Country France Canton Les Abymes 1 through 5 Population (2013) 58,644 Area 81.25 km² Number of airports 1 | Intercommunality Cap Excellence INSEE/Postal code 97101 /97139 and 97142 Local time Wednesday 5:33 PM | |
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Weather 26°C, Wind SE at 21 km/h, 70% Humidity Arrondissement | ||
Canton n 2 les abymes 2
Les Abymes ([lɛz‿a.bim]) is the most populated commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located on the west side of the island of Grande-Terre, and is part of the metropolitan area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest urban area in Guadeloupe.
Contents
- Canton n 2 les abymes 2
- Map of Les Abymes Guadeloupe
- Geography
- History
- Administration
- Twinning
- Demography
- Economy
- Education
- Health
- Culture
- Civil heritage
- Religious heritage
- Sports
- Notable people linked to the commune
- References
Map of Les Abymes, Guadeloupe
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Abymiens or Abymiennes.
Geography
Les Abymes is located some 3 km north-east of Pointe-à-Pitre, 7 km east of Baie Mahault, and 10 km south-west of Morne-à-l'Eau. Access to the commune is by Route nationale N1 from Baie-Mahault in the west which passes along the southern border of the commune and continues south as the N4. The N5 branches off the N1 and goes north-east through the centre of the commune and continues north-east to Morne-a-L'eau. The N11 branches off the N5 on the south-east of the town and continues north-west then west rejoining the N1. The D106 road also goes north from the commune to Vieux Bourg. The Route du Palais Royal passes north-east through the commune to join the N5. The Route de Chazeau branches from the Route du Palais Royal and goes north-east to Doubs.
Access to the Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport is from the N11.
Les Abymes is integrated into the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre and, like the rest of the island, has a tropical climate.
History
The islands have been occupied since pre-Columbian times. Some remains have been found in the Dothémare area but the most remarkable were those found in Belle Plaine where surveys conducted by the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles (DRAC) in 2006 revealed the existence of a sizeable town dated from 1000 and 1200 AD (Troumassoid culture).
The first village, located a few kilometres from the current urban centre, was founded in 1691. It consisted of a few houses and experienced some development through the cultivation of sugar cane, cocoa, and coffee. A Parish Church was built in Les Abymes in 1726.
Administration
Les Abymes belongs to the community of communes called Cap Excellence which brings it together with Pointe-à-Pitre and Baie-Mahault. The commune is divided into five districts:
List of Successive Mayors
(Not all data is known)
Twinning
Les Abymes has twinning associations with:
Demography
In 2010 the commune had 58,534 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1961. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger communes that have a sample survey every year.
Sources : Ldh/EHESS/Cassini until 1962, INSEE database from 1968 (population without double counting and municipal population from 2006)
Economy
Most of the economic activity of Les Abymes is related to the presence of the Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (formerly Aéroport du Raizet). The airline Air Caraïbes has its headquarters in Les Abymes.
Although not a resort, Les Abymes is the second most important economic centre of Guadeloupe after the industrial zone of Jarry. The Milénis shopping centre is located in the commune. The "Family Plaza Complex" including a multiplex cinema, a shopping mall, and a leisure centre is due to open in 2015.
Education
There are several educational institutions in the commune:
Junior high schools:
Sixth-form colleges/senior high schools:
The commune also hosts the headquarters of the Rector of the Academy of Guadeloupe. A new building is under construction in the Dothémare-Providence ZAC scheduled for completion in the first quarter 2015.
Health
The University Hospital (CHU) of Pointe-à-Pitre / Les Abymes was the largest on the island in 2013 bringing together some 40 hospital services covering all medical fields with a total capacity of 862 beds with 319 doctors, 120 interns, and 3,000 hospital workers. The hospital is to be rebuilt at Perrin (commencing 2016 for delivery in 2019).
The Polyclinic of Guadeloupe is located at Morne Jolivière and is a private care centre with a total capacity of 110 beds including 20 beds for maternity.
Culture
Civil heritage
The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
Religious heritage
The commune has two religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: