History
The country was first divided up into subdivisions by the Dutch on October 8, 1834, when a Royal Decree declared that there were to be 8 divisions and 2 districts:
- Upper Suriname and Torarica
- Para
- Upper Commewijne
- Upper Cottica and Perica
- Lower Commewijne
- Lower Cottica
- Matapica
- Saramacca
- Coronie (district)
- Nickerie (district)
The divisions were areas near the capital city, Paramaribo, and the districts were areas further away from the city.
In 1927, Suriname's districts were revised, and the country was divided into 7 districts. In 1943, 1948, 1949, 1952 and 1959 further small modifications were made. On October 28, 1966, the districts were redrawn again, into
- Nickerie
- Coronie
- Saramacca
- Brokopondo
- Para
- Suriname
- Paramaribo
- Commewijne
- Marowijne
These divisions remained until 1980, when yet again, the borders of the districts were redrawn, however, with the following requirements:
- Changes in the old boundaries were made only if it leads to improved functioning
- Each area should be developed
- The new boundaries should respect the identities of indigenous people.
The districts created in 1980 remain to this day.
Read more about this topic: Districts Of Suriname
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“While the Republic has already acquired a history world-wide, America is still unsettled and unexplored. Like the English in New Holland, we live only on the shores of a continent even yet, and hardly know where the rivers come from which float our navy.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The history of reform is always identical; it is the comparison of the idea with the fact. Our modes of living are not agreeable to our imagination. We suspect they are unworthy. We arraign our daily employments.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Every literary critic believes he will outwit history and have the last word.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)