The name Mapou is derived from a local tree, VISITIS MAPPIA. At one time these trees were abundant in the village. They have now disappeared and sugar cane is grown in the fields instead.

Mapou is an important village of the district of Riviere-Du-Rempart. It has many important public buildings housing the Pamplemousses/Riviere-Du-Remaprt District Council, the District Court and the Ministry of Works.

Geographically, Mapou is the central point of Pamplemousses and Riviere-Du-Rempart districts put together. From this central point, Mapou radiates all around on a circumference equal to roughly 11 miles.That explains why the colonial administration choose Mapou as the administrative centre of North.