Luganville is the second largest city in Vanuatu after the capital Port Vila; it is located on the island of Espiritu Santo and has a population of 18,062 as of the 2020 census.[3] Those on Vanuatu's northern islands who regard Luganville as their big city, particularly indigenous populations, call it Santo; rural residents of Espiritu Santo call it Kanal (from French "second canal").[4] Luganville served as a major base of operations for American troops during World War II.[5]
Boulevard Higinson, the main street that runs through Luganville, contains mainly tourist boutiques and general stores.[6] During WWII, the Americans used the Espiritu Santo as a military base; as a result of the occupation, Boulevard Higinson is unusually wide, as a base commander insisted that four tanks should be able to drive along the road simultaneously.[7] At one end of Higinson is the port, one of two main ports for the island.[5]
Luganville is home to the South Pacific WWII Museum dedicated to preserving the history of World War II across the South Pacific region initiated in 2012 by the mayor Peter Sakita.[12]
Independence
By the second half of the 20th century, Luganville was largely French-speaking and initially resisted the attempts to gain independence leading up to its declaration on July 30, 1980.[13] French troops initially attempted to quash the flag-raising in Luganville, but returned to France in August instead.[14] Some unrest arose between political parties vying for power, but has since been largely peaceful.[15][16][17]
Population
As of the 2016 census, 98.7% of Luganville was of Melanesian and/or Ni-Vanuatu descent.[18] Those of non-Melanesian descent are a minority and are European, other Pacific Islander, and Asian peoples.[19]
Part of the city is formed by squattedinformal settlements such as La Milice, Mango, Pepsi, Rowok, Sarakata and St Michel. Mango was first settled by Vietnamese migrants who constructed shelters out of scrap metal left behind by the United States Army. The Vietnamese were repatriated in the 1960s and it was then occupied by Ni-Vanuatu migrants.[20]
Economy and infrastructure
Luganville's economy suffered after Vanuatu declared independence in 1980.[13] It has a strong tourist industry, namely in the areas of World War II artifacts and scuba diving (SS President Coolidge is a popular site as are the coral reefs), and is a destination for many cruise lines.[17] Its other main industries are agriculture, cattle, and offshore financial services.[21] The market along Boulevard Higinson is popular for its inexpensive food.[22]
Luganville market on a Sunday afternoon.
Northern Provincial Hospital is one of two main referring hospitals on Espiritu Santo and serves people from other northern islands in Vanuatu as well as its own residents.[23] Luganville is home to Vanuatu Health Training Institute, one of the two medical training schools on the island, but there are not enough graduates to prevent a shortage of medical professionals.[24] Though medical expenses make up 50% of the government's budget, the hospital still relies heavily on donations.[24][25]
Broadband internet was not available in Luganville until late 2006.[22]
Transportation
Luganville is one of Vanuatu's busiest ports, especially as a transshipment point for copra, coconut oil, and cacao.[31][22]Canal du Segond, the body of water separating the main island and Luganville from Aore Island, provides the town with an excellent sheltered harbour.[31] The town is served by Santo-Pekoa International Airport, the second largest airport in Vanuatu.[32] The city is also serviced by a number of taxis, buses, and public transport trucks.[22]
Climate
Luganville features a tropical rainforest climate (Af) under the Köppen climate classification. The town features relatively constant temperatures year-round, with average temperature hovering around 25 °C or 77 °F. Average precipitation is roughly 2,920 millimetres or 110 inches annually.[33]
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