# Roseau

> capital of Dominica

**Wikidata**: [Q36281](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q36281)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/roseau

## Summary
Roseau is the capital city of Dominica, located in the Caribbean Sea. It serves as the political and administrative center of the island nation and is situated within Saint George Parish. The city covers an area of 5.4 square kilometers and has an estimated population of 16,571 as of 2025.

## Key Facts
- **Country**: Dominica
- **Location**: Saint George Parish, Dominica
- **Area**: 5.4 square kilometres
- **Coordinates**: 15.3°N, 61.3833°W
- **Population**: 14,741 (2011 census); 14,579 (2001 census); 16,571 (2025 estimate)
- **Demonym**: Roselien (masculine singular), Roselienne (feminine singular)
- **Timezone**: UTC−04:00
- **Elevation**: 43 metres above sea level
- **UN/LOCODE**: DMRSU
- **Official Language**: English
- **Local Dialing Code**: 767
- **Named After**: Reed (French: "roseau")
- **Mayor (Head of Government)**: Sandra Irmine Royer (since 2023)
- **Bodies of Water**: Caribbean Sea, Roseau River
- **Aliases**: Charlotte Town, 罗索, 羅梭, Розо (Доминика), Wozo

## FAQs
### What is the population of Roseau?
As of the 2011 census, Roseau had a population of 14,741. A 2025 estimate places the population at 16,571, reflecting steady growth over the 2001 census figure of 14,579.

### Who is the current mayor of Roseau?
Sandra Irmine Royer has served as the Mayor of Roseau since 2023. She was re-elected during the 14th inauguration ceremony of the Roseau City Council.

### What does the name "Roseau" mean?
The city is named after the French word for "reed" (roseau), referring to the reeds that grew along the banks of the Roseau River. A native label for the city is "Wozo."

### Where is Roseau located geographically?
Roseau is located on the western coast of Dominica in Saint George Parish, bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Roseau River. Its coordinates are 15.3°N latitude and 61.3833°W longitude.

## Why It Matters
Roseau is the political, economic, and cultural heart of Dominica. As the capital city, it houses the central government and serves as the primary hub for commerce, transportation, and tourism. Its location along the Caribbean Sea and the Roseau River has historically made it a strategic port and settlement. The city's unique demonym (Roselien/Roselienne) reflects its French colonial heritage, while its official use of English ties it to Dominica's broader national identity. Roseau is also a vital link in regional and international networks, recognized by numerous global identifiers including the UN/LOCODE, GeoNames, and Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names.

## Notable For
- Being the capital and largest city of Dominica.
- Possessing a unique feminine demonym, "Roselienne," which is rare among Caribbean cities.
- Its strategic location between the Caribbean Sea and the Roseau River.
- A rich multilingual presence on Wikipedia, with articles in over 100 languages including Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, French, and Russian.
- Being listed as a Level 4 vital article on Wikipedia, highlighting its global importance.
- Hosting a mayor, Sandra Irmine Royer, who leads the Roseau City Council.

## Body
### Geography and Location
Roseau is situated on the western coast of Dominica, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It lies within Saint George Parish and is positioned at coordinates 15.3°N latitude and 61.3833°W longitude. The city spans an area of 5.4 square kilometres and is located at an elevation of 43 metres above sea level. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Roseau River, from which it derives its name.

### Demographics and Population
Roseau has experienced moderate population growth over the past two decades. According to the 2001 census, the population was 14,579. By the 2011 census, this number had risen to 14,741. A 2025 estimate projects the population to be 16,571, indicating continued growth. Residents of Roseau are known as Roseliens (masculine singular) or Roseliennes (feminine singular), a demonym rooted in the city's French colonial history.

### Governance and Administration
As the capital of Dominica, Roseau serves as the seat of the national government. The city is administered locally by the Roseau City Council, led by a mayor. The current mayor, Sandra Irmine Royer, assumed office in 2023 after being re-elected during the council's 14th inauguration ceremony. The city's official language is English, and its local dialing code is 767. Roseau operates on Atlantic Standard Time (UTC−04:00).

### Historical and Cultural Significance
The name "Roseau" is derived from the French word for "reed," referencing the reeds that grew along the Roseau River. The city is also known by the native label "Wozo." Roseau has a complex colonial history, reflected in its various aliases such as Charlotte Town and 罗索 (Luósuǒ). It is the subject of articles in over 100 languages on Wikipedia, underscoring its global recognition. The city is also categorized as a Level 4 vital article on Wikipedia, a designation reserved for topics of high global importance.

### Infrastructure and Connectivity
Roseau is well-connected through various identifiers and codes that facilitate global interaction. Its UN/LOCODE is DMRSU, and it is listed under the GeoNames ID 3575635 and the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID 1016462. The city's OpenStreetMap node ID is 4950552057. Roseau also appears in numerous encyclopedias and databases, including Encyclopædia Britannica (ID: place/Roseau), the Great Russian Encyclopedia (ID: 3513469), and the Croatian Encyclopedia (ID: 70419). Additionally, it is covered by services like OpenWeatherMap (city ID: 3575635) and TripAdvisor (ID: 147282).

### Notable Features and Landmarks
Roseau's landscape is characterized by its proximity to both the Caribbean Sea and the Roseau River. Aerial views and banners of the city are available through Wikimedia Commons, highlighting its coastal and urban features. The city is also associated with the category "People from Roseau," which includes notable individuals born or residing there. Furthermore, Roseau is listed in the BlackPast.org database under the entry "Roseau, Dominica, 1650," pointing to its historical significance dating back to the 17th century.

### Global Recognition and Digital Presence
Roseau maintains a robust digital footprint. It has a Freebase ID (/m/0fs4n), a MusicBrainz Area ID (72c98e5a-a528-49e8-9680-6a99eb6a490a), and a Quora topic (Roseau-Dominica). The city is also indexed in the Library of Congress Authority File (ID: n83052346) and the U.S. National Archives (Identifier: 10037386). Its Wikidata description is simple: "capital of Dominica." Roseau's presence on Wikimedia Commons includes a dedicated category and a page banner, further cementing its visibility in digital knowledge repositories.

## References

1. [Source](https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/roseau-city-council-hosts-14th-inauguration-ceremony-re-elected-mayor-outlines-plans-for-citys-improvement/)
2. archINFORM
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Population and Housing Statistics](https://stats.gov.dm/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2011-Population-and-Housing-Census.pdf)
6. [Dominica Cities by Population 2025](https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/dominica)
7. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
8. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
9. GeoNames
10. BBC Things
11. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/dm.htm)
12. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
13. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)