Saint-Philippe

For the municipality in Quebec, see Saint-Philippe, Quebec.
Saint-Philippe
Coordinates: 21°21′34″S 55°46′04″E / 21.3594°S 55.7678°E / -21.3594; 55.7678Coordinates: 21°21′34″S 55°46′04″E / 21.3594°S 55.7678°E / -21.3594; 55.7678
Country France
Overseas region and department Réunion
Arrondissement Saint-Pierre
Canton Saint-Philippe
Government
 • Mayor (2014-2020) Olivier Rivière
Area1 153.94 km2 (59.44 sq mi)
Population (2012)2 5,072
 • Density 33/km2 (85/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 97417 / 97442
Elevation 0–2,630 m (0–8,629 ft)
(avg. 40 m or 130 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Philippe is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located in south-eastern Reunion.

Geography

Saint-Philippe is on the highest point on the island. It borders the municipalities of Saint-Joseph and Sainte-Rose, to the west and north respectively. Although it is a coastal area, the administrative centre is in Les Hauts (the highland area of the island).

History

A notable event in the commune's history was in 1897, when the Warren Hastings, a British boat, ran aground in the middle of the night. Two seamen died as a result, the crash sparked by a compass malfunction resulting from the eruption of the Piton de la Fournaise. On board the ship was some electricity, for which the village of Tremblet would have to wait until 1984 to finally receive.

See also

References

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