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Gonaïves Gonayiv (Haitian Creole) | |
|---|---|
 Centennial Palace in Gonaives, 1904 | |
| Nickname: La Cité de l'Indépendance The City of Independence | |
 Interactive map of Gonaïves | |
  Gonaïves Location in Haiti | |
| Coordinates:19°26′44″N72°41′18″W / 19.44556°N 72.68833°W /19.44556; -72.68833 | |
| Country | Haiti |
| Department | Artibonite |
| Arrondissement | Gonaïves |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Neil Latortue |
| Area | |
• Total | 573.58 km2 (221.46 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Population (2015)[1] | |
• Total | 356,324 |
| • Density | 621.23/km2 (1,609.0/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Postal code | HT 4110 |
Gonaïves (French:[ɡɔnaiv]; alsoLes Gonaïves;Haitian Creole:Gonayiv,pronounced[ɡonajiv]) is acommune in northernHaiti, and the capital of theArtibonite department of Haiti. The population was 356,324 at the 2015 census.
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The city of Gonaïves was founded around 1422 by a group ofTaíno, who named itGonaibo (to designate a locality ofcacicat of the Jaragua).[citation needed] TheGulf of Gonâve is named after the town.[citation needed]
In 1802, an important battle of theHaitian Revolution, theBattle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres was fought near Gonaïves.
Gonaïves is also known as Haiti's city of independence, because it was the location ofJean-Jacques Dessalines declaring Haiti independent from France on January 1, 1804, by reading the Act of Independence, drafted byBoisrond Tonnerre, on the Place d'Armes of the town.Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité, the wife of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, died here in August 1858.
In the early 2000s, Gonaïves was the scene of substantial rioting and violence motivated primarily by opposition toPresident Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and on February 5, 2004, a group calling itself theRevolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front seized control of the city, starting the2004 Haïtian rebellion. But in recent years,[when?] the city has seen a complete return to order.
Even compared with other Haitian port cities, Gonaïves has long been vulnerable to hurricanes due to its location in a flood plain and due to the surrounding unforested mountains.[2] In September 2004,Hurricane Jeanne caused major flooding and mudslides in the city. Four years later, the city was again devastated by another storm,Hurricane Hanna, which killed 529 people, mostly in flooded sections of Gonaïves, where the destruction was described as "catastrophic" and 495 bodies were discovered as late as September 5.[3][4] Haitian authorities said the tally would grow once officials were able to make their way through the city. "The assessment was only partial, because it was impossible to enter the city at that moment". Gonaïves Mayor Stephen Moise said at least 48,000 people from the Gonaïves area were forced into shelters.[5][6]
In 2020, PresidentJovenel Moïse skipped a traditional visit to Gonaïves during a climate of violence. According to local media, an armed group targeted Prime MinisterAriel Henry's visit on 1 January 2022, resulting in one death and two injuries.[7]
Gonaïves has a variety of training centers including theUniversité Publique de l'Artibonite aux Gonaïves (UPAG); and The Law and Economics School of Gonaïves.
Gonaïves is home to the recently renovated La Providence Hospital.
Gonaïves has some major league teams includingEclair AC andRacing FC (Gonaives).
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