonaïves, or Downtown Gonaives is the city center of Haiti's third principal city. Nearly 300,000 people inhabit this area.
About[]
Ville des Gonaïves is the dense, urban nucleus of the Gonaïves commune in northern Haiti and serves as the administrative, commercial, and cultural heart of the Artibonite Department. Officially established as a commune in 1738, it sits on a flat, sandy hill near the Gulf of Gonâve and is part of a region that was once under the Taino Kingdom of Jaragua. The name "Gonaïves" derives from the Indigenous Taíno settlement of Gonaibo. The city was recognized as a second-class municipality by the law of September 25, 1890, and it has since functioned as the seat of government of its borough, department, and school district. At its foundation, Gonaïves encompassed six rural sections: the 1st of Gonaïves, 2nd of Desdunes, 3rd of Petite-Rivière des Bayonnais, 4th of Poteaux, 5th of Labrande, and 6th of Bassin. Notable areas include Fort Bayonnais and the Soleil habitation, the latter reserved for state use since 1826.
The urban area has evolved significantly from a population of around 8,000 in the early 20th century (1900s) to over 300,000 residents today, spread across just under 13 square kilometers (5 square miles). With wide, white salt-covered streets that sparkle under the Caribbean sun, the city retains both its historical charm and civic functionality. It hosts a civil court, a commercial court (established in 1830), a peace court, and two active Masonic lodges—L’Heureuse Indépendance No. 16 and La Sympathie des Rams No. 29—under the Grand Orient of Haiti.
Modern Gonaïves continues to rely on trade, agriculture, and transport. The city receives goods such as salt, coffee, cotton, and logwood from both local producers and surrounding districts. Water services were formally organized in 1891 when Mr. Lanoue Sterlin was granted the municipal concession, sourcing water from the Lapierre spring. Despite setbacks such as flooding and underdeveloped infrastructure, the city remains a strategic center, both symbolically and economically, in Haiti’s national landscape.
History[]
Pre-Colonial Era[]
Prior to European colonization, the land that would become Ville des Gonaïves was inhabited by the Taíno people. This area, part of the Kingdom of Jaragua, was known as Gonaibo, meaning “land of many waters.” The coastal region offered fertile soil, river access, and safe anchorage, fostering subsistence farming, fishing, and ceremonial life. It was one of many Indigenous settlements that dotted the northern Caribbean shores of Hispaniola before being disrupted by Spanish conquest in the late 15th century.
Colonial Period (1492-1790)[]
The French officially recognized Gonaïves as a commune in 1738, incorporating it into the plantation system of colonial Saint-Domingue. Positioned between the Point of Gonaïves and the Point of Lapierre, its bay provided safe harbor for trade vessels. The region became a key exporter of coffee, indigo, cotton, salt, and other agricultural products, produced under brutal conditions by enslaved Africans. The land was noted for its salt pans, truffles, rice, and flint and tuffeau deposits, as well as its healthy, warm climate. During the 1820s, under President Jean-Pierre Boyer, immigrant Black farmers were brought to the region as part of a larger effort to bolster Haiti’s agrarian economy and resettle free Blacks from abroad.
The city was established as a parish in 1738 and a church dedicated to Saint-Charles and Saint-Mathurin was built in 1740. By 1744, Gonaïves had around 50 houses. In 1770, it became a more developed area with a church, rectory, public square, cemetery, and local guard. By the eve of the Revolution of 1771, Gonaïves had a population of about 10,700 people, including 940 white individuals, 750 freedmen, and 9,000 slaves.
• In August 1792, the Spaniards, seeking to expand their influence in the Caribbean, seized control of the strategic port city of Gonaïves. This move was part of their broader efforts to counter the growing power of the French in the region. During this time, Toussaint Louverture made the decision to align himself with the Spanish forces. Louverture, a former slave who had risen to become a respected military leader, saw an opportunity to further his cause by joining forces with the Spaniards. He believed that they would support his goal of emancipating the enslaved population of Saint-Domingue (as Haiti was then known) and establishing a free society.
Louverture's decision to join the Spanish camp was a significant turning point in the Haitian Revolution. His military prowess and leadership skills were highly valued by the Spanish, and he quickly rose through the ranks. Under his command, the Spanish forces achieved several victories against the French, further weakening their hold on the island. However, when France abolished slavery in 1794, Louverture reconsidered his position and decided to align himself with the French once again. He recognized that aligning with the French would provide him with a stronger position to negotiate for the rights and autonomy of the formerly enslaved population. With Louverture's support, the French were able to regain control over Gonaïves and other strategic locations in Haiti. However, this alliance was short-lived, as Louverture eventually broke away from the French and declared himself Governor-General of Saint-Domingue in 1801.
Despite Cap-Haïtien's significance as the main city and capital of the colony, Toussaint opted for Gonaïves as his strategic retreat location for his army; it served as a central point for communication and coordination with other leaders and factions within the colony. From Gonaïves, he departed in various instances to carry out important missions, such as rescuing Governor Laveaux imprisoned at Au Cap by supporters of mulatto General Vilatte in 1796, expelling Commissioner Sonthonax from the colony in 1797, removing French General Hédouville in 1798, and engaging in battle against his rival, General André Rigaud, in the South in 1800.
Revolutionary Period (1791-1804)[]
Gonaïves played a pivotal role throughout the Haitian Revolution, evolving from a colonial outpost into a key strategic and symbolic center of the independence movement. On December 6, 1793, the city shifted allegiances when residents, along with Colonels Caze and Paul Lafrance, surrendered the location to Toussaint Louverture, who took control of it on behalf of Spain
Toussaint Louverture first sided with Spain because they supported his fight against the French and gave him weapons and supplies. But when France abolished slavery in 1794, he switched sides to support them instead, using their promise of freedom to strengthen his cause and gain more power.
After the defeat of André Rigaud in 1800, Toussaint Louverture consolidated his power across the south and west. In November 1800, all supporters of Rigaud (Rigaudins) in Gonaïves were brutally executed by bayonet. During this time, Gonaïves briefly became a stronghold of Toussaint’s loyalists. As he passed through the city, he was met with enthusiastic celebrations and hailed as a modern Spartacus, the liberator predicted by the philosopher Raynal. However, his reign was also marked by ruthlessness; in the Morne l’Hôpital area near the city, Toussaint ordered the execution of 74 Rigaudin partisans, further cementing his dominance.
With the arrival of the Leclerc expedition in early 1802 — a French attempt to reassert control over the colony — Toussaint ordered a scorched-earth response. On February 24, 1802, Gonaïves was deliberately set on fire by Vernet under Toussaint’s orders to prevent its capture by French forces. Earlier that month, resistance forces led by Morisset and Marinier had managed to push back the French army—led by Leclerc himself—to the outskirts of Gonaïves. The French were forced to retreat to a nearby position known as La Tannerie, just outside the city.
Just a few months later, on June 12, 1802, Toussaint was arrested by French troops. In Gonaïves, he was violently forced aboard the ship La Créole, despite initially refusing to board, claiming he was not accustomed to the sea. He was later transferred to the Héros in Cap-Français, where he was reunited with his son, Saint-Jean Louverture, before being deported to France.
The revolutionary fervor reignited later that year. On October 23, 1802, Jean-Jacques Dessalines took the nearby Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite and raised the flag of rebellion against the French. He rallied key leaders including Alexandre Pétion, Henri Christophe, and Clervaux at the Georges habitation, near Gonaïves. After fierce fighting, the French forces evacuated the city following two attacks. French commanders Huin and Lux retreated to Fort Mouneau and then to Port-Républicain, bombarding the town as they fled. General Gabart was honored for his leadership during the battle.
Finally, Gonaïves cemented its place in Haitian and world history on January 1, 1804, when Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed Haiti’s independence from France in the Place d’Armes, at the heart of the city. This defining moment earned Gonaïves the title "Ville de l'Indépendance" — City of Independence. The revolutionary period transformed the city into a powerful symbol of Black liberation, anti-colonial resistance, and the birth of the first Black republic in the Western Hemisphere. For a time, Dessalines used Gonaïves as a political and military base during the fragile early months of the newly formed Haitian state.
Post-Revolution (1804–1900)[]
Following independence, Gonaïves remained an important administrative and economic center. Its strategic bay continued to welcome trade ships, while the vast Gonaïves plain, spanning 24 square leagues, supported a thriving agricultural economy. The city regularly exported millions of pounds of cotton, logwood, and coffee, sourced both from its own lands and neighboring districts. In 1824, President Jean-Pierre Boyer settled foreign-born Black farmers in the area, further strengthening the rural labor force.
By the late 19th century, the commune had a population of approximately 18,000, with only about 8,000 residing in the urban core. In a typical year, Gonaïves recorded 600 births, 200 deaths, and 66 marriages, and supported a modest Protestant community of around 60 people. The city also became home to multiple legal institutions: the civil court (which issued 120 rulings in 1887), the court of peace (191 judgments), and the commercial court (founded in 1830). The postal system linked Gonaïves with other Haitian towns through weekly routes and couriers traveling to Cap-Haïtien, Ennery, Dondon, Port-de-Paix, and Môle-Saint-Nicolas.
It was on the Vernet Estate in Gonaïves that Haiti’s Act of Independence was written on January 1, 1804. This property, now owned by the Legros family, once held precious relics from that historic moment, including an old candlestick said to have illuminated the work of Boisrond-Tonnerre, Dessalines’s secretary, and a wooden table with a broken leg on which the document was written. Unfortunately, these artifacts were destroyed in the great fire of April 7, 1864, a loss attributed to the young nation's failure to preserve them in a historical museum.
In the immediate aftermath of the revolution, General André Vernet, a key commander under Toussaint Louverture and later Minister of Finance and the Interior under Emperor Dessalines, was appointed by Henri Christophe, then Prince of Gonaïves, to govern the city in 1803. Vernet died on December 25, 1813, and was buried with honor in the royal church of Sans-Souci in Milot.
Gonaïves continued to be a stage for political upheaval throughout the early 19th century. In October 1806, General Moreau was arrested at Garata and brought to Camp Gérard, where he was scheduled to be executed at the Pemerlé plantation on the 16th. On May 28, 1807, Lamarre led a force of 2,000 men under President Alexandre Pétion in an assault on Gonaïves, successfully driving out Magny, who had been in charge for Christophe. However, Lamarre's forces were forced to retreat by June 10. In 1816, the Viscount of Fontanges, a native of Gonaïves and former colonel of the Cap-Haïtien regiment, was sent by the French government to Port-au-Prince to negotiate on Haiti’s independence. He had previously commanded the cordon in Marmelade during campaigns against generals Jean François and Biassou.
After the fall of King Christophe in 1821, Colonel Paulin launched an uprising in Saint-Marc. General Francisque, then in charge of Gonaïves, faced the fallout. General Jean-Pierre Richard, one of the insurrection's leaders, was captured in Gonaïves and later executed in Port-au-Prince, and General Dossous was also arrested for involvement. In August 1825, General Toussaint, implicated in a conspiracy alongside General Prophète Daniel, Colonel Gabriel Christophe, and health officer Euzèbe, committed suicide at the Jonnis plantation near Gonaïves rather than face President Boyer. The conspirators had accused Boyer of betraying the country by submitting to France, referencing ceremonies held in the capital for the ratification of Charles X’s ordinance recognizing Haitian independence.
Gonaïves again played a transformative national role in 1859, during the overthrow of Emperor Soulouque. On the evening of December 20, General Fabre Geffrard set out from Port-au-Prince in a small canoe accompanied by his son Clodomir, Ernest Roumain, Jean Bart, and a guide, bound for Gonaïves to support the growing republican movement. By December 22, the city had armed itself, declared the Republic, and reinstated the Constitution of 1846. On the following day, the Gonaïves departmental committee formally announced the removal of Soulouque and appointed Geffrard as president of Haiti.
The city also experienced multiple devastating fires, including major outbreaks on April 22, 1852; April 7, 1864; and August 1879. Beyond natural disasters, Gonaïves was repeatedly touched by conflict. On November 6, 1861, the conspiracy of Brave Guillaumette unfolded. An uprising followed on July 5, 1866, which was put down by General Philippeau, then Minister of War under 10President Geffrard. On December 4, 1867, Sylvain Salnave departed from Gonaïves to launch a campaign against the Cacos, the rural rebel forces. From 1868 to 1869, the city witnessed fierce fighting between government troops led by General Victorin Chevalier and revolutionaries from Saint-Marc. Isolated by land and sea and abandoned by the central government, Chevalier arranged to receive arms and provisions from Port-au-Prince via a French warship on August 29, 1869. Despite these efforts, the Cacos ultimately seized Gonaïves.
Following the Cacos’ seizure of Gonaïves on August 29, 1869, the city remained entangled in cycles of revolutionary turmoil. Just weeks earlier, on August 14, Cacos from Saint-Marc had briefly entered the city through the Tannerie post, though they were unable to maintain control at that time. Political volatility intensified in the following decade. On July 3, 1879, General Hériston Hérissé, then commander of the Gonaïves district, played a leading role in launching a revolution. The conflict soon escalated as the Bazelaisists, having failed to seize Port-au-Prince, retreated to Gonaïves and took control of the town in August 1879.
In response, the provisional government dispatched an army led by Generals Jean Jumeau and Hériston Hérissé, who successfully expelled the Bazelaisist forces on August 17. Before retreating, the rebels set parts of the town ablaze with kerosene. Driven from Gonaïves, they attempted to regroup in Jérémie, where they were denied support, and ultimately fled into exile in Kingston, Jamaica, a longtime haven for Haitian political dissidents.
Gonaïves continued to be a flashpoint of resistance throughout the 1880s. On October 3, 1888, an insurrection broke out in the city following the death of General Seïde Thélémaque, sparked in part by revolutionary agitation from Cap-Haïtien. Later that year, on December 1, the town’s defenders fired several cannon rounds at the vessel Toussaint-Louverture as it passed offshore, prompting retaliatory fire from the ship.
That same year, efforts were underway to commemorate the revolutionary legacy of Gonaïves. A March 8, 1888 decree published in the Moniteur, the official journal of the Republic, announced plans to erect a bronze statue of Jean-Jacques Dessalines in Place d’Armes, the site of Haiti’s 1804 Declaration of Independence. Initiated under President Salomon, the project was originally intended to be financed through preparations at the Port-au-Prince cemetery, where the remains of Dessalines were interred. However, the revolution of August 10, 1888, which overthrew Salomon, disrupted the initiative.
The plan was eventually revived. On September 24, 1892, President Florvil Hippolyte unveiled a mausoleum over the grave of Dessalines, built with exceptional generosity and national reverence. Gonaïves further cemented its political significance when it hosted the Constituent Assembly of 1889, which convened in the city and elected General Hippolyte as president of Haiti on October 9 of that year.
Despite these disruptions, the city remained a vital institutional and economic center. By the late 19th century, the commune had an estimated population of 18,000, with approximately 8,000 living in the urban core. On average, Gonaïves recorded 600 births, 200 deaths, and 66 marriages annually, and maintained a modest Protestant community of around 60 individuals. The city also housed several legal institutions, including a civil court (which issued 120 rulings in 1887), a court of peace (191 judgments), and a commercial court founded in 1830.
Gonaïves was also connected to other towns through a regular postal system, with weekly routes to Cap-Haïtien, Ennery, Dondon, Port-de-Paix, and Môle-Saint-Nicolas. As part of broader national modernization efforts, a telegraph line was proposed in 1889 to link Gonaïves with other parts of the country and international networks. A railway project across the Gonaïves plain, connecting to Gros-Morne and granted to M. B. Riviere, was initiated but failed due to unfulfilled conditions. A separate rail plan from Gonaïves to Port-de-Paix, included in General Légitime’s 1888 development program, was also pending.
20th Century (1900s)[]
The 20th century saw increasing urbanization and institutional growth. The city’s salt-covered streets reflected both tradition and modernization. Its harbor remained active in national trade, though overshadowed by larger ports. Urban services such as courts, schools, and lodges continued to function, and Gonaïves contributed two deputies to the national legislature. Still, infrastructural progress lagged behind population growth. A proposed irrigation project to bring Gros-Morne waters to the Gonaïves plain via reservoirs never materialized. The city nonetheless remained vital for regional governance and national memory.
2000s[]
Gonaïves suffered devastating natural disasters in the early 21st century. In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne triggered massive floods, killing over 2,500 people and displacing thousands. Only four years later, Hurricane Hanna struck with similar force, further damaging homes, roads, and drainage infrastructure. The city’s location in a deforested, flood-prone basin—surrounded by rivers like La Quinte (also called Grande-Rivière des Gonaïves), Labranle, Chemin-Neuf, and Croix—amplified the destruction. Relief efforts brought temporary aid, but much of the city has remained vulnerable to heavy rain and storms ever since.
Modern Times[]
Today, Ville des Gonaïves remains a critical urban and historical hub. It continues to serve as the departmental capital, a regional market town, and a symbol of Haitian independence. Civic life centers around Place d’Armes, where Independence Day ceremonies occur each January 1, and Saint-Charles Day festivities on November 4. Despite enduring economic hardship, environmental threats, and inconsistent infrastructure, the people of Gonaïves preserve their legacy through cultural pride, political engagement, and community resilience. The city stands as both a monument to Haiti’s revolutionary past and a living, evolving space struggling to shape its future.
Neighboring sections
North 
2e Bassin |
Northeast  4e Poteau | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 〰️West〰️ Baie des Gonaïves |
La Ville / Downtown | East | |
| 〰️Southwest〰️ Baie Grammont |
Southeast 1re Pont Tamarin |
Points of Interest[]
Georges[]
The Georges estate, located in the rural outskirts of Gonaïves, was historically comprised of six government-owned plots cultivated by local farmers. The estate once belonged to Toussaint Louverture, who had retired there after serving as Governor of Santo Domingo.
- On June 10, 1802, during the French expedition under General Leclerc, Toussaint was arrested at the Georges estate. General Brunet, under Leclerc’s orders, approached Toussaint with great courtesy, but the arrest had been prearranged. At a signal, French officers disarmed the local inhabitants. Toussaint, sensing betrayal, drew his saber. An aide-de-camp named Ferrari approached and declared:
"General, by the orders of Captain General Leclerc, I must request your saber; we mean you no harm; our intention is merely to detain you."
Toussaint responded:
"The despicable treachery! Divine justice will take its course!" He then sheathed his sword. He was held under guard that night, surrounded by French riflemen, and the next day, escorted to Gonaïves. From there, he was taken aboard the frigate la Créole and transferred to the Héros upon arrival at Cap-Français, marking the beginning of his forced deportation to France.
Later that year, as the indigenous revolt against French occupation intensified, Jean-Jacques Dessalines entered the Georges habitation. He found the estate occupied by European soldiers, including several officers involved in Toussaint’s arrest. Despite rising fury among the native forces, Dessalines prevented reprisals. Upholding the orders of General Leclerc, he commanded the French garrison to withdraw to Gonaïves. Dessalines was soon appointed major general. In the presence of brigadier generals Jean-Louis François, Moreau, Gérin, and Férou, Dessalines carried out a symbolic act: he burned the military commissions issued by southern commander Lamour Dérance, replacing them with his own appointments.
Evacuation of Gonaïves and Atrocities Reported (1802)[]
A report published in a New England newspaper on December 8, 1802, described worsening conditions in Saint-Domingue. News arriving from Port-Républicain (Port-au-Prince) on November 2 indicated that the French were preparing to evacuate Saint-Marc, Gonaïves, and Léogâne, while the blacks had taken control of L'Arcahaye.
Accounts described horrifying atrocities committed by French forces against the blacks they captured. In Saint-Marc, for example, 600 captives were gathered and ordered to disarm. Upon refusal, all were executed. American vessels departing the Bay of Léogâne reported seeing the corpses of the slain negroes floating in the water.
More disturbingly, It was alleged that each week, a ship would take on board 100 to 150 negroes at Port-Republic, transport them out to sea, suffocate them in the hold with brimstone (sulfur), and subsequently dispose of the bodies overboard. Additionally, a brig was said to frequently embark blacks at the Cape, only to return empty after a few days at sea.
Pougaudin[]
Pougaudin (also spelled Pongaudin) is located in the commune of Gonaïves, near the historic Georges estate.
- In 1802, during the revolt against French forces, General André Vernet—a man of color commanding the Gonaïves district—established his headquarters at Pougaudin. It was there that Jean-Jacques Dessalines arrived to inform him of the French army's deteriorating position in the north. Dessalines left General Gabart under Vernet’s orders and instructed them to advance on Gonaïves while he moved toward Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite.
- In May 1807, Madame Veuve Dessalines (the widow of the emperor) traveled from Gonaïves to Pongaudin and then continued on to Cap-Haïtien for an audience with King Henri Christophe.
- Later, on October 20, 1820, following Christophe’s death, 2President Jean-Pierre Boyer stopped at the Pougaudin estate during his northward march to proclaim the constitution of the republic. There, he received a letter of protest from several generals in Cap-Haïtien claiming to speak for the army and population. Undeterred, Boyer pressed forward with his troops.
Vernet[]
On January 1, 1804, in the city of Gonaïves, General-in-Chief Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed Haiti’s independence on the Place d’Armes, before an altar of the homeland crowned by the symbolic palm of liberty.
The Act of Independence was signed on the Vernet estate, a property which now belongs to the Legros family. It was here that Boisrond-Tonnerre, Dessalines’ secretary, drafted the historic document by candlelight. According to family tradition, an old copper candlestick used to light his work and a broken-legged table upon which the act was written were preserved on the estate. Tragically, these relics were lost in the fire that ravaged Gonaïves in 1864—victims of a historical neglect that stands in contrast to Haiti’s fierce pride in its independence.
The act was signed by Dessalines and a host of military leaders, including:
- Division Generals: Alexandre Pétion, Clervaux, Geffrard, Vernet
- Brigadier Generals: P. Romain, Étienne Gérin, François Capois (Capois-La-Mort), Daut, Jean-Louis François, Férou, Cangé, L. Bazelais, Magloire Ambroise, J.-J. Herne, Toussaint Brave, and Yayou
- Adjutant Generals: Bonnet, F. Papailler, Morelly, Chevalier, and Marion
- Brigade Leaders: Magny and Roux
- Army Officers: Charéron, B. Loret, Quéné, Marcajoux, Dupuy, Carbonne, Diaquoi aîné, J. Raphaël, Malet, and Derenoncourt
Boisrond-Tonnerre, the secretary, famously declared:
“To draft the birth certificate of our freedom, we must use the skin of a white man for parchment, his skull for an inkwell, his blood for ink, and a bayonet for a pen.”
That same day, Jean-Jacques Dessalines was proclaimed Governor-General of Haiti, marking the formal birth of the world's first Black republic and the first nation founded by formerly enslaved people.
Raboteau[]
During the civil war of 1868–69, Victorin Chevallier built a fort by the sea in the Raboteau district to resist the Cacos and defend the city of Gonaïves. On June 14, 1869, the Cacos advanced into Gonaïves and reached Fort Raboteau but were forced to retreat. Running low on ammunition and supplies, Chevallier eventually evacuated the fort, allowing the Cacos to take control of the city. Fort Raboteau is believed to be the former Fort Mouneau, originally established by the French on Gonaïves’ shoreline. Additionally, the city’s water distribution contract required the concessionaire to build a public fountain at this site.
Fort Liberté[]
Fort Liberté defended the city of Gonaïves. On June 14, 1869, the Cacos reached its foothills but were forced to retreat.
Pont Soleil[]
Pont Soleil is the bridge at the entrance to Gonaïves. In August 1869, the Cacos entered the city via this bridge but were quickly driven back by Victorin Chevallier. The city’s water distribution contract also required a fountain to be built at this site.
History[]
Within this commune lay the districts of Anse-Rouge and Poteaux, the the latter situated in the rural section of Poteaux. Fort Bayonnais was found in the rural area of Petite-Rivière des Bayonnais. The municipality contributed two deputies to the House of Commons.
Each year, Gonaïves received substantial quantities of goods, including 4,000,000 pounds of coffee from local sources and 300,000 from other districts, along with 2,000,000 pounds of logwood locally and 3,000,000 from elsewhere, and 330,000 pounds of cotton from within and 50,000 from other areas. The region was known for its salt pans which yield its renowned salt, rice, holly, white truffles, various foodstuffs, and indigo, all thriving in its fertile lands.
The law of November 20, 1841 set the exact distance from this commune to the capital at 33 leagues.
The small capricious stream of Laquinte alone, also called Grande-Riviere des Gonaives, waters the surroundings of the city in the rainy season. The Labranle and Chemin-Neuf rivers, the Petite Gonaives river, and the Croix river flow into it.
The postal service departs from Gonaives on Sunday evenings bound for Cap-Haitien via Chemin des Escaliers, and makes its return journey on Wednesday evenings. Additionally, a separate courier travels to Ennery, La Marmelade, Dondon, Le Trou, and Ouanaminthe. Lastly, a third delivery service covers Gros-Morne, Port-de-Paix, Mole Saint-Nicolas, and Borgne.
The feast day of the patron saint is celebrated on November 4th at Saint-Charles.
A land telegraph line was set to link Gonnives with the telegraph station of the Mole Saint-Nicolas submarine cable, as well as with Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Saint-Marc, Jacmel, Aquin, Les Cayes, Jeremie, and the Dominican border. It was scheduled to commence operations on May 1, 1889; however, political events that transpired hindered its establishment.
Gonaïves historic map
Gonaives history
The city was established as a parish in 1738 and a church dedicated to Saint-Charles and Saint-Mathurin was built in 1740. By 1744, Gonaïves had around 50 houses. In 1770, it became a more developed area with a church, rectory, public square, cemetery, and local guard. By the eve of the Revolution of 1771, Gonaïves had a population of about 10,700 people, including 940 white individuals, 750 freedmen, and 9,000 slaves. • In August 1792, the Spaniards, seeking to expand their influence in the Caribbean, seized control of the strategic port city of Gonaïves. This move was part of their broader efforts to counter the growing power of the French in the region. During this time, Toussaint Louverture made the decision to align himself with the Spanish forces. Louverture, a former slave who had risen to become a respected military leader, saw an opportunity to further his cause by joining forces with the Spaniards. He believed that they would support his goal of emancipating the enslaved population of Saint-Domingue (as Haiti was then known) and establishing a free society. Louverture's decision to join the Spanish camp was a significant turning point in the Haitian Revolution. His military prowess and leadership skills were highly valued by the Spanish, and he quickly rose through the ranks. Under his command, the Spanish forces achieved several victories against the French, further weakening their hold on the island. However, when France abolished slavery in 1794, Louverture reconsidered his position and decided to align himself with the French once again. He recognized that aligning with the French would provide him with a stronger position to negotiate for the rights and autonomy of the formerly enslaved population. With Louverture's support, the French were able to regain control over Gonaïves and other strategic locations in Haiti. However, this alliance was short-lived, as Louverture eventually broke away from the French and declared himself Governor-General of Saint-Domingue in 1801. Despite Cap-Haïtien's significance as the main city and capital of the colony, Toussaint opted for Gonaïves as his strategic retreat location for his army; it served as a central point for communication and coordination with other leaders and factions within the colony. From Gonaïves, he departed in various instances to carry out important missions, such as rescuing Governor Laveaux imprisoned at Au Cap by supporters of mulatto General Vilatte in 1796, expelling Commissioner Sonthonax from the colony in 1797, removing French General Hédouville in 1798, and engaging in battle against his rival, General André Rigaud, in the South in 1800. 19th Century • In February 1802, General Rochambeau led French troops in an attempt to seize control of the city, which was defended by Haitian Commander Vernet. Upon learning of the approaching French troops, General Toussaint Louverture swiftly positioned his own troops at Ravine-à-Couleuvres, near the town of LaCroix Perisse, just a few miles away from Gonaïves. He bravely fought against the French army, resulting in a brutal and prolonged conflict. Toussaint successfully prevented the French army from entering Gonaïves, buying enough time for General Vernet to ignite the city before retreating with his troops to another strategic location. This battle became known as the Snake Gully Battle or Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres. • On June 6, 1802, a tragic event occurred in Gonaïves, marking a dark chapter in Haitian history. Toussaint Louverture was apprehended at the Georges Plantation and escorted through the town to the ship Le Creole bound for Cap-Haïtien, where his family awaited him. Subsequently, he set sail on the vessel Le Hero destined for France. The second phase of the War of Independence commenced. After evading an ambush in Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite on October 23, 1802, Dessalines seized the fortress La Crête-à-Pierrot and united with General Vernet, Colonel Gabart, and rebels Comus and John Labarrière in Gonaïves. Together, they strategized their upcoming attack on the French forces. • On January 1st 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, along with his generals and the indigenous army, proclaimed Haiti’s independence from France at the Gonaïves' Place d’Armes. The Act of Independence, written by Boisrond Tonnerre, was read during this historic event, marking the birth of the First Free Black Nation in the world. As a result, Gonaïves was bestowed with the title, The Birthplace of Haiti's Independence. According to Semexant Rouzier's 1891 Gazetteer of Haiti, the Act of Independence was written and signed on Vernet's property in Gonaïves. Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité, the 1st First Lady of Haiti and widow of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines, passed away in Gonaïves on August 8, 1858. Her tombstone can be found in the cemetery on Rue Vernet, near Rue Lamatiniere. • The 1858 uprising in Gonaïves marked a significant event in the city's tumultuous history. A group of revolutionaries, including Joseph Lamothe, Fenelon Geffrard, Legros (senior), E. Magny, Aimé Legros, and Normil Sambour, formed a committee to combat Faustin Soulouque's dictatorship and restore the Republic. In response to their call, General Fabre Geffrard, the Army Chief of Staff, arrived in Gonaïves on December 20. Two days later, the revolution was officially declared, gaining support from the Artibonite Department and the entire Northern Haiti. After three weeks, the Republic was restored, and Geffrard became the president, with the Constitution of 1846 reinstated. Soulouque attempted to suppress the rebellion but failed, and on January 15, Geffrard triumphantly entered the capital. • In 1879, Gonaïves experienced a series of significant events. Firstly, on February 7, Mont Morency Benjamin made an unsuccessful attempt to seize control of the city, but the population managed to drive him away. Then, on July 3, General Hériston Hérissé rebelled against Boisrond Canal, who was already grappling with a complex political crisis. Canal eventually resigned. Lastly, in early August, the Bazelaisiste Liberals, who had been defeated in Port-au-Prince, sought refuge in Gonaïves, hoping for support from their allies. However, General Jean Jumeau and Hérissé, acting on orders from the provisional government, successfully expelled the Liberals from the city, resulting in the burning of Gonaïves. • On October 2, 1888, Hippolyte arrived in Gonaïves in a German boat, and the city cheerfully welcomed him. This marked the beginning of a new era for Haiti, as Gonaïves played a crucial role in the establishment of the new northern state and the resistance against the West. On November 13, Gonaïves hosted dissidents who opposed the decisions of the Constituent Assembly and the election of Légitime, leading to the proclamation of the Constitution of 1888. The civil war concluded in 1889 with the victory of the North, and Gonaïves was chosen as the location for the Constituent Assembly, responsible for drafting the Constitution of 1889. 20th Century • On September 2, 1902 after the Haitian rebel ship Crête-à-Pierrot hijacked the German steamer Markomannia in the Port of Cap-Haïtien and seized weapons destined for the Haitian government of Nord Alexis; Offended, Germany sent their warship The Panther to Haiti. The Panther found the rebel ship, La Crête-à-Pierrot, in Gonaïves. Richard Eckermann, the German commander of The Panther, ordered La Crête-a-Pierrot to surrender, but in a heroic and patriotic act, Admiral Hamerton Killick, commander of the Haitian warship La Crête-à-Pierrot, evacuated his crew and blew up the Crête-à-Pierrot instead of surrounding it to the German warship The Panther. • In 1904, the Musée du Centenaire (Mémorial de l’Indépedance) was inaugurated in Gonaïves to commemorate the nation’s first century of independence. • Throughout the American occupation of Haiti, the city bore witness to a significant presence of nationalists on its land. Among them were Raymond Cabêche, who served as a representative (deputy) for Pilate in 1915. In a bold act of patriotism, he threw official insignia on the floor of the House following the vote of the Haïtian-American Convention. Dr. Justin Latortue, the Mayor of Gonaïves in 1921, also displayed his strong nationalist sentiments. He was among the 11 senators elected in 1930 who opposed the "Grand Corps", but unfortunately, their fate was sealed by a coup d'etat led by President Vincent in 1935. • Gonaïves witnessed a revival in political activity mainly after 1946. The uprising that brought down Elie Lescot on January 11 gained momentum in Gonaïves, with Dr. Justin Latortue playing a key role. • In 1950, the clergy and bourgeoisie played a significant role in supporting Colonel Paul Magloire to run for president. As a gesture of gratitude, Magloire showed love to Gonaïves by letting them host the Constitutional Convention of 1950. When Magloire fell in 1956, the people of Gonaïves, still loyal to the memory, were charmed by the "NOIRISTE" speech and welcomed François Duvalier with open arms. That's where Duvalier built his stronghold. • In 1961/62, a furious mob went wild and took down a macoute called Big Fefe for offing Emmanuel Jules Denis, a Gonaïvien from Raboteau. • In 1972, Gonaïves was the scene of the first dechoucage, where the Delva brothers, Prophet and Zacharie, had their residences ransacked and looted. • Gonaïves, once again, became the birthplace of the movement to topple the Duvalier dictatorship. The uprising, which took place from May 21 to 24, 1984, sparked the flames of change. Then, in November 1985, Gonaïves witnessed the culmination of the anti-Duvalier rebellion, which soon spread to other cities. • During an anti-government protest in Gonaïves on Thursday, November 28, 1985, three teenagers named Jean Robert Cius, Mackenson Michel, and Daniel Israel were fatally shot by the armed forces loyal to Duvalier. These brave individuals have since been hailed as the three martyrs who fought for dignity and freedom. The tragic loss of these young students only fueled the flames of rebellion, leading to widespread looting and the ransacking of government buildings not only in Gonaïves but also in other cities. This relentless uprising persisted until the eventual departure of Jean-Claude Duvalier on February 7, 1986. • On April 22, 1994, in the midst of the military dictatorship that took control following a coup against Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a horde of Aristide loyalists were brutally assaulted and slain by a combination of ordinary citizens and paramilitary troops in Raboteau, a densely populated district of the city (including the Front for Progress and Progress of Haiti, FRAPH). 21st Century • In the early 2000s, Gonaïves experienced significant unrest and violence, primarily driven by opposition to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The city became a focal point of rebellion on September 21, 2003, following the assassination of rebel leader Amiot Métayer by the ruling regime. This rebellion gained momentum as an armed opposition, led by Buteur Métayer, Amiot's own brother, formed the Front for Liberation and National Reconstruction. Ultimately, these events led to the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on February 29, 2004. Additionally, on February 5, 2004, a group known as the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front took control of the city, sparking the 2004 Haitian rebellion that resulted in Aristide's ousting. Due to these two successful uprisings originating or gaining traction in Gonaïves, the city has earned nicknames such as the City of Freedom, City of the Braves, or City of Resistance. • On September 18, 2004, the City of Independence in Haiti faced its most devastating moment. A cyclone swept through the region, causing immense destruction and loss. The impact of Tropical Storm Jeanne was catastrophic, resulting in the loss of around 2,000 lives and triggering destructive floods and mudslides in Gonaïves. Hurricane Jeanne left the city in ruins, with over 80% of houses destroyed and countless Haitian families grieving their loved ones. The scale of the losses incurred by the city is immeasurable and overwhelming. • In September 2008, four years later, the city experienced another round of destruction caused by a succession of storms, particularly Hurricanes Hanna and Ike. These storms resulted in the tragic loss of over 500 lives, with the majority of fatalities occurring in the flooded areas of Gonaïves. The then Mayor of Gonaïves, Stephen Topa Moise, reported that at least 48,000 individuals from the Gonaïves region had to seek refuge in shelters as a result of that disaster.