Saint-Michel-de-l'Atalaye

Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye
Sen Michèl Latalay
Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye is located in Haiti
Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye
Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye
Location in Haiti
Coordinates: 19°22′0″N 72°20′0″W / 19.36667°N 72.33333°W / 19.36667; -72.33333
Country Haiti
DepartmentArtibonite
ArrondissementMarmelade
Founded in1768
Founded byJosé de Guzmán y Meléndez, Viscount of San Rafael de la Angostura
Elevation
420 m (1,380 ft)
Population
 (7 August 2003)[1]
 • Total95,216

Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye (Haitian Creole: Sen Michèl Latalay; Spanish: San Miguel de la Atalaya) is a commune in the Marmelade Arrondissement, in the Artibonite department of Haiti. It has 95,216 inhabitants. It is the second largest city geographically after Port-au-Prince, the national capital. Located in the Central Plateau, it is home to several large Christian churches including one which has been there for over 50 years. It is a scenic locale, surrounded by rich farmland, abundant water resources and distant mountain peaks in every direction. There are excellent schools which are privately funded and a current (2011) small residential development outside of the main town area which is near completion which was originally sponsored by the central government. There is a new joint venture nearing completion with a Taiwanese partner that plans to bring bamboo crafts and goods manufacturing skills training to the local people.

The area is one of the least prone to earthquakes according to local government expertise. There is a new city hall nearing completion with excellent modern construction techniques and classic architecture (summer 2011).

  1. ^ Institut Haïtien de Statistique et d'Informatique (IHSI)