Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2010, the Dutch portion of the island became an independent nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin lies east of the US Virgin Islands

18 05 N, 63 57 W

Central America and the Caribbean

more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

58.9 km (for entire island)

temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-November is the hurricane season

salt

subject to hurricanes from July to November

freshwater supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water

the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia), white, East Indian

French (official), English, Dutch, French Patois, Spanish, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)

Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Protestant, Hindu

30,615 (July 2011 est.)

NA

NA

overseas collectivity of France

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

French civil law

18 years of age, universal

unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET]

NA

UPU

none (overseas collectivity of France)

none (overseas collectivity of France)

the flag of France is used

brown pelican

The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported, primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.

85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry

tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry

crude petroleum, food, manufactured items

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.7715 (2010)

0.7338 (2009)

0.6827 (2008)

0.7345 (2007)

0.7964 (2006)

1 local TV station; receives television broadcasts from the Netherlands Antilles; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater (2008)

.mf; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered

1 (2010)

nearest airport for international flights is Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) located in Sint Maarten

defense is the responsibility of France