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World > North America > Saint Barthelemy
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Saint Barthelemy |
Introduction:
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Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, St. Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under the administration of Guadeloupe. St. Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appelations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity.
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| Official name: |
Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy |
| Capital: |
name: Gustavia
geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight savings: +1 hour, starts 20 March and ends 17 October |
| Government type: |
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| Population: |
6,852 (1999 March census) |
| Languages: |
French (primary), English |
| Official Currency: |
Euro (EUR)
Current Euro Exchange Rates
Historical Euro Exchange Rates
Chart Euro Exchange Rates |
| Currency code: |
EUR |
| Area: |
21 sq km |
| Climate: |
tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid) |
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Map of Saint Barthelemy
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