Background: Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and set about exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633 but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished Saint Martin to the French and Dutch who divided it between themselves in 1648. Friction between the two sides caused the border to frequently fluctuate over the next two centuries with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 57%). The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003 the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007 the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2010 the Dutch portion of the island became an independent nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Geographic coordinates: 18 05 N 63 57 W

Area
Rank: 231
Comparative: more than one-third the size of Washington DC

Coastline: 58.9 km (for entire island)

Climate: temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity gentle trade winds brief intense rain showers; July-November is the hurricane season

Natural resources: salt

Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes from July to November

Geography
Note: the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

Population: 30,959 (July 2012 est.)
Rank: 216

Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) black Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia) white East Indian

Languages: French (official) English Dutch French Patois Spanish Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles)

Religions: Roman Catholic Jehovah's Witnesses Protestant Hindu

Environment
Current issues: freshwater supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water

Education expenditures: NA

Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday: Bastille Day 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is Schoalcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848)

Constitution: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French civil law

Suffrage: 18 years of age universal

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Council (23 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Political parties and leaders: Union Pour le Progres or UPP [Louis-Constant FLEMING]; Rassemblement Responsabilite Reussite or RRR [Alain RICHARDSON]; Reussir Saint-Martin [Jean-Luc HAMLET]; Saint-Martin pour tous; Team Daniel Gibbs

International organization participation: UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas collectivity of France)
From the us: none (overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description: the flag of France is used

National symbols: brown pelican

Economy overview: The economy of Saint Martin centers around tourism with 85% of the labor force engaged in this sector. Over one million visitors come to the island each year with most arriving through the Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten. No significant agriculture and limited local fishing means that almost all food must be imported. Energy resources and manufactured goods are also imported primarily from Mexico and the United States. Saint Martin is reported to have the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.

Labor force
By occupation: 85% directly or indirectly employed in tourist industry

Imports
Commodities: crude petroleum food manufactured items

Exchange rates:

Broadcast media: 1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater (2008)

Internet
Country code: .mf; note - .gp the Internet country code for Guadeloupe and .fr the Internet country code for France might also be encountered

Airports: 1 (2012)
Rank: 236