Valencia Municipality, Carabobo

Last updated
Valencia Municipality
Municipio Valencia
Bandera de Valencia, Carabobo.svg
Venezuela - Carabobo - Valencia.svg
Location in Carabobo
Venezuela adm location map (+claimed).svg
Red pog.svg
Valencia Municipality
Location in Venezuela
Coordinates: 10°02′11″N68°00′49″W / 10.0364721°N 68.0136115°W / 10.0364721; -68.0136115
CountryFlag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela
State Carabobo
Municipal seat Valencia
Government
   Mayor Dina Castillo Ortega (PSUV)
Area
  Total
811.4 km2 (313.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total
829,856
  Density1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−4 (VET)
Area code(s) 0241

The Valencia Municipality is one of the 14 municipalities (municipios) that makes up the Venezuelan state of Carabobo and, according to the 2011 census by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 829,856. [1] The city of Valencia is the shire town of the Valencia Municipality. [2]

Contents

History

The city of Valencia has been an active participant of Venezuela's history. Valencia was founded by Captain Alonso Díaz Moreno on March 25, 1555 as the locals are proud of reminding visitors, eight years before Caracas. It was the first Spanish settlement in central Venezuela and its official name was Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Nueva Valencia del Rey. The infamous conquistador Lope de Aguirre besieged the city in 1561. In 1677 it was raided by French pirates, who burnt down its City Hall, thus destroying many very important documents about the early settlement of Venezuela. The German scientist Alexander von Humboldt visited the city on his trip through the Americas. He reported that at the time of his visit the city had around 6000 to 7000 inhabitants. On June 24, 1821, the Battle of Carabobo was fought on the outskirts of the city, sealing the Independence of Venezuela from imperial Spanish rule.

Media

The main newspaper servicing Valencia is "The Carabobian" or "Diario El Carabobeño" . In May 2007, many universities in Venezuela, including within Valencia, held demonstrations protesting the non-renewal of the broadcast license of Venezuelan Television station, Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV). RCTV has been at odds with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez.

Sites of interest

Art centers

Museums

Parks and points of interest

Demographics

The Valencia Municipality, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, has a population of 830,420 (up from 756,605 in 2000). This amounts to 37.3% of the state's population. [3] The municipality's population density is 1,332.94 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,452.3/sq mi). [4]

Government

The mayor of the Valencia Municipality is Edgardo Parra, elected on November 23, 2008 with 38% of the vote. [5] He replaced Francisco Cabrera Santos shortly after the elections. The municipality is divided into nine parishes:

Transportation

The city is well connected with the rest of the country by a network of highways and roads well maintained by INVIAL.

Metro de Valencia Metro de Valencia.jpg
Metro de Valencia

A modern metro system is being constructed that will connect the city's remote suburbs with the downtown area.

  • bus; large buses.
  • buseta; medium size buses.
  • microbus or colectivo; vans or minivans.

Sister cities

Valencia is twinned with:

Flag of Italy.svg Naples , Italy
Flag of Spain.svg Escut de Valencia.svg Valencia , Spain
Flag of Romania.svg Sibiu , Romania
Flag of Venezuela.svg Naguanagua , Venezuela
Flag of Bulgaria.svg Plovdiv-coat-of-arms.svg Plovdiv , Bulgaria

See also

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2015-11-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. 1 2 http://www.ine.gob.ve/secciones/division/Carabobo.zip [ permanent dead link ]
  3. http://www.ine.gob.ve/sintesisestadistica/estados/carabobo/cuadros/Poblacion5.xls [ permanent dead link ]
  4. http://www.ine.gob.ve/sintesisestadistica/estados/carabobo/cuadros/Poblacion4.xls [ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Divulgación Elecciones Regionales - 23 de Noviembre de 2008".