Gonaives is one of the oldest cities in the country. Its origins date back to when the original natives (Arawak/Taino Indians) occupied the land. During those times, Gonaives was an Indian village and was known as Gonaibo.
Gonaives also witnessed many exceptional events such as the Signature of The Haitian Act of Independence on January 1, 1804; the uprising against the Duvalier dictatorship and the rebellion against ex-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
POPULATION:
In 2005, the population of Gonaives was estimated at 280,149 inhabitants. The city covers a surface of 574 km2 for a population density of four hundred and eighty-eight (488) people/km2.
About 62% of the population lives in urban areas. The age composition is as follow:
35% of the population is under the age of 15 years old, 61.4% between 15 and 64 years old and 3.6% of the population is above 65 years old.
SCHOOLS:
The education system in Gonaives is supported by three hundred and one (301) school facilities. Amongst those are: thirty-one (31) pre-schools, one hundred and sixty-one (161) primary schools and one hundred and nine (109) secondary schools. 74% of the school facilities are private. There are also three (3) universities two (2) academies and thirty-seven (37) trade schools.
BUSINESS:
There are seventeen (17) credit unions, ten (10) business cooperatives, three (3) currency exchange centers, five (5) banks, five hundred and three (503) lottery outlets and fifty-nine (59) small businesses.
There are also one thousand five hundred and eighty-five (1585) commercial establishments. Amongst them are four hundred and seventy (470) small stores, three hundred and seventeen (317) construction/home improvement stores, eighty-four (84) pharmacies and one hundred and seventy-seven (177) food stores.
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Gonaives is one of the oldest cities in the country. Its origins date back to when the original natives (Arawak/Taino Indians) occupied the land. During those times, Gonaives was an Indian village and was known as Gonaibo.
