Artibonite (department)


Artibonite is one of the ten departments of Haiti. With an area of 4,887 km2 it is Haiti's largest department. As of 2015, its estimated population was 1,727,524. The region is the country's main rice-growing area. The main cities are Gonaïves and Saint-Marc. In February 2004 an insurgency tried unsuccessfully to declare Artibonite's independence.
The department has been in a state of an economic decline since insurgencies and coups have reduced the nation's stability. Since the election of President René Garcia Préval, the production of rice and other crops has been on an increase.

Geography

A core geographic feature of this department is the Artibonite River, which runs through the southern half of the department, allowing for rice cultivation in the Artibonite Valley.

Etymology

The name L'Artibonite is derived from the Artibonite River.

Historic Places and Landmarks

Several noteworthy events of the Haitian Revolution took place in the Artibonite Department.
The 2015 population of Artibonite was estimated at 1,727,524, with 739,787 residing in urban areas and residing in rural areas.
YearTotal Pop.%±UrbanRuralRatio
20031,299,398———422,476876,92232:68
20091,571,02020.9%607,757963,26339:61
20151,727,52410.0%739,787987,73743:57

Administrative divisions

The Department of Artibonite is subdivided into five arrondissements, which are further subdivided into sixteen communes.