Saint Joseph was founded in 1592 by
Antonio de Berrio
Antonio de BerrÃo (1527–1597) was a Spanish soldier, governor and explorer in Colonial America.
Biography
Antonio de BerrÃo was born in Segovia. He began his military career at the age of 14 in the service of the king Carlos I. The young ...
and is the oldest town in
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...
. Originally named San José de Oruña, it was the capital of
Spanish Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger, more populous island of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is the southernmost island in ...
between 1592 and 1783. In 1595, it was attacked and held by Sir
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebell ...
and was used as a base for
his exploration of the
Orinoco
The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers approximately 1 million km2, with 65% of it in Venezuela and 35% in Colombia. It is the List of rivers by discharge, f ...
River in search of the fabled city of
El Dorado
El Dorado () is a mythical city of gold supposedly located somewhere in South America. The king of this city was said to be so rich that he would cover himself from head to foot in gold dust – either daily or on certain ceremonial occasions â ...
. Soon after his return the place was burnt and sacked.
St. Joseph is not an incorporated municipality. It falls within the boundaries of the
Tunapuna–Piarco
Tunapuna–Piarco is one of the 9 regions of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the most populous region in the country by total population and the fifth-largest by total land area. Geographically located in Trinidad, Northern Trinidad, Tunapuna–Piarco s ...
region.
It has several schools, including
St. Joseph's Convent,
St. Joseph Boys Roman Catholic School,
St. Joseph Girls Roman Catholic School, St. Joseph Government School, St. Joseph College, T.M.L Primary School, St Joseph and St. Xavier's Preparatory School.
Politics
Saint Joseph is part of the
St. Joseph parliamentary constituency for elections to the
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of Trinidad and Tobago. The Parliament is bicameral. Besides the President of Trinidad and Tobago, it is composed of the House of Representatives, which is composed of the Speake ...
.
Tourist attractions
*
Jinnah Memorial Mosque
See also
*
St. Joseph Mutiny
References
{{reflist
Populated places in Trinidad and Tobago
Populated places established in 1592
16th-century establishments in South America