Les Abymes

Last updated
Les Abymes
Commune
Place principale aux Abymes.JPG
The Main Square in Les Abymes
Les Abymes.png
Location of the commune (in red) within Guadeloupe
Location of Les Abymes
Les Abymes
Coordinates: 16°16′N61°31′W / 16.27°N 61.52°W / 16.27; -61.52
Country France
Overseas region and department Guadeloupe
Arrondissement Pointe-à-Pitre
Canton Les Abymes-1, 2 and 3
Intercommunality CAP Excellence
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Éric Jalton [1]
Area
1
81.25 km2 (31.37 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2021) [2]
52,118
 • Density640/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−04:00 (AST)
INSEE/Postal code
97101 /97139 and 97142
Elevation0–120 m (0–394 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Les Abymes (French pronunciation: [lezabim] ; Antillean Creole : Zabim) is the most populous commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located on the west side of the island of Grande-Terre, and is part of the largest metropolitan area of Guadeloupe, which also covers Pointe-à-Pitre. [3]

Contents

Geography

Les Abymes is located some 3 km north-east of Pointe-à-Pitre, 7 km east of Baie-Mahault, and 10 km south-west of Morne-à-l'Eau. Access to the commune is by Route nationale N1 from Baie-Mahault in the west which passes along the southern border of the commune and continues south as the N4. The N5 branches off the N1 and goes north-east through the centre of the commune and continues north-east to Morne-a-L'eau. The N11 branches off the N5 on the south-east of the town and continues north-west then west rejoining the N1. The D106 road also goes north from the commune to Vieux Bourg. The Route du Palais Royal passes north-east through the commune to join the N5. The Route de Chazeau branches from the Route du Palais Royal and goes north-east to Doubs. [4]

Access to the Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport is from the N11.

Les Abymes is integrated into the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre and, like the rest of the island, has a tropical climate.

Localities and hamlets

  • Bauzon
  • Baimbridge
  • Bazin
  • Beau-Soleil
  • Besson
  • Boisripeau
  • Boisvin
  • Boisvinière
  • Boricaud
  • Bouliqui
  • Caduc
  • Caraque
  • Céligny
  • Chauvel
  • Chazeau
  • Coma
  • David
  • Deravinières
  • Doubs
  • Dugazon
  • Gaoza
  • Grand-Camp
  • Léonie
  • Masselas
  • Morne-Fleuri
  • Nérée
  • Papin
  • Petit-Pérou
  • Pointe-d'Or
  • Quatre Chemins
  • Le Raizet

Neighbouring communes and villages [4]

Climate

Les Abymes has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). The average annual temperature in Les Abymes is 26.7 °C (80.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,557.8 mm (61.33 in) with October as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.1 °C (82.6 °F), and lowest in February, at around 25.0 °C (77.0 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Les Abymes was 34.2 °C (93.6 °F) on 21 July 2001 and 10 August 1995; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 13.0 °C (55.4 °F) on 4 February 1958.

Climate data for Les Abymes (Le Raizet Airport, altitude 11m, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)31.8
(89.2)		32.1
(89.8)		32.8
(91.0)		33.3
(91.9)		33.3
(91.9)		33.4
(92.1)		34.2
(93.6)		34.2
(93.6)		34.1
(93.4)		34.1
(93.4)		33.4
(92.1)		32.4
(90.3)		34.2
(93.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)29.1
(84.4)		29.1
(84.4)		29.6
(85.3)		30.2
(86.4)		30.8
(87.4)		31.4
(88.5)		31.6
(88.9)		31.8
(89.2)		31.6
(88.9)		31.3
(88.3)		30.5
(86.9)		29.6
(85.3)		30.6
(87.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)25.0
(77.0)		25.0
(77.0)		25.4
(77.7)		26.3
(79.3)		27.3
(81.1)		27.9
(82.2)		28.0
(82.4)		28.1
(82.6)		27.8
(82.0)		27.4
(81.3)		26.5
(79.7)		25.6
(78.1)		26.7
(80.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)20.9
(69.6)		20.9
(69.6)		21.1
(70.0)		22.4
(72.3)		23.7
(74.7)		24.5
(76.1)		24.5
(76.1)		24.3
(75.7)		24.0
(75.2)		23.5
(74.3)		22.6
(72.7)		21.6
(70.9)		22.8
(73.0)
Record low °C (°F)13.5
(56.3)		13.0
(55.4)		13.9
(57.0)		15.8
(60.4)		16.4
(61.5)		18.9
(66.0)		19.6
(67.3)		19.8
(67.6)		19.5
(67.1)		19.0
(66.2)		16.8
(62.2)		14.4
(57.9)		13.0
(55.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)89.3
(3.52)		58.2
(2.29)		72.3
(2.85)		98.9
(3.89)		122.5
(4.82)		105.2
(4.14)		134.6
(5.30)		162.8
(6.41)		198.3
(7.81)		202.7
(7.98)		186.4
(7.34)		126.6
(4.98)		1,557.8
(61.33)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)15.712.811.412.212.713.215.316.416.116.617.016.4175.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 200.9190.7214.0209.0215.1209.5213.8223.2199.3197.7182.5193.42,449
Source: Météo-France [5]

History

The islands have been occupied since Pre-Columbian era. Some remains have been found in the Dothémare area but the most remarkable were those found in Belle Plaine where surveys conducted by the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles (DRAC) in 2006 revealed the existence of a sizeable town dated from 1000 and 1200 AD (Troumassoid culture).

The first village, located a few kilometres from the current urban centre, was founded in 1691. It consisted of a few houses and experienced some development through the cultivation of sugar cane, cocoa, and coffee. A Parish Church was built in Les Abymes in 1726.

Administration

Les Abymes belongs to the community of communes called Cap Excellence which brings it together with Pointe-à-Pitre and Baie-Mahault. The commune is divided into three cantons:

Les Abymes Town Hall Mairie des Abymes.JPG
Les Abymes Town Hall

List of Successive Mayors [6]

FromToName
19651967Maurice Fleury
19671995Frédéric Jalton
19951995René-Serge Nabajoth
19952008Daniel Marsin
20082026Éric Jalton

Twinning

Les Abymes has twinning associations with:

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Abymiens or Abymiennes in French. [8]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1954 18,425—    
1961 30,791+7.61%
1967 39,911+4.42%
1974 53,605+4.30%
1982 56,165+0.58%
1990 62,605+1.37%
1999 63,054+0.08%
2007 59,404−0.74%
2012 58,606−0.27%
2017 53,491−1.81%
Source: INSEE [9]

Economy

Most of the economic activity of Les Abymes is related to the presence of the Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (formerly Aéroport du Raizet). The airline Air Caraïbes has its headquarters in Les Abymes. [10]

Although not a resort, Les Abymes is the second most important economic centre of Guadeloupe after the industrial zone of Jarry. The Milénis shopping centre is located in the commune. The "Family Plaza Complex" including a multiplex cinema, a shopping mall, and a leisure centre is due to open in 2015. [11]

Facilities

Education

There are several educational institutions in the commune:

Public primary level:

Public junior high schools: [13]

Public sixth-form colleges/senior high schools: [13]

Private primary level:

Private secondary schools under contract: [14]

The Apprentice Training School for the Chamber of Crafts of Guadeloupe.[ citation needed ]

Former schools??

The commune also hosts the headquarters of the Rector of the Académie de la Guadeloupe  [ fr ] ("Academy of Guadeloupe"). A new building is under construction in the Dothémare-Providence ZAC scheduled for completion in the first quarter 2015. [15]

Health

The University Hospital (CHU) of Pointe-à-Pitre / Les Abymes was the largest on the island in 2013 bringing together some 40 hospital services covering all medical fields with a total capacity of 862 beds with 319 doctors, 120 interns, and 3,000 hospital workers. [16] The hospital is to be rebuilt at Perrin (commencing 2016 for delivery in 2019).

The Polyclinic of Guadeloupe is located at Morne Jolivière and is a private care centre with a total capacity of 110 beds including 20 beds for maternity. [17]

Culture

Culture and heritage

La Mulatresse Solitude, in Les Abymes. Guadeloupe Les Abymes carrefour de Lacroix, sur le boulevard des Heros 2.jpg
La Mulâtresse Solitude, in Les Abymes.

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

Other sites of interest

Religious heritage

The Church of the Immaculate Conception Eglise de l'Immaculee Conception des Abymes.JPG
The Church of the Immaculate Conception

The commune has two religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

Other religious sites of interest

Sports

Sports Facilities
Sports Clubs

Notable people linked to the commune

See also

Related Research Articles

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Guadeloupe is an archipelago and overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean. It consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the two inhabited Îles des Saintes—as well as many uninhabited islands and outcroppings. It is south of Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat and north of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The region's capital city is Basse-Terre, located on the southern west coast of Basse-Terre Island; however, the most populous city is Les Abymes and the main centre of business is neighbouring Pointe-à-Pitre, both located on Grande-Terre Island. It had a population of 378,561 in 2024.

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References

  1. ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 des Abymes (9A1), INSEE
  4. 1 2 Google Maps
  5. ↑ "Climate of Les Abymes 1981-2010" (PDF) (in French). Météo-France . Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  6. ↑ List of Mayors of France (in French)
  7. ↑ National Commission for Decentralised cooperation (in French)
  8. ↑ Le nom des habitants du 971 - Guadeloupe, habitants.fr
  9. ↑ Historique des populations communales, INSEE
  10. ↑ 2013 World Travel Awards Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine , Air Caraïbes. Retrieved on 23 November 2014.
  11. ↑ First stone for the Family Plaza Complex on France-Antilles on 10 January 2014. (in French)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "LISTE DES ECOLES PUBLIQUES ET PRIVEES SOUS CONTRAT." Académie de la Guadeloupe  [ fr ]. Retrieved on 10 March 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Établissements du 2nd degré PUBLIC 2017-2018." Académie de la Guadeloupe  [ fr ]. Retrieved on 10 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "Etablissements du 2nd degré privé sous contrat 2017-2018."Académie de la Guadeloupe  [ fr ]. Retrieved on 10 March 2018.
  15. ↑ Works: Large building sites of 2014 on France-Antilles on 6 January 2014. (in French)
  16. ↑ CHU Pointe-à-Pitre/Les Abymes official website (in French)
  17. ↑ Polyclinic of Guadeloupe website Archived 2013-08-21 at archive.today (in French)
  18. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97102003 Revenue Office (in French) Camera aabb.svg
  19. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97102006 Town Hall (in French) Camera aabb.svg
  20. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97102005 Sepulchral Monument (in French) Camera aabb.svg
  21. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97102007 Joseph Ricou Hospital (in French) Camera aabb.svg
  22. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97102002 Market (in French) Camera aabb.svg
  23. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97100045 War Memorial (in French)
  24. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97100025 Petrelluzzi House (in French)
  25. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97100019 Mamiel Dwelling (in French)
  26. ↑ Inauguration of the first statue of Nelson Mandela in France on France-Antilles on 11 March 2014 (in French)
  27. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97102053 Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception (in French) Camera aabb.svg
  28. ↑ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA97102004 Presbytery (in French) Camera aabb.svg
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