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Jacmel

File:JacmelView.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Jacmel (; ) is a commune in southern Haiti previously founded by the Spanish in 1504 before the relocation of dominicans to the eastern side of the island after the Devastation of Osorio and repopulated by the French in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est, 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Port-au-Prince across the Tiburon Peninsula, and had a population of 221,965 at the 2024 Census. The town's name is derived from its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel. In 1925, Jacmel was dubbed as the "City of Light," becoming the first in the Caribbean to have electricity.

Key facts

Settlement.name
Jacmel
Settlement.other_name
Yaquimel (Arawakan Name)
Settlement.nicknames
Culture Capital, City of Artists
Settlement.settlement_type
Commune
Settlement.motto
Sursum Corda
Settlement.image_skyline
JacmelView.jpg
Settlement.imagesize
300px
Settlement.flag_size
80
Settlement.shield_size
80
Settlement.mapframe
yes
Settlement.pushpin_map
Haiti
Settlement.pushpin_label_position
bottom
Settlement.pushpin_map_caption
Location in Haiti
Settlement.subdivision_type
Country
Settlement.subdivision_name
Haiti
Settlement.subdivision_type1
Department
Settlement.subdivision_name1
Sud-Est
Settlement.subdivision_type2
Commune

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Population
221965
Area
443.88
Elevation
43
Image
JacmelView.jpg
Show 4 more facts
Commons category
Jacmel
inception
1698-00-00
postal code
HT 9110
Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

~10 min read

Article

13 sections
Contents
  • History
  • Haitian Revolution and War of the South
  • Creation of the Gran Colombia flag
  • Ramón Emeterio Betances
  • Modern Jacmel prior to the 12 January 2010 earthquake
  • 2010 Haiti earthquake
  • Recovery
  • Jacmel carnival
  • Notable residents
  • Facilities
  • Sister cities
  • References
  • External links

Jacmel (; ) is a commune in southern Haiti previously founded by the Spanish in 1504 before the relocation of dominicans to the eastern side of the island after the Devastation of Osorio and repopulated by the French in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est, 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Port-au-Prince across the Tiburon Peninsula, and had a population of 221,965 at the 2024 Census. The town's name is derived from its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel. In 1925, Jacmel was dubbed as the "City of Light," becoming the first in the Caribbean to have electricity.

The city is known for its well-preserved Gingerbread houses built in the early 19th century. The town has been tentatively accepted as a World Heritage Site. It sustained damage in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

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