Overview
Saint Barthélemy, officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy, is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Caribbean. Also known as St. Barts, St. Barths, or St. Barth, the island lies approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of Saint Martin in the northeastern Caribbean. It is part of the Leeward Islands and forms one of four French West Indian territories, alongside Saint Martin, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.
The island covers an area of 25 square kilometres (9.7 square miles) with a population of 10,660 as of the January 2023 census. Its capital is Gustavia, which also serves as the main harbour. Saint Barthélemy is notable as the only Caribbean island that was a Swedish colony for any significant length of time, remaining under Swedish rule for nearly a century before returning to French control following an 1877 referendum.
Etymology and Early History
Christopher Columbus named the island in 1493 in honour of Bartholomew the Apostle, also honouring his younger brother Bartholomew Columbus. Before European contact, the island may have been occasionally visited by Eastern Caribbean Taíno and Arawak people, who called it 'Ouanalao', though permanent settlement was unlikely due to the lack of fresh water sources and poor soil.
Colonial History
Formal colonisation began in 1648 when the French settled the island, encouraged by Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy, the lieutenant-governor of the French West India Company. The initial settlement comprised 50 to 60 settlers, later joined by smaller numbers from St Kitts. Led by Jacques Gentes, the settlers began cultivating cacao. In 1656, the settlement was attacked by Caribs and briefly abandoned. De Poincy, a member of the Order of Saint John, facilitated the transfer of the island's ownership to the Order and continued ruling until his death in 1660. Five years later, the French West India Company reacquired the island along with the Order's other Caribbean possessions, and by 1674 the islands became part of the French Kingdom and were added to the colony of Guadeloupe.
The 18th century proved economically challenging for Saint Barthélemy, and the island was subject to pirate activities. British forces captured it in 1744, but it reverted to French control in 1764. In 1784, King Louis XVI traded the island to Sweden in exchange for trading privileges in Gothenburg. Under Swedish rule, the economy flourished after Gustavia—named after Swedish king Gustav III—was declared a free port, attracting European traders.
Swedish Period and Return to France
In March 1801, during the French Revolutionary Wars, British forces occupied the island. The Swedish, heavily outnumbered, surrendered without resistance. Slavery was practised on the island under the 1787 Ordinance concerning the Police of Slaves and free Coloured People. The last legally owned slaves were granted freedom in October 1847. As the island was not a plantation area, freed slaves faced economic hardship and many emigrated to more prosperous islands.
Economic decline continued with a devastating hurricane in 1850 and a fire in 1852. Seeking to divest the island, Sweden held a referendum in 1877 and sold Saint Barthélemy back to France in 1878, after which it was administered as part of Guadeloupe.
Modern Era
On 19 March 1946, the people of Saint Barthélemy became French citizens with full rights. For much of the 20th century, economic opportunities were limited, and many islanders sought employment on nearby Saint Thomas. Organised tourism and hotel development began in earnest during the 1960s and expanded significantly in the 1970s onwards, particularly following the construction of an airstrip capable of accommodating mid-sized aircraft.
The island became renowned as a high-class luxury destination, attracting celebrities including Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, Benjamin de Rothschild, David Rockefeller, and others. This tourism boom raised living standards and drove rapid modernisation, though the island was not electrified until the 1980s.
Through a referendum in 2003, residents voted to separate from Guadeloupe's administrative jurisdiction. Saint Barthélemy became a separate overseas collectivity in February 2007, with a governing territorial council providing the island a degree of autonomy. A senator represents the island in Paris. In January 2012, Saint Barthélemy ceased being an outermost EU region and became an Overseas Country or Territory (OCT), while retaining its free port status.
The island sustained damage from Hurricane Irma in September 2017 but recovered quickly, with transport and electricity largely operational by early 2018.
Geography and Marine Environment
Saint Barthélemy is located approximately 250 kilometres (160 miles) east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, immediately southeast of Saint Martin and Anguilla. It is separated from Saint Martin by the Saint-Barthélemy Channel and lies northeast of Saba and Sint Eustatius.
The island is surrounded by numerous smaller uninhabited islands and islets, including Île Fourchue, Île Coco, Île Chevreau, Île Frégate, Île Tortue, and many others. The marine environment includes several important bays: Grande Saline Bay provides temporary anchorage for small vessels, while Colombier Bay lies to the northwest.
A marine reserve, established in 1999, covers more than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of protected and vulnerable habitats, bays, and islands, and includes a zone restricted to scientific observation only. The island is framed by visible coral reefs on its north and east sides, with numerous beaches featuring offshore reefs.
Culture and Character
The culture, language, and cuisine of Saint Barthélemy are distinctly French Caribbean in character, blending mainland French influences with Creole languages, Carnival celebrations, and Caribbean music. The island's coat of arms incorporates the Three Crowns from the Swedish national arms, a lasting symbol of its time as a Swedish colony. Today, Saint Barthélemy is a popular tourist destination during the winter holiday season, catering to the high-end luxury market.