Canton of Iracoubo
Canton of Iracoubo | |
|---|---|
Former canton | |
 Location of the canton of Iracoubo in French Guiana | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas region and department | French Guiana{{{region}}} |
| No. of communes | 1 |
| Disbanded | 31 December 2015 |
| Seat | Iracoubo |
Area | 2,762 km2 (1,066 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | 1,955 |
| • Density | 0.7078/km2 (1.833/sq mi) |
The canton of Iracoubo (French: Canton d'Iracoubo) was one of the former cantons of the Guyane department in French Guiana. Located in the arrondissement of Cayenne, its administrative seat was located in Iracoubo, the only commune in the canton. The canton had a population of 1,955 in 2012. The canton was abolished on 31 December 2015 as part of the territorial reorganisation of French Guiana.
Name
The meaning of Iracoubo in the Kalina language is "place of the great river" or "great riverbank". The name is derived from "ira" meaning "river" and "coubo" meaning "great" or "large." This name is likely due to Iracoubo's location on the banks of the Iracoubo River.[1]
History
The Iracoubo area became a refuge for surviving Acadian families following the disastrous 1764 Kourou colonisation campaign. Out of 14,000 settlers sent to French Guiana, around 11,000 perished from disease and malnutrition on the Salvation Islands, and 2,000 were repatriated. Among the remaining 1,000 survivors were roughly 400 Acadians. In 1765, about forty of these Acadian peasant and fishing families established communities along the coast, including in Iracoubo.[2]
The canton later functioned as an administrative division of the Guyane department within the arrondissement of Cayenne and included Macouria as its only commune.[3]
As part of the territorial reorganisation of French Guiana, the cantons of the department were abolished on 31 December 2015 following the implementation of Law No. 2011-884 of 27 July 2011, which created the territorial collective of French Guiana. The territory of the former canton became part of the new electoral sections established under the reorganisation.[4][5]
Demographics
According to the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE), the canton of Macouria had a population of 1,955 in 2012.[3]
Administration
| In office | Name | Party | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 1961 | M. Liguon | DVD | ||
| 1961 | 1973 | Robert Vignon | UNR then UDR | Senator (1962–1971) Mayor of Maripasoula (1969–1976) |
[6] |
| 1973 | 1979 | M. Cyrille | UDR then RPR | ||
| 1979 | 1985 | Georges Othily | PSG | Senator (1989–2008) Regional councillor (1982–2010) President of the Regional Council (1982–1992) Mayor of Iracoubo (1995–2001) |
[7] |
| 1985 | 1998 | Ferdinand Madeleine | RPR | ||
| 1998 | 2015 | Daniel Mangal | DVD | Mayor of Iracoubo (2001–2014) | |
References
- ↑ "Meaning and History of Iracoubo". Wisdom Library. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Kourou (French Guiana) – From disaster emerged a Guyanese Acadia". Chemins de la Francophonie. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Populations légales 2012: 973 Guyane" [Legal population 2012: 973 French Guiana] (PDF) (in French). INSEE. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "LOI n° 2011-884 du 27 juillet 2011 relative aux collectivités territoriales de Guyane et de Martinique (1)" [Law No. 2011-884 of 27 July 2011 relating to the territorial authorities of French Guiana and Martinique (1)] (in French). Journal officiel de la République française. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2026 – via Légifrance.
- ↑ "Quel est le statut de la Guyane et de la Martinique ?" [What is the status of French Guiana and Martinique?]. Vie-publique (in French). French Republic. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Anciens sénateurs Vème République : VIGNON Robert". www.senat.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ↑ "Anciens sénateurs Vème République : OTHILY Georges". www.senat.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 10 July 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
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