History
Rivière-Salée is a town in the south of Martinique. It is located south of Ducos, southwest of Saint-Esprit, west of Rivière-Pilote, north of Sainte-Luce and Diamant and east of Trois-Ilets.
Rivière-Salée owes its name to the presence in the town of a river with salty water.
Rivière-Salée has two towns, known as Grand-Bourg and Petit-Bourg.
The parish of Rivière Salée was founded in 1716 because its inhabitants could only attend mass in Trois-Ilets or in Trou-au-Chat, the former name of the town of Ducos.
At that time several families lived in dwellings.
A church was then erected on land donated by a man called Duval and the parish was entrusted to the Capuchins.
On June 12, 1737, Martinique was shared in common. Rivière-Salée belongs to the Trois Bourgs, a group comprising the town of Trois-Ilets and the territory of Rivière-Salée (Petit-Bourg and Grand-Bourg).
One year after the abolition of slavery, on May 2, 1849, Trois Ilets became a separate municipality and Rivière-Salée also.
The city changes its appearance little by little. After the coffee plantations, it is sugar cane that will be booming.
In 1820, the first steam mill was installed on the Habitation Maupeou.
It was at this same time that sugar refineries disappeared in favor of factories.
In 1845, the first factories were opened in Rivière Salée, one called Poirier in Grand-Bourg and the other nicknamed La Guillot in Petit-Bourg.
In 1868, the shareholders were put in place.
In 1870, during the Insurrection du Sud (Uprising in the South), Rivière Salée was greatly affected. In fact, in the Régale district, three houses were set on fire.
In 1871, it is the completion of two factories which will operate for nearly a century. They will not resist the sugar crisis of the end of the 19th century, the beginning of the 20th century.
It is set to change course and become a major economic player in the south of the island, thanks to the establishment of numerous companies interested in its proximity to Fort-de-France and its freeway access.
In the 20th century, it will change course by becoming a major economic player in the south of the island thanks to the establishment of many companies interested in proximity to Fort de France and service via the motorway.
Economy
Rivière-Salée's strategic geographical position makes it the second-largest administrative and economic center in southern Martinique, after Le Marin.
The commune is home to major administrative services, including a branch of the Caisse Générale de Sécurité Sociale, the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales and the Pôle Emploi, as well as the headquarters of the Syndicat Intercommunal Centre et Sud Martinique. There are also two Zones d'Aménagement Concertée (concerted development zones), La Laugier and L'Espérance.
This is not a commune of great tourist interest. In addition to the islet Petit-Îlet, it is home to a mangrove rich in mangrove trees and mantou crabs, which you can discover on organized tours.
Neighborhoods
The municipality's main districts are Calvette, Dédé, Descailles, Deslandes, Desmarinieres, Dufresne, Fond Masson, Grand Case, Guinée, Guinée Fleury, la Haut, Laugier, Médecin, Monfort Régale, Reprise, Sans Pareil, Terrier, Thoraille Belvédère, Thoraille la Cascade et Thorailles.
List of places to visit in the municipality
Rivière-Salée is not a town where you can visit historic or natural places.