It is close to the border of the Dominican Republic and is one of the oldest cities in the country. Haiti's independence was proclaimed here on November 29, The site was reoccupied by the French in as Fort-Dauphin; it was captured by Spanish forces in , restored to the French in and then surrendered to the British on 8 September , shortly before the declaration of independence.
The number of households in the commune was 4,, with an average of 4. The most common religious affiliations are Roman Catholic and Haitian Vodou.
In the colonial era, it was a major plantation area, and today it remains an important coffee-producing area. Its pine forests are heavily exploited for charcoal. In addition, several colonial-era forts, mostly in ruins, are situated here. It is strategically located in the centre of the bay facing the Atlantic Ocean.
It was used as a naval base by the French, with four forts that "guarded the bay like beads on a string. They were captured by Toussaint Louverture May 20, — April 7, , the leader of the Haitian Revolution , in He later proceeded to the north and conquered the Spanish. The average elevation of the town is about 1 metre 3. It has a low sandy beach. It has reefs with mangrove forests, and two hills spaced at 0. The hills are the markers for the entrance to the port. The shallow waters that extends to 1 mile 1.
The entrance to the fort is stated to be "about 1. There is no wharf. The tides are high — spring rise is 5. Another anchorage point with 9 fathoms depth is found to the east of the fort. The tidal current at the entrance is said to be low in the morning hours when it is the best time to enter the port.
