This is the oldest parish, founded in 1636, when the first French settlers inhabited the west coast near the present site of Vieux Habitants.[3][4] The name, meaning "Old Settlers" derives from the fact that many employees of the West Indies Company retired here and preferred to be called "inhabitants" to distinguish between themselves and the slaves.[5] It grew gradually as an agricultural area, famous for its coffee, vanilla and Creole gardens.
Geography
Vieux-Habitants is located in the southwest of Basse-Terre island, 87 kilometres southwest of Pointe à Pitre.[3] It is bordered by the commune of Baillif to the south and Bouillante to the north. The commune also contains the village of Marigot to the north, between Vieux-Habitants village and Bouilliante. The Grand-Rivières river and forests forms a major part of the local scenery, flowing through the Domaniale forest of Guadeloupe National Park into the sea. Natural landmarks include the Plage de Rocroy beach, the Beaugendre Valley of the Grand-Rivières and L'Etang.[6] There are numerous fresh water pools in the commune.[3]
^Colón, Christina Paulette; Porter, Darwin; Flippin, Alexis Lipsitz (23 August 2011). Frommer's Caribbean. John Wiley & Sons. p. 320. ISBN978-1-118-00427-2. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
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