Balata, French Guiana

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For the Lokono Amerindian village in French Guiana, see Balaté.
Balata
Balata is located in French Guiana
Balata
Balata
Location in French Guiana
Coordinates: 4°53′12″N 52°20′13″W / 4.8866°N 52.3369°W / 4.8866; -52.3369Coordinates: 4°53′12″N 52°20′13″W / 4.8866°N 52.3369°W / 4.8866; -52.3369
CountryFrance
Overseas regionFrench Guiana
ArrondissementCayenne
CommuneMatoury
Area
[1]
 • Total0.59 km2 (0.23 sq mi)
Population
 (2013)[2]
 • Total2,169
 • Density3,700/km2 (9,500/sq mi)

Balata is a town in the commune of Matoury in French Guiana. It is located at the junction of RN1 and RN2, and started as an Haitian shanty town.

History[]

Balata is named after the nearby Balata Creek. It is located at the junction of RN1 and RN2 in Matoury.[3]

Haitian emigration to French Guiana started in the late 1960s, and accelerated from the late 1980s onwards.[4] At first, they settled among the Haitians already living in Cayenne.[5] Starting in 1995, shanty towns like Balata appeared on the outskirts of the urban area.[6] Many of the settlers either bought or rented the land. By 2005, only a third of the residents were squatting.[7]

The commune of Matoury, experienced a rapid suburbanisation in the late 20th century, and grew from 567 people in 1968 to 31,956 in 2017.[8] The favourable position at the junction of two main roads, triggered suburbanisation in the area. Family Plaza, a 30,000 m2 commercial centre with shopping mall,[9] a golf course,[10] and the Lycée Balata, a high school, were constructed in Balata.[11]

Nowadays Balata is often considered a neighbourhood of Matoury,[12] however it is listed as a QPV, a problematic urban area needing attention,[1] because of its crime rate[13]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Quartier Prioritaire : Balata". Système d'information géographique de la politique et de la ville (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Bienvenue à Balata". Ici Pas Ailleurs Guyane (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ^ "L'échangeur de Balata ouvert et inauguré aujourd'hui". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  4. ^ Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. Résumés.
  5. ^ Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. 5.
  6. ^ Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. 6.
  7. ^ Romanovski & Piantoni 2008, p. 15.
  8. ^ "Évolution et structure de la population en 2017". INSEE (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Family Plaza". Petite Fute (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Practice Golf de Matoury". Blada (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Balata : blocage du lycée par des parents en colère pour réclamer du concret". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Matoury : portrait croisé de deux jeunes entrepreneurs du quartier de Balata". France TV Info (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Surinamer gearresteerd in Franse razzia". Dagblad De West (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.

Bibliography[]

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