Baranoa is a Colombian city in the colombian
department
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
*Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
of
Atlántico and widely known for being the birth city of the very first documented black president of Colombia,
Juan José Nieto Gil
Juan José Nieto Gil (24 June 1804 – 16 July 1866) was a Colombian politician, Army general and writer. A Liberal party caudillo of Cartagena, he served interimly as Governor of the Province of Cartagena, and was later elected President ...
. Its geographical location has historically led to the coining of the name "El corazón alegre del Atlántico", ("The happy heart of the Atlantic" in English), since it is located almost exactly in the center of the department.
Geography
The municipality occupies an area of 127 km
2, including rural, urban, suburban and protected land.
Baranoa is irrigated by several creeks including Santa Rosa, Campeche, Big creek and Deep creek.
Demographics
Baranoa has 55,178 inhabitants (2006 Census). 82.63% of these are concentrated in the urban area and 17.37% in rural areas.
History
Baranoa was an indigenous settlement located close to Big Creek (Arroyo Grande) when the Spanish conquered it under the command of Don
Pedro de Heredia
Pedro de Heredia (c. 1505 in Madrid – January 27, 1554 in Zahara de los Atunes, Cádiz) was a Spanish conquistador, founder of the city of Cartagena de Indias and explorer of the northern coast and the interior of present-day Colombia.
Earl ...
in 1534.
In October 1543, it was commended by the Spanish Crown to Hernando Dávila. Further commendations were given to Inés de Mendoza (1556), Hernando De la Salas (1568) and José De las Salas (1609). Viceroy
Sebastian de Eslava
Sebastian may refer to:
People
* Sebastian (name), including a list of persons with the name
Arts, entertainment, and media
Films and television
* ''Sebastian'' (1968 film), British spy film
* ''Sebastian'' (1995 film), Swedish drama film
...
ordered a reformation of the town between 1744 and 1745. As a consequence, 39 Spanish families made their home there, creating the Parish of Santa Ana of Baranoa.
On 23 October 1856, the municipality of Baranoa was created, based on the number of inhabitants and development level. The municipality category, as well as its boundaries, was ratified on 16 December 1964.
Economy
Economic activities are focused on cattle raising, corn, cassava, cotton and
Jocote
''Spondias purpura'' is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to tropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico to Brazil. It is also very common in most of the Caribbean islands. It is commonly known as ...
plum farming. A Plum Festival takes place in northern Colombia. Calcite and iron minerals are mined.
Notes
References
Municipality of Baranoa, website
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Municipalities of Atlántico Department