|
|
| Overview | People | Geography | Economy | Government | Communications | Transport | Military | Map |
| Country | Saint Barthelemy |
| Flag |  |
| Capital | name: Gustavia geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Population | 7,448 (July 2009 est.) |
| GMT | -4 |
| Location | located approximately 125 miles northwest of Guadeloupe see map |
| Area | 21 sq km |
| Ethnic groups | white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia) |
| Religions | Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness |
| Languages | French (primary), English |
| National holiday | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August |
| Constitution | 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) |
| Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply |
| Background | 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. |
| Internet country code | .bl |
