# Petit-Goâve

> coastal commune in Ouest Department, Haïti

**Wikidata**: [Q2009853](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2009853)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit-Goâve)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/petit-goave

## Summary

Petit-Goâve is a coastal commune located in the Ouest Department of Haiti, situated within the Léogâne Arrondissement. Founded in 1663, it spans approximately 387.88 square kilometres and serves as a significant municipal center with a population engaged in coastal and agricultural activities, currently led by mayor Bertrand Subrème since July 2020.

## Key Facts

- **Type**: Coastal commune of Haiti, classified as a city
- **Location**: Léogâne Arrondissement, Ouest Department, Haiti
- **Coordinates**: 18.431388888889° N, -72.866944444444° W
- **Area**: 387.88 square kilometres
- **Elevation**: 65 metres above sea level
- **Founded**: 1663
- **Postal Code**: HT 6220
- **Current Mayor**: Bertrand Subrème (since July 7, 2020)
- **Twin Town**: Miami-Dade County
- **Population Categories**: Has dedicated categories for people born here and people who died here
- **Languages**: Wikipedia available in 16 languages (Arabic, Cebuano, German, English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, Ukrainian, Chinese, Min Nan)
- **Image**: Photograph from 1981 available on Wikimedia Commons (Flickr source)
- **Notable ID Numbers**: VIAF 133795837, Geonames 3718963, Freebase /m/0ckptk, FactGrid Q221429, Who's On First 421197791, Library of Congress n88080828

## FAQs

**What is Petit-Goâve's administrative structure?**

Petit-Goâve is a coastal commune classified as both a city and a commune of Haiti, located in the Léogâne Arrondissement of the Ouest Department. It operates under the GADM administrative code HTI.8.4.3_1 and has the IHSI identification number 0122.

**When was Petit-Goâve founded?**

The commune was founded in 1663, making it one of the older settlements in Haiti established during the colonial period.

**Who is the current leader of Petit-Goâve?**

Bertrand Subrème has served as the mayor of Petit-Goâve since July 7, 2020, following the appointment of singer Junior Bonheur to the position.

**What are Petit-Goâve's geographical features?**

Petit-Goâve covers 387.88 square kilometres along Haiti's coast at coordinates 18.431388888889° N latitude and -72.866944444444° W longitude, with an elevation of 65 metres above sea level.

**Is Petit-Goâve connected to any other cities?**

Petit-Goâve is twinned with Miami-Dade County in Florida, United States, establishing an international municipal partnership.

**What languages is Petit-Goâve documented in?**

The commune has Wikipedia articles in 16 different languages, reflecting its international recognition and the diverse diaspora communities originating from the area.

## Why It Matters

Petit-Goâve represents an important historical and administrative center in Haiti's Ouest Department. As one of the country's oldest communes, founded in 1663 during the colonial era, it carries significant historical heritage while serving as a modern municipal hub for coastal communities. The commune's twinning with Miami-Dade County demonstrates its international connections, particularly with the Haitian diaspora community in South Florida, which maintains strong ties to the island. Its classification as both a city and commune of Haiti reflects the unique administrative structure of Haitian local government. The presence of dedicated categories for both people born in and those who died in Petit-Goâve in Wikimedia projects indicates a documented cultural legacy and community identity. The municipality's coastal location at approximately 65 metres elevation positions it within Haiti's broader geographical and economic landscape, contributing to the nation's maritime and agricultural sectors.

## Notable For

- One of the oldest continuously inhabited communes in Haiti, founded in 1663
- Twinned with Miami-Dade County, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States
- Has Wikipedia coverage in 16 different languages, indicating international awareness
- Serves as a coastal commune with dedicated maritime and fishing activities
- Home to documented categories for notable people born and buried there
- Part of the Léogâne Arrondissement in the Ouest Department
- Postal code HT 6220 identifies it within Haiti's postal system

## Body

### History and Foundation

Petit-Goâve was established in 1663, placing its origins in the colonial period of Haitian history. The commune's founding occurred during a time when Haiti was known as Saint-Domingue and was under French colonial rule. This early establishment means Petit-Goâve predates Haiti's independence in 1804, making it a settlement with over 350 years of continuous existence. The historical significance of its founding date places it among the earliest European colonial settlements in Haiti.

### Geography and Location

The commune is situated at coordinates 18.431388888889° north latitude and 72.866944444444° west longitude, positioning it on Haiti's western coast facing the Caribbean Sea. Petit-Goâve spans an area of 387.88 square kilometres, making it a substantial municipal territory within the Ouest Department. The elevation of 65 metres above sea level provides the commune with its characteristic coastal plain terrain. The municipality falls within the Léogâne Arrondissement, one of the administrative divisions that organizes local governance in the Ouest Department.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of Haiti, Petit-Goâve operates under the country's unique administrative system that classifies it as both a city and a municipal entity. The current head of government is Bertrand Subrème, who began his tenure as mayor on July 7, 2020. His appointment followed the notable selection of popular singer Junior Bonheur to lead the municipal government. The commune is identified by multiple administrative codes: GADM ID HTI.8.4.3_1 and IHSI ID 0122, which facilitate statistical and governmental record-keeping.

### International Connections

Petit-Goâve maintains a twinning relationship with Miami-Dade County in Florida, United States. This partnership connects the Haitian commune to one of the largest metropolitan areas in America, reflecting the substantial Haitian diaspora community in South Florida. The twin city relationship facilitates cultural, economic, and possibly technical exchanges between the two municipalities.

### Cultural and Demographic Documentation

The commune has dedicated Wikimedia categories for people associated with Petit-Goâve, including Category:Petit-Goâve as the main category, Category:People of Petit-Goâve for notable residents, and specialized categories for individuals born and deceased in the municipality. These classifications indicate a documented cultural heritage and recognition of notable figures originating from the area. The Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana also documents Petit-Goâve, demonstrating international encyclopedic attention to the commune.

### Identification and References

Petit-Goâve is catalogued in numerous international databases and authority files. The Library of Congress authority ID n88080828 provides American institutional documentation. The VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) number 133795837 links the commune to international bibliographic records. Geonames ID 3718963 and OpenWeatherMap city ID 3718962 provide geographical and meteorological identification. The Freebase identifier /m/0ckptk and FactGrid item ID Q221429 connect it to structured knowledge bases. The WorldCat Entities ID E39PBJvxqyYmx9Cx83qhtkXPQq links to global library consortium records.

### Linguistic Coverage

The commune enjoys extensive multilingual documentation, with Wikipedia articles available in sixteen languages: Arabic, Cebuano, German, English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, Ukrainian, Chinese, and Min Nan. This widespread linguistic coverage reflects both international interest in Haiti and the global Haitian diaspora community's connection to locations like Petit-Goâve.

### Postal and Infrastructure

The commune uses the postal code HT 6220, which organizes mail delivery within Haiti's postal system. The elevation of 65 metres above sea level characterizes the local topography, while the coastal position supports maritime activities and fishing industries typical of Haitian coastal communes.

## References

1. [Source](https://lenouvelliste.com/article/218449/le-chanteur-junior-bonheur-aux-commandes-de-la-mairie-de-petit-goave)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. GeoNames
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File