{{Distinguish|Labori|Laborit}} {{About|the village}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Laborie |settlement_type = |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_alt = |image_caption = |motto = |image_map = Santa lucia laborie political.png |mapsize = 250px |map_alt = |map_caption = Political map of St Lucia showing location of Laborie in Laborie District |coordinates = {{coord|13.751485|-60.995118|format=dms|region:LC|display=inline,title|name=Laborie}} |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Saint Lucia |subdivision_type1 = District |subdivision_name1 = Laborie District |established_title = Founded |established_date = 18th Century |established_title1 = Original name |established_date1 = l'Islet a Caret |founder = The French |named_for = Barron Jean Zénon André de Véron de Laborie, governor of Saint Lucia 1784{{endash}}1789 |leader_title = Governing body |leader_name = Laborie Village Council |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GEO /> |elevation_m = 20 |elevation_ft = |population_total = 1131 |population_as_of = 2010 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi= auto |population_blank1_title = Estimate 2004<ref name=Stats /> |population_blank1 = |population_footnotes = <ref name=GEO /><ref name=Stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.gov.lc|title=Statistics Office|website=Government of Saint Lucia}}</ref> |timezone1 = Eastern Caribbean Time Zone (ECT) |utc_offset1 = -4 |area_code = 758 |website = {{URL|http://www.ilovelaborie.com}} }}
'''Laborie''' is a village on the south coast of Saint Lucia. It was originally called '''l'Islet a Caret''' after the Loggerhead sea turtles that were found in the area. The name Laborie is named after Baron de Laborie who was the French governor of Saint Lucia from 1784 to 1789. At that time the village had a population of 712. Laborie is the seat of the Laborie District.<ref name=GEO>{{cite web|url=https://www.geonames.org/3576663/laborie.html|title=Laborie|website=GeoNames|access-date=August 25, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Laborie>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilovelaborie.com|title=Laborie|website=I Love Laborie}}</ref><ref name=History />
==History== The French introduced large estates to the island and after the British took control of the island in 1814, many French landowners remained on their estates.
In 1838 the first school was opened. Known as the "Mico School" because it was opened and operated by the Lady Mico Trust, it had 80 pupils and lasted until 1891. By this time a Catholic school had opened in the village.<ref name=History>{{cite web|url=https://www.stlucia.org/en/blog/laborie-shines-brightly/|title=Laborie Shines Brightly|website=Saint Lucia|access-date=August 25, 2021}}</ref>
In 1907, the 18th Century church was replaced by a larger church which opened in 1914.
During World War II, American forces opened a radar station on the hill of Morne le Blanc to help protect the airfield that is now Hewanorra International Airport. The remnants are still visible today.<ref name=History />
The Creole heritage is still visible today, both in the local culture and in the Saint Lucian Creole French language that is still widely spoken.
==See also== *List of cities in Saint Lucia *Districts of Saint Lucia
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Populated coastal places in Saint Lucia Category:Towns in Saint Lucia