This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2020) |
Gourbeyre | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 16°00′N61°42′W / 16°N 61.7°W Coordinates: 16°00′N61°42′W / 16°N 61.7°W | |
Country | France |
Overseas region and department | Guadeloupe |
Arrondissement | Basse-Terre |
Canton | Trois-Rivières |
Intercommunality | CA Grand Sud Caraïbe |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Claude Edmond [1] |
Area 1 | 22.52 km2 (8.70 sq mi) |
Population | 7,760 |
• Density | 340/km2 (890/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC−04:00 (AST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 97109 /97113 |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
Gourbeyre is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is a suburb of the city of Basse-Terre.
The commune of Gourbeyre was in the past a pivotal point in the defense of Guadeloupe's Basse-Terre Island.
From 1640 to 1643 the government of Guadeloupe consisted entirely of governor Aubert. The governor's house is regarded as the most beautiful in the commune of Gourbeyre.
Charles Houël was named governor in 1648 and immediately began the construction of the Fort of Saint Charles on the right bank of the Galleon River. This moved the seat of government. The Fort (renamed Fort Delgrès in 1989) was placed to resist the attack of the English by providing cover for French ships.
"Montagne Saint-Charles et du Palmiste" was the name given for the Gourbeyre commune up to the 17th century. Through the 18th century it was an important capital in colonial France.
Gourbeyre had some military importance due to its mountainous topography. The area was considered to be impregnable during the English attacks of 1691 and 1703. Colonists were attracted to settle in Gourbeyre because of trading opportunities and in view of the protection provided against English attacks for residents in Gourbeyre.
Many religious communities settled in the commune of Gourbeyre. By 1650 monks had obtained the rights to cultivate the land and in the cases of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Jesuits had turned to cultivation of sugar plantations and the refining of sugar. In Bisdary the Jesuits were vested with 250 hectares of sugar cane which was cultivated and maintained by up to 400 slaves.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the commune of Gourbeyre had 461 whites, 3418 slaves and 168 of other races.
Very serious events occurred in the commune of Gourbeyre, particularly in Dolé village, with the revolt of Delgrès opposed to the Richepanse general, sent by Napoleon. In January 1838, a new municipal organization detached the commune of Gourbeyre, from Basse-Terre.
In 1843, a terrible earthquake destroyed the area. The governor admiral of Gourbeyre was instrumental in reconstructing the area.
After a fire in 1955, and hurricanes in 1964 and 1979, a new building was built here in 1986 to house the departmental records and historical private papers important to the history of the island. It also hosts researchers, students and personalities.
Gourbeyre is located east of the city Basse-Terre and southwest of the Soufrière volcano. Gourbeyre is near a river and located on the N1 highway. Gourbeyre is at the crossing point between the windward and the leeward shores.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
1967 | 7,066 | — |
1974 | 6,813 | −0.52% |
1982 | 6,399 | −0.78% |
1990 | 6,330 | −0.14% |
1999 | 7,642 | +2.11% |
2007 | 8,088 | +0.71% |
2012 | 7,820 | −0.67% |
2017 | 7,795 | −0.06% |
Source: INSEE [3] |
Crops such as cocoa, coffee and bananas are grown in the mountains and a sugar factory produces sugar at the river's estuary. Cattle rearing is also done.
Historical and natural sites brings tourists to Gourbeyre. Also a marina is down at the shoreline, nearby Basse-Terre.
Public preschools and primary schools include: [4]
Public junior high schools include: [5]
Private secondary schools under contract: [6]
Basse-Terre is a commune in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is also the prefecture of Guadeloupe. The city of Basse-Terre is located on Basse-Terre Island, the western half of Guadeloupe.
Sainte-Anne is a city in the southern part of Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe in the French West Indies It is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the island, along with Le Gosier and Saint-François).
Baie-Mahault is a commune in the overseas department and region of Guadeloupe, France. It is the second most populated commune of Guadeloupe, after Les Abymes. The extensive industrial zone of Jarry in Baie-Mahault is by far the most industrialized commune in the islands and the largest industrial park in the Lesser Antilles. It is part of the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest metropolitan area in Guadeloupe, located in the northwest.
Bouillante is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles.
Baillif is a commune of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles. Baillif is a suburb of Basse-Terre, the prefecture and second-largest urban area of Guadeloupe located on Basse-Terre Island.
Capesterre-Belle-Eau is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located in the south-east of Basse-Terre Island. Capesterre-Belle-Eau covers an area of 103.3 km2. The 1999 population was 19,568. The population density is 189 persons per km2. The inhabitants are called Capesterriens.
Pointe-à-Pitre is the second largest city of Guadeloupe after Les Abymes. Guadeloupe is an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles, of which it is a sous-préfecture, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Pointe-à-Pitre.
Le Gosier is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located on the south side of the island of Grande-Terre and part of the urban unit of Pointe-à-Pitre-Les Abymes, the largest conurbation in Guadeloupe.
Petit-Bourg is the seventh-largest commune in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. It is located on the east side of the island of Basse-Terre, and is part of the metropolitan area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest metropolitan area in Guadeloupe.
Le Moule is the sixth-largest commune in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. It is located on the northeast side of the island of Grande-Terre.
Pointe-Noire is a commune on Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean. It is located on the northwest coast of the island of Basse-Terre.
Vieux-Habitants is a commune on Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean. It is located on the southwest coast of the island of Basse-Terre.
Goyave is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles. It is part of the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest metropolitan area in Guadeloupe.
Lamentin is a commune in the French overseas department and region of Guadeloupe. It is part of the agglomeration of Pointe-à-Pitre, in the north part of Basse-Terre. Three islets are included in the commune: Christopher, Fajou, Caret.
Saint-Claude is a commune in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. It lies in the interior of southern Basse-Terre Island, just northeast of the capital city of Basse-Terre.
Morne-à-l'Eau is a commune located in the department of Guadeloupe.
Petit-Canal is a commune in the department of Guadeloupe. Petit-Canal is a coastal commune on Grande-Terre.
Sainte-Rose is a commune in the department of Guadeloupe. It is the second largest commune of Guadeloupe, in terms of area, after Petit-Bourg. Sainte-Rose lies on the coast of the island of Basse-Terre.
Trois-Rivières is a commune in the overseas department of Guadeloupe, and the chef-lieu of the Canton of Trois-Rivières. It is on the south coast of the island of Basse-Terre. It is surrounded with the towns of Capesterre-Belle-Eau, Vieux-Fort and Gourbeyre.
La Désirade is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. The commune of La Désirade is made up of the island of La Désirade and the uninhabited Petite Terre Islands located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of it.