View source for Fort-de-France

{{Short description|Largest city in Martinique}}{{redirect|Fort Royal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Fort-de-France
|commune status     = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
| image                   = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Fort-de-france-harbor.jpg
| photo2a                 = Fort-de-France - panoramio (6).jpg
| photo2b                 = Fort Saint Louis Martinique 12.jpg
| photo3a                 = Martinique Hôtel de Ville (49814940092).jpg
| photo3b                 = Musée ethnographie FDF 2.jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 280
| foot_montage            = Top: Fort-de-France skyline; Middle: [[Fort-de-France Cathedral]], Fort Saint Louis; Bottom: [[Hôtel de Ville, Fort-de-France|Hôtel de Ville]] (town hall), Regional Museum of History and Ethnography of Martinique
}}
|image coat of arms = Blason ville fr Fort-de-France (Martinique).svg
|image flag         = 
|flag legend        = 
|arrondissement     = Fort-de-France
|adjustable map     = Locator map of Fort-de-France 2018.png
|map size           = 210px
|map caption        = Location of the commune (in red) within Martinique
|INSEE              = 97209 
|postal code        = 97200 and 97234 (Quartier de Balata)
|mayor              = [[Didier Laguerre]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=2 December 2020|language=fr}}</ref>
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|party              = [[Martinican Progressive Party|PPM]]
|intercommunality   = [[Communauté d'agglomération du Centre de la Martinique|CA Centre de la Martinique]]
|coordinates        = {{coord|14|36|00|N|61|04|00|W|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m        =
|elevation min m    = 0
|elevation max m    = 1070
|area km2           = 44.21
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Fort-de-France''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|f|ɔːr|_|d|ə|_|ˈ|f|r|ɒ̃|s}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|ˌ|f|ɔːr|t|_|d|ə|_|ˈ|f|ɹ|æ|n|s}}, {{IPA|fr|fɔʁ də fʁɑ̃s|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Jules78120-Fort-de-France.wav}}; {{langx|gcf|label=[[Martinican Creole]]|Fodfwans}}) is a [[Communes of France|commune]] and the capital city of [[Martinique]], an [[overseas department and region]] of [[France]] located in the [[Caribbean]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Fort-de-France|Spanish West Indies|New Spain|French West Indies}}
Before it was ceded to France by Spain in 1635, the area of Fort-de-France was known as Iguanacaera, which translates to "Iguana Island" in the indigenous [[Carib language|Kariʼnja language]]. In 1638, [[Jacques Dyel du Parquet]] (1606–1658), nephew of [[Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc]] and first governor of Martinique, decided to have Fort Saint Louis built to protect the city against enemy attacks. The fort was soon destroyed, and rebuilt in 1669, when [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] appointed the Marquis of Baas as governor general. Under his orders and those of his successors, particularly the [[Charles de Courbon de Blénac|Count of Blénac]], the fort was built with a [[Vauban]] design. In the 1680s, the area was settled and became the French colonial capital in the [[French West Indies|Caribbean]] and the [[French colonization of the Americas|New World]], eventually developing into the city of Fort-de-France and it was governed by the [[Code Noir]] ("Black Code"), which was a French decree that regulated slavery in the French colonies including Martinique. King Louis XIV issued the Code Noir in 1685, which detailed the conditions of slavery and also restricted the freedoms of free black people. 

Originally named '''Fort-Royal''', the administrative capital of Martinique was over-shadowed by [[Saint-Pierre, Martinique|Saint-Pierre]], the oldest city in the island, which was renowned for its commercial and cultural vibrancy as "The Paris of the Caribbean".

The name of Fort-Royal was changed to a short-lived "Fort-La-Republique" during the [[French Revolution]], and finally settled as Fort-de-France sometime in the 19th century. The old name of Fort-Royal is still used today familiarly in its Creole language form of "Foyal", with the inhabitants of the city being "Foyalais".

The city was captured by a [[Invasion of Martinique (1762)|British expedition]] which captured Martinique in 1762, but the island was returned to French control in the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]].<ref>* {{cite book|last=Robson|first=Martin|title=A History of the Royal Navy: The Seven Years War|publisher=Taurus|location=London|pages=171–173|year=2016|isbn=9781780765457}}</ref> In 1839, the city was struck by a minor [[earthquake]] and 1890 saw an outbreak of fire which razed part of the city. The [[Hôtel de Ville, Fort-de-France|Hôtel de Ville]] (town hall) was completed in 1901.<ref>{{Base Mérimée|PA00105944}}</ref>

By the turn of the 20th century, however, Fort-de-France became economically important after the [[volcanic]] eruption of [[Mount Pelée]] destroyed the town of [[Saint-Pierre, Martinique|Saint-Pierre]] in 1902.

Until 1918, when its commercial growth began, Fort-de-France had an inadequate water supply, was partly surrounded by swamps, and was notorious for [[yellow fever]]. Now the swamps are drained to make room for extensive suburbs.

On 3 August 1945, Fort-de-France's hydrobase became the site of Martinique's first fatal airliner crash. A [[Sikorsky S-43]] (NC15066) on Pan Am Flight 216 arriving from [[Port of Spain]] at 10:11 was landed in poor weather conditions due to safety concerns by the crew and subsequently sank within 10 minutes, killing 4 of the 14 occupants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASN Aircraft accident Sikorsky S-43 NC15066 Fort de France Hydrobase |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450803-1 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=aviation-safety.net}}</ref>

==Geography==
Fort-de-France, also known as the Fort of France, lies on Martinique's west coast at the northern entrance to the large [[Fort-de-France Bay]], at the mouth of the Madame River. The city occupies a narrow plain between the hills and the sea but is accessible by road from all parts of the island.
[[File:Fort-Saint-Louis-06.jpg|thumb|Fort Saint Louis seen from the sea.]]
[[File:Fort-Saint-Louis-05.jpg|thumb|The frigate {{ship|French frigate|Ventôse||2}} seen behind the old fort.]]

==Climate==
Fort-de-France has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Af''), characterised by very warm to hot and humid weather year-round. The wettest months are from July to November when hurricanes are a frequent threat, although substantial rainfall occurs in all months. The hottest month on average is September, and the coldest month on average is February.
{{Weather box
|location = Fort-de-France (1991–2020 averages, extremes 1932–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 31.5
|Feb record high C = 32.1
|Mar record high C = 33.6
|Apr record high C = 33.0
|May record high C = 33.9
|Jun record high C = 33.6
|Jul record high C = 33.6
|Aug record high C = 33.0
|Sep record high C = 33.8
|Oct record high C = 33.0
|Nov record high C = 32.1
|Dec record high C = 31.3
|year record high C = 33.9
|Jan high C = 27.7
|Feb high C = 27.9
|Mar high C = 28.5
|Apr high C = 29.3
|May high C = 29.8
|Jun high C = 29.6
|Jul high C = 29.7
|Aug high C = 30.2
|Sep high C = 30.5
|Oct high C = 30.2
|Nov high C = 29.2
|Dec high C = 28.2
|year high C = 29.2
|Jan mean C = 25.0
|Feb mean C = 24.9
|Mar mean C = 25.4
|Apr mean C = 26.2
|May mean C = 26.8
|Jun mean C = 27.0
|Jul mean C = 26.9
|Aug mean C = 27.3
|Sep mean C = 27.5
|Oct mean C = 27.2
|Nov mean C = 26.4
|Dec mean C = 25.6
|year mean C = 26.4
|Jan low C = 22.2
|Feb low C = 22.0
|Mar low C = 22.3
|Apr low C = 23.1
|May low C = 23.6
|Jun low C = 24.3
|Jul low C = 24.2
|Aug low C = 24.4
|Sep low C = 24.5
|Oct low C = 24.2
|Nov low C = 23.7
|Dec low C = 23.0
|year low C = 23.5
|Jan record low C = 17.8
|Feb record low C = 17.3
|Mar record low C = 18.6
|Apr record low C = 18.9
|May record low C = 19.9
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 18.4
|Aug record low C = 19.5
|Sep record low C = 17.9
|Oct record low C = 20.2
|Nov record low C = 19.7
|Dec record low C = 17.4
|year record low C = 17.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 113.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 76.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 70.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 108.8
|May precipitation mm = 133.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 154.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 205.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 246.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 213.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 243.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 236.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 147.8
|year precipitation mm = 1950.5
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 18.6
|Feb precipitation days = 14.1
|Mar precipitation days = 12.2
|Apr precipitation days = 12.6
|May precipitation days = 13.2
|Jun precipitation days = 17.0
|Jul precipitation days = 20.6
|Aug precipitation days = 19.2
|Sep precipitation days = 17.2
|Oct precipitation days = 18.0
|Nov precipitation days = 19.2
|Dec precipitation days = 18.1
|year precipitation days = 200.0
|Jan sun = 204.2
|Feb sun = 197.6
|Mar sun = 222.1
|Apr sun = 209.5
|May sun = 207.5
|Jun sun = 190.3
|Jul sun = 201.5
|Aug sun = 224.6
|Sep sun = 205.3
|Oct sun = 187.4
|Nov sun = 183.2
|Dec sun = 204.0
|year sun = 2437.0
|source 1 = Météo France<ref name=MFclimat1>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/outremer/fort-de-france/97209004/normales
| title = Données climatiques de la station de Fort de France
| publisher = Météo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 31 January 2016
| archive-date = 27 June 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190627001116/http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/outremer/fort-de-france/97209004/normales
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name=MFclimat2>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/outremer/martinique/972/normales
| title = Climat Martinique
| publisher = Météo France
| access-date = 31 January 2016
| archive-date = 27 June 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190627001119/http://www.meteofrance.com/climat/outremer/martinique/972/normales
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180330014244/https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_97209004.pdf
| archive-date = 30 March 2018
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_97209004.pdf
| title = Fort–de–France Desaix (972)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1981–2010 et records
| publisher = Météo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 29 March 2018}}</ref>
|source 2 = Meteociel.fr (sunshine 1981-2010)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=97209004&normes=2010&normes2=0
| title=Normales / Moyennes 1981-2010 / Fort-de-France Desaix (972)
| language = fr
| publisher = [[Météo-France]]
| access-date = August 29, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Population==

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 1
| percentages = pagr
| source = SPLAF<ref name=splaf>{{cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/domurb.php?depnum=972|title=Agglomérations et villes de la Martinique|author=SPLAF (Site sur la Population et les Limites Administratives de la France) |access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref> and INSEE (1967-2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-97209#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = right
|1961 |84811
|1967 |96943
|1974 |98807
|1982 |99844
|1990 |100080
|1999 |94049
|2007 |89794
|2012 |85667
|2017 |80041
}}

==Naval port==
[[Fort Saint Louis (Martinique)|Fort Saint Louis]] in Fort-de-France is a French naval base.

==Government==
As of 27 June 2021, the Mayor of Fort de France is [[Serge Letchimy]] replacing Alfred Marie-Jeanne as the new mayor of the capitol. With a participation rate of little over 44% the Letchimy Party [[Alians Matinik]] received 37,72% of the votes, whereas Marie Jeanna who came in a close second with [[Gran Sanblé Pou Matinik]] acquired 35,27% of the votes. The commune of Fort-de-France makes up [[Martinique's 3rd constituency]] for the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/elections-territoriales-2021-en-martinique-retrouvez-la-synthese-des-resultats-1046839.html|title = Élections territoriales 2021 en Martinique : Retrouvez tous les résultats| date=28 June 2021 }}</ref>

==Main sights==
* [[Fort Desaix]]
* [[La Savane|Place de la Savane]]
* [[Jardin de Balata]], a [[botanical garden]]
* [[Fort-de-France Cathedral]] 
* [[Statue of Empress Joséphine|A statue of]] Empress [[Joséphine de Beauharnais|Joséphine]], the wife of [[Napoleon]] in the gardens of La Savane was destroyed by anti-racist protestors in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-27|title=Anti-racism protesters in Martinique tear down statue of Napoleon's wife|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200727-france-colonial-era-statues-torn-down-french-island-martinique-empress-josephine-beauharnais-racism-slavery|access-date=2021-07-30|website=RFI|language=en}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport]] is located in a suburb outside Fort-de-France.

==Notable people==
* [[Suzanne Lacascade]] (1884–1966), writer
* [[Manon Tardon]] (1913–1989), Resistance fighter
* [[Frantz Fanon]] (1925–1961), psychiatrist, political philosopher revolutionary
* [[Julienne Salvat]] (1932–2019), teacher, poet, actress
* [[Karine Jean-Pierre]] (born 1974), [[White House Press Secretary]]
* [[Jean-Michel Lucenay]] (born 1978), fencer

==See also==
* [[Communes of the Martinique department]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Fort-de-France}}
* [http://www.fortdefrance.fr/ Official website]
* {{Search Mérimée|97209}}
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Fort Royal|short=x}}

{{Martinique communes}}
{{Préfectures of départements of France}}
{{Prefectures of regions of France}}
{{List of North American capitals}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fortdefrance}}
[[Category:Fort-de-France| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Communes of Martinique]]
[[Category:Martinique–Saint Lucia border crossings]]
[[Category:Populated places in Martinique]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Prefectures in France]]