San Vicente Ferrer is a town and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Antioquia Department ) , anthem = Himno de Antioquia , image_map = Antioquia in Colombia (mainland).svg , map_alt = , map_caption = Antioquia shown in red , image_ma ...

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

. The town of San Vicente is part of the sub-region of

Eastern Antioquia Eastern Antioquia ( es, Oriente Antioqueño) is subregion of the Colombian Department of Antioquia. The region consists of 23 municipalities. Geography The region of Eastern Antioquia limits to the north west with the Metropolitan Area of Medell ...

. San Vicente is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Barbosa and Concepción. To the east is the town of El Peñol. Guarne and Girardota are municipalities to the west of San Vicente. Downtown San Vicente is 48 kilometers from Medellín, the capital of Antioquia. The small town of San Vicente has an extension of 243 km².

History

Like all of the surrounding regions of Eastern Antioquia, this region was originally home to the indigenous peoples of the Tahamíes and the Catíos. They were the first known inhabitants of this region. This community began its civilized life by mining minerals during the 16th century. In 1759, José and Eusebio Ceballos Rojas, descendants of Spanish conquistadors, donated this region the land to construct a chapel. It is officially recognized that 1759 is the founding year of San Vicente. José and Eusebio Ceballos Rojas are recognized as its founders. Residents of the region entrusted and recommended that this region become the foundation of Saint San Vicente Ferrer, which was named after the Catholic saint San Vicente Ferrer, the principal patron of the Valencia community of Spain. The virgin, Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquíra, was also recommended as the town's patron, and the community still celebrates both Catholic icons. The inhabitants of San Vicente Ferrer ended the period of mineral exploration and developed an economy based in the livestock and agricultural industry, which still exists today.

Transportation

San Vicente connects with the Autopista Medellin-Bogota. The town is one hour from Medellin, and 25 minutes from Rionegro. It also has unpaved roads that connect with Concepcion and El Peñol.

Economy

* Agriculture: beans, potato, corn, cold climate fruit, vegetables * Mining * Livestock of all kinds * Trade The town is traditionally a great producer of cabuya, a material made from the local Fique plant. Many artisanal products are made of this, such as carpet, fabrics, curtains and wood hangers. Carved wood and wickerwork are also produced here.

Events

* Patron of the virgin of Chiquinquíra - July 1 to 9 * Virgin of Carmen- the last Saturday of July * Carnival Antioqueñidad - August 11 * Hill parties or "las colinas" - December 5-7 * San Vicente Ferrer celebrations - April 5 * Traders' market - first Sunday of each month

References

Municipalities of Antioquia Department {{Antioquia-geo-stub