La Vega, Dominican Republic

La Vega, is the fourth largest city and municipality of the Dominican Republic. It is in La Vega Province. The city is known as the Carnaval epicenter of the Dominican Republic for its tradition and culture, its large agricultural production methods throughout its province.

La Vega
Municipality
Conception of La Vega Real
La_Vega_Dominican_Republic_2.jpg
View of La Vega city, Dominican Republic
Official seal of La Vega
La Vega is located in the Dominican Republic
La Vega
La Vega
Coordinates: 19°13′12″N 70°31′48″W
Country Dominican Republic
ProvinceLa Vega
Municipal Districts3
Founded1494
Municipality since
1844
Area
  Total410.9 km2 (158.6 sq mi)
  Urban30.71 km2 (11.86 sq mi)
Elevation100 m (300 ft)
Population
 (2014)[1]
  Total202,864
  Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
  Urban
104,536
DemonymsVegano (female, vegana)
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
  Summer (DST)UTC-4 (AST)
Distance36 km (22 mi) to Santiago
125 km (78 mi) to Santo Domingo

History

Ruins of La Concepción fortress at Pueblo Viejo National Park.

Christopher Columbus built a military fort near present-day La Vega, in 1494, intended to guard the route to the interior gold deposits of the Cibao valley. A Spanish settlement known as Concepción de la Vega gradually grew up around the fort.[4] After 1508, when gold was found in quantity there, Concepción became the first gold boomtown in the island. It already had a cathedral, two convents, a hospital, and several administration buildings. In La Vega the first coin was minted and the first merchants settled.

By 1510 it was one of the largest and most important European cities in the hemisphere. The city was destroyed and buried by an earthquake on December 2, 1562, and the survivors moved to the present site on the banks of the Camú River. The second foundation of the city corresponds to its current location and it is believed that it took place between the years 1562 and 1563.[5] In the days of National Independence, the city of La Vega joined the cause of freedom with soldiers. On March 4, 1844, La Vega formalized its declaration in support of the War of Independence, and that same day it became the first town in the country to raise the national flag.

Commerce, agriculture and industry gained new momentum in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An event that strengthened the economic development of the area was the inauguration of the railway between the port of Sánchez and the city of La Vega. The transport by this means of fruits and merchandise led to new living conditions with settlers arriving from Santo Domingo, Santiago, Moca and other places. The first theater in the country was also built in La Vega. In 1915 the city received the name of a cultured city, due to its art and culture. In the place of the ruins of the first city, there is an archaeological park and a museum, the Pueblo Viejo National Park. Over the years, a town called Pueblo Viejo has emerged, in honor of the first place where the city existed.

Geography

La Vega is bounded on the north by the Camú River. This river flows about 100 kilometers before emptying into Yuna River. South of the city is the Cordillera Central, the largest mountain system of the Dominican Republic. El Ponton Field, a local airport, bounds the city on the east. To La Vega's west are the Camú River again and Montellano.

Climate

La Vega has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af)

Climate data for La Vega, Dominican Republic (1961-1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.2
(97.2)
36.2
(97.2)
37.2
(99.0)
37.3
(99.1)
38.0
(100.4)
38.0
(100.4)
37.5
(99.5)
38.5
(101.3)
38.4
(101.1)
38.6
(101.5)
37.2
(99.0)
35.0
(95.0)
38.6
(101.5)
Average high °C (°F) 29.7
(85.5)
30.1
(86.2)
31.2
(88.2)
31.9
(89.4)
32.5
(90.5)
33.4
(92.1)
33.5
(92.3)
33.9
(93.0)
33.9
(93.0)
33.0
(91.4)
31.1
(88.0)
29.5
(85.1)
32.0
(89.6)
Average low °C (°F) 18.4
(65.1)
18.6
(65.5)
19.2
(66.6)
20.2
(68.4)
21.1
(70.0)
21.8
(71.2)
22.0
(71.6)
22.2
(72.0)
21.9
(71.4)
21.4
(70.5)
20.5
(68.9)
19.0
(66.2)
20.5
(68.9)
Record low °C (°F) 11.0
(51.8)
14.0
(57.2)
12.5
(54.5)
14.0
(57.2)
17.0
(62.6)
17.0
(62.6)
16.0
(60.8)
15.0
(59.0)
16.0
(60.8)
17.2
(63.0)
16.2
(61.2)
14.0
(57.2)
11.0
(51.8)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 84.7
(3.33)
76.6
(3.02)
87.0
(3.43)
148.1
(5.83)
178.1
(7.01)
84.6
(3.33)
102.1
(4.02)
119.0
(4.69)
117.1
(4.61)
145.1
(5.71)
139.1
(5.48)
120.1
(4.73)
1,401.6
(55.18)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.4 7.1 8.2 9.9 12.0 8.1 10.6 10.2 8.9 10.7 12.2 11.4 118.7
Average relative humidity (%) 73.6 72.5 69.6 71.5 74.3 71.5 71.3 70.7 70.6 74.7 77.6 77.1 72.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 186.7 185.8 213.9 201.5 206.5 228.7 246.2 250.7 210.7 207.2 174.5 156.3 2,468.7
Source: NOAA[6]

Sectors

Centro Ciudad sector
  • Arenoso (surrounding areas)
  • Brache Batista
  • Barrio Guarionex
  • Barrio Loteria
  • Barrio Militar
  • Barrio X
  • Bayacanes (surrounding areas)
  • Carmelitas
  • Camboya
  • Centro Ciudad (Margarita)
  • Conani
  • Cutupú (surrounding areas)
  • Don Bosco
  • Don Pedro
  • El Bolsillo
  • El Paraiso
  • El Campito
  • El Cerro (surrounding areas)
  • El Ensueño
  • El Napoles
  • El Riito
  • Ensanche Duarte
  • Gamundi
  • Guaigui (surrounding areas)
  • La Arboleda
  • La Boca Del Lobo
  • Las Carolinas
  • La Enramada
  • La Cigua
  • La Planta
  • La Riviera
  • Las Marias
  • Licey (surrounding areas)
  • Los Pomos
  • Los Robles
  • Los Multi-Familiares (Viejos y Nuevos)
  • Palmarito
  • Parque Hostos
  • Ponton
  • Puerto Rico
  • Rancho Abajo (surrounding areas)
  • Residencial Chimbin
  • Residencial Coral
  • Río Verde Abajo (surrounding areas)
  • Río Verde Arriba (surrounding areas)
  • San Antonio
  • San Martin
  • San Miguel
  • Santo Domingo Sabio
  • Soto (surrounding areas)
  • Villa Carolinas
  • Villa Olga
  • Villa Francisca
  • Villa Francisca II
  • Villa Margarita
  • Villa Mera
  • Villa Real
  • Villa Hollywood
  • Villa Lora
  • Villa Rosa
  • Zafaraya

Government

PersonOccupationPolitical Party
Kelvin CruzMayorPRM
Amparo CustodioVice MayorPRM
Lourdes Margarita AlvaradoGovernorPLD
Rogelio GenaoSenatorPRSC
TBDDeputyTBD
TBDDeputyTBD
TBDDeputyTBD
Agustin BurgosDeputyPRM
Fausto Ruiz ValdezDeputyPRM
TBDDeputyTBD

Economy

The local industries are based upon cacao, coffee, tobacco, rice, and cattle production. There is also a small but very famous brewery called Cervecería Vegana known for its pilsener-style beers, named Quisqueya and Soberana. There is a factory known for making the famous sausage Induveca.

Religion

The shrine of Our Lady of Mercy called Santo Cerro is located in the place where Virgin Mary appeared to Christopher Columbus during a battle.

Education

There is an extension of the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña and there is the Universidad Católica Tecnológica del Cibao. Since 2005 the national and local governments are planning to build an extension of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, but there are some conflicts and the project is behind schedule. This city also has one of the most expensive schools in the country, the famous Colegio Agustiniano, which is the only in the country.

Private, public, and high schools

Eugenio María de Hostos School
Private Schools & High schoolsPublic Schools & High Schools
Colegio AgustinianoArenoso School
Cardenal SanchaDon Pepe Alvarez High School
La Vega Christian SchoolDel Carmen School
Don Luis DespradelGarcia Godoy
Eugenio Maria De HostosPolitécnico Femenino Mercedes Morel
Immacualada ConcepciónMitila Grullón
Nuveluz Elementary Private SchoolLaura Vicuña
Padre Fantino Bilingual SchoolPadre Lamarche
Santo Tomás De AquinoSan Miguel Elementary School
U.N.P.H.U.San Antonio Public school
Vega NuevaSan Martín De Porres

The Book Fair

Annually, the famous Feria del Libro de República Dominicana (Dominican Republic Book Fair) takes place in the city of La Vega. In this fair most of the famous books and literary works from Dominicans writers such as Juan Bosch, Joaquín Balaguer, w:es:Federico García Godoy, among others, and international writers such as Gabriela Mistral, Rubén Darío, Gabriel García Márquez, among others, are sold, and some theatrical works are shown to the public. The fair is celebrated each year in the month of September, lasting about one week, and brings to this city all the editors from all around the country, selling many kinds of books, theatrical works, etc.

Transportation

There are many bus companies which travel between La Vega other cities like: Santo Domingo, Santiago, Samana, Puerto Plata, and others. There is also El Ponton Field, which serves domestics flights.

Sports

Each year between the months of October and December a basketball tournament is held in this city, it is called in Spanish Torneo Superior de Baloncesto de La Vega in English Superior Basketball Tournament of La Vega, This tournament started in October 1994 (after a time of political and cultural crisis between the years 1978 and October 1994). One team is still active, the other ("El Country Team") disappearing.

a match being held between La Matica and Enrriquillo
1994 - 2002Club DOSAClub EnriquilloClub La MaticaClub Parque HostosClub Villa
1994did not competedisqualifiedChampiondisqualifiedrunner up
1995did not competedisqualifieddisqualifiedChampionrunner up
1996did not competecanceledcanceleddisqualifieddisqualified
1997did not competedisqualifieddisqualifiedrunner upChampion
1998Championdisqualifiedrunner updisqualifieddisqualified
1999disqualifieddisqualifiedChampiondisqualifiedRunner up
2000disqualifieddisqualifiedChampiondisqualifiedRunner up
2001Runner updisqualifieddisqualifiedChampiondisqualified
2002disqualifieddisqualifiedRunner upChampiondisqualified
2003 - 2012Angelitos del DOSAGuerreros del EnriquilloPotros de La MaticaTigres del Parque HostosVillanos de La Villa
2003disqualifiedChampiondisqualifiedRunner updisqualified
2004disqualifieddisqualifiedRunner upChampiondisqualified
2005disqualifieddisqualifiedRunner upChampiondisqualified
2006disqualifieddisqualifiedRunner upChampiondisqualified
2007disqualifieddisqualifiedRunner upChampiondisqualified
2008ChampiondisqualifieddisqualifiedRunner updisqualified
2009Runner updisqualifieddisqualifiedChampiondisqualified
2010Runner updisqualifiedChampiondisqualifieddisqualified
2011disqualifieddisqualifiedChampiondisqualifiedRunner up
2012ChampionRunner updisqualifieddisqualifieddisqualified
2013 & 2014Angelitos del DOSARebeldes del EnriquilloPotros de La MaticaTigres del Parque HostosVillanos de La Villa
2013Runner updisqualifieddisqualifiedChampiondisqualified
2014ChampiondisqualifieddisqualifiedRunner updisqualified
2015–presentAngelitos del DOSARebeldes del EnriquilloPotros de La MaticaTigres del Parque HostosFieras de La Villa
2015disqualifieddisqualifieddisqualifiedRunner upChampion
2016disqualifiedChampiondisqualifieddisqualifiedRunner up
2017ChampionRunner updisqualifieddisqualifieddisqualified
2018disqualifieddisqualifieddisqualifiedChampionRunner up
2019Runner upChampiondisqualifieddisqualifieddisqualified
2020Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, no competition was held in 2020
2021disqualifieddisqualifiedChampionRunner updisqualified
2021disqualifieddisqualifieddisqualified
  • El Parque Hostos is the most winning team with ten crowns (1995, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2018) and six times as runner up (1997,2003,2008, 2014, 2015, 2021).
  • La Matica is the second most winning team with six crowns (1994, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2021), six times as first runner up (1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) and qualified to the finals in 1996 but that year's finale was eventually canceled.
  • DOSA is the third most winning team with five crowns (1998, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2017) and five times as first runner up (2001, 2009, 2010, 2013,2019).
  • Enriquillo is the fourth most winning team with three crowns (2003, 2016, 2019), and two time as first runner up (2012,2017) and qualified to the finals in 1996 but that year's finale was eventually canceled.
  • La Villa is the fifth most winning team with two crowns (1997, 2015) and five times as runner up (1994, 1999, 2000, 2011, 2016, 2018).
  • In the tournament number 19 (2012) was the first time in the history of this tournament that none of the most winning teams Club La Matica & Club Parque Hostos didn't advance to the final.

Notable people

References

  1. Consejo Nacional de Población y Familia. "Estamaciones y Proyecciones de la Población Dominicana por Regiones, Provincias, Municipios y Distritos Municipales, 2014" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  2. "Expansión Urbana de las ciudades capitales de R.D. 1988-2010. Informe Básico" (PDF) (in Spanish). Oficina Nacional de Estadística. April 2015. p. 48. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  3. De la Fuente, Santiago (1976). Geografía Dominicana (in Spanish). Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Editora Colegial Quisqueyana.
  4. Floyd, Troy (1973). The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492-1526. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. pp. 30, 57–58, 66.
  5. "Pueblo Viejo La Historia como Ocurrio".
  6. "La Vega Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
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