St. Martin
(CBS)
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 St. Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it amongst themselves in 1648.
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 St. Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity.
Source: CIA World Fact Book
Storm Tracker
Travel
Popular Now in World
- Pakistani fishermen reel in 40-foot whale shark
- "Voluptuous" Ukrainian nurse abandons Qaddafi
- Iran allegedly cuts off Internet access
- Booze and bikinis in a new Egypt
- Iran: We can attack U.S. interests "anywhere"
- Girl with Two Heads Born in Philippines
- Cockpit error sent 737 into Pacific nose dive
- Israel To U.S.: Don't Delay Iraq Attack
- 23 women convicted of child pornography in Sweden
- GlobalPost: Qaddafi apparently sodomized
- Stephen Hawking: Heaven is "a fairy story"
- 130 Doctors Without Borders staff go missing
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
- NC Supreme Court hears student bra search case
- In Joplin, young professionals hear call to serve
- Treasurys slightly lower as Greece riots
- Shares of Complete Genomics up on Mayo Clinic deal
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
