Cap-Haïtien << kayp HAY shuhn >> (pop. 170,994) is the second largest city in Haiti. It lies on Haiti’s northern coast. The city is an important seaport for Haiti’s international trade, especially the import of goods and materials. Cap-Haïtien also has a small airport. Tourist attractions nearby include the Citadel La Ferrière, a massive fort built in the early 1800’s, and Labadie, a popular beach area.
The French founded Cap-Haïtien in 1670 and named it Cap-Français, also called Le Cap. The city flourished as a center where European planters and merchants bought and sold African slaves and goods. For a time, it was the capital of the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). During the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), which led to Haiti’s independence, Cap-Français was an important place for the slave population to assemble, protest, and hear news of the French Revolution (1789-1799), which served as an inspiration. The city was renamed Cap-Haïtien in 1804. See also Haiti (History).
