Fort-de-France,city and capital of the French overseas
département and région of Martinique, French in the West Indies.
It lies on the island’s west coast of the island of Martinique,
at the northern entrance to the large Fort-de-France Bay, at the
mouth of the Madame River. The city occupies a narrow plain
between the hills and the sea but is accessible by road from all
parts of the island. Formerly called Fort-Royal, it has been
Martinique’s capital since 1680.  Until 1918, when its
commercial growth began, Fort-de-France had an inadequate water
supply, was partly surrounded by swamps, and was notorious for
yellow fever. In 1839 it was partially destroyed by earthquake
and in 1890 by fire. The swamps have now been drained, and
extensive suburbs have spread, particularly eastward across the
Monsieur River toward Le Lamentin.  Fort-de-France is the French
West Indies’ Martinique’s largest town, chief port, and busiest
commercial centre and . It has long sheltered the French fleet
in the West Indies. Sugarcane