| Macouria | |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| Adjustable Map: | Locator map of Macouria 2022.png |
| Map Caption: | Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana |
| Arrondissement: | Cayenne |
| Insee: | 97305 |
| Postal Code: | 97355 |
| Mayor: | Gilles Adelson[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Intercommunality: | CA Centre Littoral |
| Coordinates: | 5.0139°N -52.4742°W |
| Elevation Min M: | 0 |
| Elevation Max M: | 183 |
| Area Km2: | 377.5 |
Macouria (pronounced as /fr/; label=[[French Guianese Creole]]|Makouya) is a commune of French Guiana located midway between Cayenne and Kourou, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. The seat of the commune is the settlement of Tonate, and so the commune is also known unofficially as Macouria-Tonate.[2] The French Guiana Zoo is located in the commune.
Macouria is one of the smallest cities of French Guiana.The town is separated in the east with Matoury, by the Larivot Bridge, crossing the Cayenne River. Its southern limit is marked by the Montsinéry River, which is a separation with the eponymous city. Westward there is Kourou and in the north the town is the Atlantic Ocean.
The population is mainly located south and along the national road RN1 because of 2 km wide mangrove swamp situated in the North.
The main inhabited zones are:
The area was first described in 1604 by Daniel de La Touche de La Ravardière. He counted many Amerindian settlements.[3] Around 1716, the commune was settled with plantations. Tonat build the first house and cotton mill.[4]
In the middle of the 19th century, Macouria was part of the canton of Cayenne. 1488 slaves stood for 93% of the population of the "neighborhood" led by Jean-Baptiste Tonat. They worked in a plantation called "La Béarnaise". On it, there were :
In tribute to the leader of the neighbourhood Tonat, the zone was called "Tonate Bourg" and given to the state.
In 1848, year of the abolition of slavery some free Africans and 55 Indian migrants arrived in the city.From 1864 to 1970 the population decreased, mainly because of the lack of activity on it.
The French Guiana Zoo is located in Macouria on the road to Montsinéry.[5]