Macouba

History of the Municipality of Macouba

Macouba, Land of Riches

Macouba Martinique has always been a very fertile land.

Before colonization, these lands were inhabited by the Caribs, like most of the island.

In 1658, they were driven out by the colonists.

11 years later, in 1679, Macouba was established as a parish.

Its name was chosen in tribute to a small fish that was very common at that time.

In 1833, Martinique was divided into municipalities. The parish was then considered a municipal section of the municipality of Basse-Pointe.

It would take 12 more years, until 1845, for the parish to become an independent municipality.

In terms of agriculture, the municipality became known mainly for its production of high-quality coffee and tobacco, which lasted for nearly 200 years before being replaced.

Unfortunately, the municipality, with its very mountainous terrain and a rough sea, encountered difficulties in exporting its rum and sugar produced from sugarcane cultivation.

The producers used unusual techniques to get their goods to the ships: they had the barrels pushed by workers who could swim to reach the boats.

Did you know?

Macouba is a municipality mainly populated by people of Indian origin!

They are not descendants of the Caribs but immigrants from India who came after the abolition of slavery to work on the numerous plantations abandoned by former slaves.

URBANISM

Macouba is part of the northern community of "Cap Nord."

The municipality is crossed by the departmental road D10.

Geography of this Northern Martinique Municipality

Macouba Martinique is a small municipality with 1,050 inhabitants and covers an area of 16.93 km².

It is surrounded by Basse-Pointe to the east, Grand'Rivière to the west, and Morne-Rouge to the south.

The municipality is located on top of a cliff on the North Atlantic side, giving it a rather mountainous terrain.

Politics

A Love Story

The municipality of Macouba has been led for over 32 years by Sainte-Rose Cakin, the former president of SMTVD (Mixed Union for Waste Treatment and Valuation).

Mr. Cakin describes this long tenure as a love story built on trust.

Youth

The charming northern municipality of Martinique has an elementary school called "Groupe scolaire Terre patate."

To continue their education, students go to neighboring municipalities.

Culture

What to Do in Macouba, Day and Night?

Escape into Nature

Macouba has several historical sites that are interesting to explore to understand the way of life in the past. Among these sites are:

• Bellevue Estate - Fond Préville
• Perpigna Estate
• Chénaux Estate
• Visit to the pre-Columbian Polissor of La Roche à Bon Dieu
• Walk along Nord-Plage
• Distillerie J.M

The History of Macouba Through Stone

In terms of architecture, whether it's religious or cultural monuments, Martinique's history has left us with traces of the past.

In the category of religious monuments, you can find in Macouba:

• The Catholic chapel of Nord-Plage
• The Père-Labat Church
• Sainte-Anne Church in Macouba

IN SUMMARY

The municipality of Macouba, while beautiful, is not easily accessible to those without a vehicle.

The establishment of public transportation to connect the municipality, as well as the creation of new infrastructure, is part of the village's new dynamic.

The challenge for the coming years is to continue enhancing this little green corner while maintaining its authenticity and harmony.