Pétion-Ville

Pétion-Ville, eastern suburb of Port-au-Prince, southern Haiti, situated on the cool northern hills of the Massif de la Selle. Named for Alexandre Sabès Pétion, who fought in Haiti’s wars for independence in the early 19th century and was later president of the southern kingdom of Haiti, it is primarily a residential and resort area. It is linked to Port-au-Prince, the national capital, by three main routes, including a winding toll road, the proceeds of which were intended to finance Duvalierville, a model city, now defunct. Pétion-Ville sustained extensive damage in the Haiti earthquake of 2010. Pop. (1997 est.) 76,155.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.