EncyclopediaCap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien (käp-äēsyăN') [key], city (1995 est. pop. 100,600), N Haiti, on the Atlantic Ocean. Haiti's second largest city, it is a seaport, commercial center, and tourist attraction. Agriculture dominates the regional economy, with sisal, sugar, coffee, cacao, bananas, and pineapples as the major commercial crops. Founded by the French in 1670, the city was the capital of colonial Haiti for a century. In 1791, Cap-Haïtien was captured by Toussaint L'Ouverture, leader of a slave rebellion. From 1811 to 1820 it served as capital of the kingdom of Henri Christophe, whose Sans Souci Palace and famous citadel, La Ferrière, still stand. Despite earthquakes (notably in 1842), bombings, and civil strife, Cap-Haïtien retains some picturesque colonial charm. It is also known as Le Cap.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
