page_title: Luganville
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Luganville / History
caption_attribution_description: Flags of Vanuatu and Luganville
context_page_description: Luganville is the second largest city in Vanuatu. Its population is 16,312.
  The city is called Santo by people from Vanuatu's northern islands, who use Luganville as their big city. It is called Kanal by rural residents of the large island of Espiritu Santo on which the city lies.
  The main street that runs through Luganville contains most of the commercial businesses. It is unusually wide as a result of the American base commander insisting that four army tanks must be able to be driven side by side along the road. Small side streets and outlying roads cater for the residential zones. The main street contains the port at one end and the markets and municipal council building at the other end. In the centre there are two main types of stores: tourist boutiques and all-in-one stores.
context_section_description: During World War II about 40,000 United States military personnel were stationed in Luganville and it is estimated that between 400,000 and 500,000 military personnel took R & R on the island, operating 3 bomber airfields, a huge wharf and a nearby drydock. This era in Luganville's history is evident in the military-constructed Quonset huts still scattered around town.
caption: The flags of Vanuatu and Luganville flying outside the French colonial city hall.