The city is in the region called "Plateau Central" about northeast of Port-au-Prince. It is also the chief town of an "arrondissement" (a part of a department) with the same name. The "arrondissement" has four "communes" (a "commune" is like a municipality): Hinche, Cerca-Cavajal (Kreyòl: "Sèka Kavajal"), Maïssade (Kreyòl: "Mayisad") and Thomonde (Kreyòl: "Tomonn").