Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint- Pierre is the capital of the French local authority ( collectivité d' outre- mer) Saint- Pierre and Miquelon. Saint- Pierre is with 5478 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2008) the more populous of the two communities in Saint -Pierre and Miquelon; in Miquelon - Langlade live only 594 people.

Geography

The municipality of Saint- Pierre consists of the main island of the same name and some nearby smaller islands such as the Ile- aux- Marins, an island that is uninhabited since the 1960s. Although nearly 90 % of the inhabitants of Saint- Pierre and Miquelon live in Saint- Pierre, the community area is considerably smaller than that of Miquelon - Langlade.

The capital of the district is located on the north side of the harbor " Barachois " on the east coast of the island. The entrance to the harbor is protected by a small island chain.

History

Until 1945 there was a third church in Saint- Pierre and Miquelon, Île -aux- Marins. This, however, was incorporated in 1945 in Saint- Pierre. In the 1960s, the population of Île -aux- Marins gave the settlement, in the earlier lived on the 600 people on and settled on the main island over.

Demography

Saint- Pierre counts 5478 inhabitants, most of whom are Basque, Breton, Norman or Acadian descent. Today, all residents of the community live on the main island.

Traffic

The Saint- Pierre Airport, the international airport of Saint- Pierre and Miquelon is located just south of the main town. The airline Air Saint -Pierre Saint- Pierre flying in from some Canadian airports. There is also a flight connection with the Miquelon Airport, the small, insignificant airport in the neighboring island.

The port of the island is called " Barachois " and is located in the south of the main town.