Nord Department

Nord (English: North, Haitian Creole: Nò) is one of the ten departments (French: départements) of Haiti. It has an area of 2,106 km² and a population of 872,200 (2002). Its capital is Cap-Haïtien. The department is divided into seven arrondissements: In 1789 the Nord Department on the northern shore was the most fertile area with the largest sugar plantations. It was an area of vast economic importance. Here most of the slaves lived in relative i... More

Nord (English: North, Haitian Creole: Nò) is one of the ten departments (French: départements) of Haiti. It has an area of 2,106 km² and a population of 872,200 (2002). Its capital is Cap-Haïtien. The department is divided into seven arrondissements: In 1789 the Nord Department on the northern shore was the most fertile area with the largest sugar plantations. It was an area of vast economic importance. Here most of the slaves lived in relative isolation, separated from the rest of the colony by a high mountain range known as the Massif. This area was a stronghold of the wealthy planters who wanted greater autonomy for the colony, especially economically, so they could do as they pleased. Although the slaves were not expected to participate in a rebellion, suddenly on August 22, 1791, a great slave uprising plunged the country into civil war. Thousands of slaves in the fertile Nord Department region rose up to take vengeance on their masters and to fight for their liberty. Within the...

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