| Official Name: | Gonaïves |
| Native Name: | Gonayiv |
| Settlement Type: | Commune |
| Nickname: | La Cité de l'Indépendance The City of Independence |
| Pushpin Map: | Haiti |
| Coordinates: | 19.4456°N -72.6883°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Haiti |
| Subdivision Type1: | Department |
| Subdivision Name1: | Artibonite |
| Subdivision Type2: | Arrondissement |
| Subdivision Name2: | Gonaïves |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Neil Latortue |
| Elevation M: | 6 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 300,000 |
| Population Metro: | 104,825 |
| Timezone: | Eastern |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
Gonaïves (in French ɡɔnaiv/; Haitian; Haitian Creole: Gonayiv, in Haitian; Haitian Creole pronounced as /ɡonajiv/) is a commune in northern Haiti, and the capital of the Artibonite department of Haiti. It has a population of about 300,000 people, but current statistics are unclear, as there has been no census since 2003.
The city of Gonaïves was founded around 1422 by a group of Taíno, who named it Gonaibo (to designate a locality of cacicat of the Jaragua). The Gulf of Gonâve is named after the town.
In 1802, an important battle of the Haitian Revolution, the Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres was fought near Gonaïves.
Gonaïves is also known as Haiti's city of independence, because it was the location of Jean-Jacques Dessalines declaring Haiti independent from France on January 1, 1804, by reading the Act of Independence, drafted by Boisrond Tonnerre, on the Place d'Armes of the town.Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité, the wife of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, died here in August 1858.
In the early 2000s, Gonaïves was the scene of substantial rioting and violence motivated primarily by opposition to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and on February 5, 2004, a group calling itself the Revolutionary Artibonite Resistance Front seized control of the city, starting the 2004 Haïtian rebellion. But in recent years, the city has seen a complete return to order.
Even compared with other Haitian port cities, Gonaïves has long been vulnerable to hurricanes due to its location in a flood plain and due to the surrounding unforested mountains.[2] In September 2004, Hurricane Jeanne caused major flooding and mudslides in the city. Four years later, the city was again devastated by another storm, Hurricane Hanna, which killed 529 people, mostly in flooded sections of Gonaïves, where the destruction was described as "catastrophic" and 495 bodies were discovered as late as September 5.[3] [4] Haitian authorities said the tally would grow once officials were able to make their way through the city. "The assessment was only partial, because it was impossible to enter the city at that moment". Gonaïves Mayor Stephen Moise said at least 48,000 people from the Gonaïves area were forced into shelters.[5] [6]
In 2020, President Jovenel Moïse skipped a traditional visit to Gonaïves during a climate of violence. According to local media, an armed group targeted Prime Minister Ariel Henry's visit on 1 January 2022, resulting in one death and two injuries.[7]
Gonaives has some training centers including the Université Publique de l'Artibonite aux Gonaïves (UPAG); and The Law and Economics School of Gonaives.
Gonaives is home to the recently renovated La Providence Hospital.
Gonaives has some major league teams including Eclair AC and Racing FC (Gonaives).