Choiseul District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Choiseul District
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District
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| Country | St. Lucia |
| Area | |
| • Land | 31 km2 (12 sq mi) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 6,130 |
| • Density | 197.75/km2 (512.2/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166-2:LC |
LC-03
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Choiseul District is one of the 10 main areas, or districts, of the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia. It is located on the southwestern side of the island. In 2010, about 6,130 people lived here. The main town in the district is also called Choiseul.
Contents
History of Choiseul District
The area now known as Choiseul District was first called Anse Citron. In 1765, it became an independent parish. A census in 1769 counted 75 white people, 25 free people of color, and 512 enslaved people. There were also 69 large farms, called estates. Most of the early activity happened in the River Dorée area, which is southeast of Choiseul.
An Anglican church was built at River Dorée in 1846. The first school opened in 1848. English farm owners mostly ran the area. By the end of the 1800s, about 4,000 people lived there. A Catholic church was built in Choiseul village by Father Pierre Prudent René. It took many years to build and was finished in 1914.
The main town of Choiseul is famous for its local crafts. People here make "coal pots," which are clay cooking pots still used in many St. Lucian kitchens. You can also find other crafts like grass place mats and market chairs at roadside markets.
Government and Representation
Choiseul District is one of the 10 districts that make up Saint Lucia. It is also an electoral district. This means that the people living in Choiseul District vote for a person to represent them. This person is called a Parliamentary Representative. They speak for the district in the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia.
Since July 2021, Bradley Felix has been the Parliamentary Representative for Choiseul. He was chosen during the country's recent general election. The main office for the Choiseul District government is in the town of Choiseul. There are 39 smaller administrative areas within the district.
Fun Places to Visit in Choiseul
The Choiseul District has many interesting places to explore:
- Anse l'Ivrogne Beach. This beach is known as "the Black Hole" for scuba diving. It has an amazing underwater drop of 600 meters! It is located at the foot of the famous Gros Piton mountain. (Anse l'Ivrogne: 13°47′55″N 61°04′11″W / 13.79855°N 61.06974°W)
- Balembouche Estate. This used to be a large sugar farm. It covers about 70 acres (28 hectares) near the coast. Today, you can see old sugar mills there. It is now a heritage site and an organic farm. (13°45′27″N 61°01′38″W / 13.75750°N 61.02722°W)
- Choiseul, Saint Lucia. This is the main town, known for its arts and crafts. (13°46′28″N 61°03′02″W / 13.7744°N 61.0505°W)
- Morne Sion Windmills. The British built three windmills here in the early 1800s. They were used to crush sugar cane to make rum and sugar. (Morne Sion: 13°47′13″N 61°03′23″W / 13.78707°N 61.0564°W)
- La Pointe Beach. (13°47′23″N 61°04′03″W / 13.78971°N 61.06752°W)
- Pon George (Devil's Bridge). This bridge crosses a deep ravine, about 60 meters (200 feet) deep, in the River Dorée area. There's a local story that the Devil wanted the soul of the first living thing to cross the bridge. A clever local sent a dog over first to trick him! (River Dorée: 13°45′49″N 61°02′11″W / 13.76373°N 61.03647°W)
- Reunion Estate: This is a farm where scientists study plants and farming methods. (13°46′36″N 61°02′42″W / 13.77668°N 61.0449°W)
- Sabwesha Beach. This beach has black sand and offers great views of Gros Piton. You can also see the nearby island of Saint Vincent from here. (Sabwesha beach: 13°46′49″N 61°03′17″W / 13.780380940161947°N 61.05483678081472°W, Choiseul Bay: 13°46′31″N 61°03′10″W / 13.77519°N 61.05272°W)
- Saltibus Waterfall Trail. North of Choiseul, near Saltibus village, there's a rainforest path. It leads to Saltibus Waterfall, which is actually a series of five waterfalls. They range from 3 to 10 meters (10 to 33 feet) tall. (Saltibus: 13°48′34″N 61°00′40″W / 13.80946°N 61.01105°W)
See also
In Spanish: Distrito de Choiseul para niños
