Chiriquí Province

Chiriquí Province
Provincia de Chiriquí
Province

Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates (Seat of Government): 8°26′N 82°26′W / 8.433°N 82.433°W / 8.433; -82.433Coordinates: 8°26′N 82°26′W / 8.433°N 82.433°W / 8.433; -82.433
Country Panama
Founded May 26, 1849
Capital David
Area
 • Total 6,490.9 km2 (2,506.2 sq mi)
Highest elevation 3,477 m (11,407 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2010 census)
 • Total 416,873
 • Density 64/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (EDT)
ISO 3166 code PA-4
Gini (2007) 32.9 (low)
HDI (2007) Increase 1x10−9 (high)
Website chiriqui.com

Chiriquí (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃiɾiˈki]) is a province of Panama located on the western coast; it is the second most-developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010.[1] The province of Chiriquí is bordered to the north by the provinces Bocas del Toro and Ngobe-Buglé, to the west by Costa Rica, to the east by the province of Veraguas, and to the south by the Pacific Ocean, specifically the Gulf of Chiriquí.

History

Until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores, Chiriquí was populated by a number of indigenous tribes, known collectively as the Guaymí people.

The first European to visit and describe Chiriquí was Gaspar de Espinosa, in 1519. The province was officially established on May 26, 1849, when Panama was still part of Colombia. Several years later, President Abraham Lincoln of the United States proposed Chiriquí as a favored location for Linconia, a colony for free blacks from the United States; some 349 traveled here but most blacks were not interested in colonization elsewhere.

Chiriquí was the province in which Manuel Noriega rose in the military ranks in the late 20th century; he helped bring Omar Torrijos back into the country after a coup d'état. Noriega had jeeps lined up with their lights on the runway in David to allow Torrijos's aircraft to land. Chiriqui was at the heart of a short-lived pro-democracy guerrilla movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After the dictatorship by Manuel Noriega from 1983 to 1989, Guillermo Endara became president of Panama; he appointed Edgar De Puy as governor of Chiriquí.

Administrative divisions

Chiriquí Province is divided into 13 districts and 100 corregimientos.[2]

District
Corregimientos (Subdivisions)
 Cabecera (Seat)
Alanje District Santiago de Alanje, Canta Gallo, Divalá, El Tejar, Guarumal, Nuevo México, Palo Grande, Querévalo, Santo Tomás Santiago de Alanje
Barú District Puerto Tomás Armuelles, Baco, Limones, Progreso, Rodolfo Aguilar Delgado Puerto Tomás Armuelles
Boquerón District Boquerón, Bágala, Cordillera, Guabal, Guayabal, Paraíso, Pedregal, Tijeras Boquerón
Boquete District Bajo Boquete, Alto Boquete, Caldera, Jaramillo, Los Naranjos, Palmira Bajo Boquete
Bugaba District La Concepción, Aserrío de Gariché, Bugaba, El Bongo, Gómez, La Estrella, San Andrés, Santa Marta, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo, Sortová La Concepción
David District San José de David, Bijagual, Cochea, Chiriquí, Guacá, Las Lomas, Pedregal, San Carlos, San Pablo Nuevo, San Pablo Viejo San José de David
Dolega District San Francisco de Dolega, Dos Ríos, Los Algarrobos, Los Anastacios, Potrerillos, Potrerillos Abajo, Rovira, Tinajas San Francisco de Dolega
Gualaca District Gualaca, Hornito, Los Angeles, Paja de Sombrero, Rincón Gualaca
Remedios District Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, El Nancito, El Porvenir, El Puerto, Santa Lucía Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
Renacimiento District Río Sereno, Breñón, Cañas Gordas, Dominical, Monte Lirio, Plaza de Caisán, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz Río Sereno
San Félix District Las Lajas, Juay, Lajas Adentro, San Félix, Santa Cruz Las Lajas
San Lorenzo District Horconcitos, Boca Chica, Boca del Monte, San Juan, San Lorenzo Horconcitos
Tierras Altas District Volcán, Cerro Punta, Cuesta de Piedra, Nueva California, Paso Ancho Volcán
Tolé District Tolé, Bella Vista, Cerro Viejo, El Cristo, Justo Fidel Palacios, Lajas de Tolé, Potrero de Caña, Quebrada de Piedra, Veladero Tolé

Note: - Through Law 55 of 13 September 2013, the creation del Tierras Altas District had been approved, consisting the following corregimientos of Cerro Punta, Cuesta de Piedra, Nueva California, Paso Ancho and Volcán; which they split off from Bugaba District and will have Volcán as its main centre. Also through that same law, the corregimiento of Solano was created, after splitting off from the corregimiento of La Concepción, Bugaba. However, that new administrative division within Chiriquí Province will come into effect by 2 May 2019.[3][4]

Climate

The province features a variety of climates, from hot and humid lowlands to the cool and moist highlands. The district is home to Fortuna Forest Reserve.

References

  1. ↑ Panama 2010 Census Retrieved: 24 May 2011
  2. ↑ "Municipios (distritos) de Chiriquí". Editorial OX. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  3. ↑ «Presidente sanciona Ley que crea distrito de Tierras Altas en Chiriquí», Article from 16 September 2013 in the Ministry of Presidency of Panama website.
  4. ↑ Article from 16 September 2013 in the Gaceta Oficial Digital, n.º 27374.
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