Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye ( ht, Sen Michèl Latalay; es, San Miguel de la Atalaya) is a
commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
in the
Marmelade Arrondissement, in the
Artibonite department of
Haiti.
It has 95,216 inhabitants. It is the second largest city geographically after Port-au-Prince, the national capital. Located in the Central Plateau, it is home to several large Christian churches including one which has been there for over 50 years. It is a scenic locale, surrounded by rich farmland, abundant water resources and distant mountain peaks in every direction. There are excellent schools which are privately funded and a current (2011) small residential development outside of the main town area which is near completion which was originally sponsored by the central government. There is a new joint venture nearing completion with a Taiwanese partner that plans to bring bamboo crafts and goods manufacturing skills training to the local people.
The area is the one of the least prone to earthquakes according to local government expertise. There is a new city hall nearing completion with excellent modern construction techniques and classic architecture (summer 2011).
History
Saint-Michel-de-l'Atalaye was founded in 1768 as San Miguel de la Atalaya, on the grounds of the ''Estancia Marigallega'' by lieutenant-colonel
José de Guzmán y Meléndez (who was later created ''Baron of San Miguel de la Atalaya'' by
Charles III of Spain) and was populated by settlers from the
Canary Islands.
In 1773, it was signed the Treaty of San Miguel de la Atalaya on this town, between the governors of
Santo Domingo
, total_type = Total
, population_density_km2 = auto
, timezone = AST (UTC −4)
, area_code_type = Area codes
, area_code = 809, 829, 849
, postal_code_type = Postal codes
, postal_code = 10100–10699 ( Distrito Nacional)
, webs ...
(Spanish colony) and
Saint-Domingue (French colony), which became available to create two committees to develop a boundary between the two colonies with reference to the rivers Dajabón and Pedernales.
[
]
In 1782 the population reached 1,131 inhabitants.
[
During the ]War of the First Coalition
The War of the First Coalition (french: Guerre de la Première Coalition) was a set of wars that several European powers fought between 1792 and 1797 initially against the constitutional Kingdom of France and then the French Republic that suc ...
it was occupied by France in 1794. The following year, Spain formally cedes its portion of the island of Santo Domingo to France, under the Peace of Basel
The Peace of Basel of 1795 consists of three peace treaties involving France during the French Revolution (represented by François de Barthélemy).
*The first was with Prussia (represented by Karl August von Hardenberg) on 5 April;
*The sec ...
. In 1809, Spain regains its former possessions in the island.
In December 1821 and January 1822, Haiti annexed areas of central and northeastern part of the island; in February 1822 annexed the city of Santo Domingo and the eastern side of the island. In 1844 was proclaimed the Dominican independence from Haiti, but the Dominican domain on the city was not very effective. As of the 1936 border treaty between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the city was officially under Haitian control.
References
Populated places in Artibonite (department)
Communes of Haiti
{{Haiti-geo-stub