Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Christopher COLUMBUS claimed Saint Martin for Spain in 1493, naming it after the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, but it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook Saint Martin in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The border frequently fluctuated over the next 200 years because of friction between the two countries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%).
- Capital
- Marigot
- Government
- parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
- Population
- 33,093
- Area
- 50 sq km
- Location
- Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea;
- Climate
- temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers;
- Natural resources
- salt
- Languages
- French (official); Dutch; English; Guadeloupian Creole…
- Religions
- Roman Catholic; Jehovah's Witness; Protestant; Hindu
- Independence
- none (overseas collectivity of France)
- Currency
- euros (EUR)
- Export partners
- United States 35%; Netherlands 26%; Antigua and Barbuda 21%; France 10%
- Import partners
- United States 76%; Netherlands 7%; France 7%
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain