Libertador Municipality, Caracas

The Libertador Bolivarian Municipality (Spanish: Municipio Bolivariano Libertador) is the only administrative division of the Capital District of Venezuela and along with the municipalities of Baruta, Chacao, El Hatillo and Sucre forms the Metropolitan District of Caracas. It is landlocked by Vargas State and also borders Miranda State on the east and south. The municipality is one of a number in Venezuela named "Libertador Municipality", in honour of Venezuelan independence hero Simón Bolívar.

Libertador
Municipio Bolivariano Libertador
Municipality
Libertador Bolivarian Municipality
Caracas Cathedral
Caracas Cathedral
Flag of Libertador
Flag
Capital District
Capital District
Libertador is located in Venezuela
Libertador
Libertador
Location within Venezuela
Coordinates: 10°30′21″N 66°54′52″W
CountryVenezuelaVenezuela
StateCapital District
Founded25 July 1567
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorErika Farías (PSUV)
Area
 • Metro
433 km2 (167 sq mi)
Population
 (2007)
 • Municipality2,085,488
 • Density4,816.36/km2 (12,474.3/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−4 (VET)
Area code212
ISO 3166 codeVE-A
Websitehttp://www.caracas.gob.ve
The area and population figures are for the municipality.

Libertador is one of the smallest municipalities in Venezuela, with a total area of 438 square kilometres (169 sq mi). It is the largest in terms of population, with approximately 2.1 million inhabitants.

In this municipality is home to the Miraflores presidential palace, the Federal Legislative Palace, the National Electoral Council, the main offices of PDVSA and CANTV, the Central Bank of Venezuela and the public ministry.

History
La Candelaria neighborhood in Caracas

It was first established in 1901 under the name of Libertador Department; with the Department of Vargas (now Vargas Municipality, it formed the Federal District of Venezuela.

In 1986, its name was changed to Libertador District. Following the creation of the Vargas State in 1998, it became the sole administrative division of the Federal District.

Under the 1999 constitution, the Federal District ceased to exist and the Capital District was created. Under the new terms of administrative divisions, Libertador became a municipality, consisting of 22 parishes.

In 2000, the Metropolitan District of Caracas was formed from Libertador and four other municipalities: Baruta, Chacao, El Hatillo, and Sucre.

Geography

The Libertador Municipality is located in the mid-north of the country surrounded by the mountain El Ávila which is part of the Venezuelan central range. It borders by the north with the Vargas State, by the south and east with the Baruta Municipality of the Miranda State and by the west with the Aragua State. The Municipality includes the Los Chaguaramos neighborhood.

Climate

The climate is characteristically tropical with the temperature varying according to the altitude with an annual temperature of 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F) being the warmest of the five municipalities that forms Caracas.

Economy

The vast majority of the population works for the public sector. It is also the most important commercial centre of the country since the Central Bank of Venezuela is located there. Tourism is the next largest economic activity in the municipality as the historical centre of the city is there. Informal commerce is also predominant in the area.

Bolívar Avenue

Government
Libertador Municipality City Hall
Parque Central Complex from the National Art Gallery

The Venezuelan constitution specifies that the municipal governments are divided by executive; governed by the mayor, and legislative branches; governed by the municipal council comprising thirteen members, both offices are elected through universal and secret suffrage.

The Libertador Municipality does not belong to any state therefore it doesn't have a governor but instead a Head of Government of the Capital District which is appointed by the President of the Republic.

Since August 2009 the municipality publishes a newspaper, Ciudad CCS.

Mayors

Parishes

The Libertador Municipality comprised 22 parishes out of the 32 that contains Caracas

Parish Area Population (2007)
(1) Santa Rosalía 6,68 km² 118.327
(2) El Valle 12,64 km² 152.763
(3) Coche  ? km² 57.907
(4) Caricuao 23,83 km² 166.918
(5) Macarao 10,25 km² 50.032
(6) Antímano 20,90 km² 150.971
(7) La Vega 12,64 km² 142.765
(8) El Paraíso 10,79 km² 114.820
(9) El Junquito 52,52 km² 45.398
(10) Sucre 59,30 km² 396.919
(11) San Juan 3,25 km² 101.777
(12) Santa Teresa 0,72 km² 20.641
(13) 23 de enero 2,31 km² 84.650 (2009)
(14) La Pastora 4,47 km² 41.989
(15) Altagracia  ? km² 89.670
(16) San José 2,59 km² 39.196
(17) San Bernardino 12,27 km² 26.296
(18) Catedral 0,76 km² 5.479
(19) Candelaria 1,23 km² 62.360
(20) San Agustín 1,59 km² 46.757
(21) El Recreo 18,10 km² 107.051
(22) San Pedro  ? km² 62.641

Demographics

The Libertador Municipality represents only 0.22% of the countrywide territory but is home to more than 2 million people and represents half of the total population of Caracas and a density of 4,816.36/km2. On the other hand, the entire area is urbanized.

As of 2006, Libertador was estimated to contain the world's second-largest mega-slum.[1]

See also

References
  1. Mike Davis, Planet of Slums, La Découverte, Paris, 2006 (ISBN 978-2-7071-4915-2), p. 31.
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