Sagua La Grande

Sagua la Grande
Municipality
View of a central town's road

Coat of arms
Nickname(s): La Villa del Undoso

Sagua la Grande municipality (red) within
Villa Clara Province (yellow) and Cuba
Location of Sagua la Grande
Sagua La Grande (North America)
Coordinates: 22°48′31″N 80°04′16″W / 22.80861°N 80.07111°W / 22.80861; -80.07111Coordinates: 22°48′31″N 80°04′16″W / 22.80861°N 80.07111°W / 22.80861; -80.07111
Country  Cuba
Province Villa Clara
Founded 1812[1]
Established 1842 (Municipality)
Area[2]
 • Total 661 km2 (255 sq mi)
Elevation 15 m (49 ft)
Population (2004)[3]
 • Total 56,097
 • Density 84.9/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
Area code(s) +53-422
Sagua train station
The fire station of Sagua
Sagua Cemetery

Sagua la Grande (nicknamed La Villa del Undoso, sometimes shortened in Sagua) is a municipality and city located on the north coast of the province of Villa Clara in central Cuba, on the Sagua la Grande River. The city is close to Mogotes de Jumagua, limestone cliffs. Many cays of the Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago are located off the northern coast.

History

Sagua la Grande was founded in 1812[1] and established as a municipality in 1842. By the beginning of the 20th century, the city and its port (Isabela de Sagua), were an important commercial center. Presently, its economy is based on the sugar, chemical, mechanical, and food industries. Cattle raising and fishing are other important economic activities.

Two city historians are notable. Antonio Miguel Alcover Beltrán left to the inheritance of the events related to the 19th century thanks to his personal interrogations to each one of the authors of history; and at the moment Pedro Suárez Rojo (Tintín) has been in charge to rescue all 20th century and leaves from the 21st century in his famous “Tintin Collection” that includes newspapers, books, photos, films and videos of all the historical events of the referred time.

Until the 1977 municipal reform, it was divided into the barrios of Baire, Calabazar de Sagua (now part of Encrucijada),[4] Chinchila, Este, General Nodarse, Isabela de Sagua, Jumagua, Malpáez, Oeste and Sitiecito.[1]

Geography

Located northwest of its province, close to the Atlantic Coast, Sagua borders with the municipalities of Quemado de Güines, Santo Domingo, Cifuentes and Encrucijada.[5] It counts the villages of Isabela de Sagua, La Rosita, Nueva Isabela, Playa Uvero (or Uvero),[6] Sitiecito and Viana. Isabela, located by the coast, is the largest village and a port town.

Demographics

In 2004, the municipality of Sagua la Grande had a population of 56,097.[3] With a total area of 661 km2 (255 sq mi),[2] it has a population density of 84.9/km2 (220/sq mi).

Architecture

The city's wide streets and little traffic give it a calm atmosphere.

In recent decades there has been a lack of new construction. Consequently, the older buildings, left over from colonial times, are in a state of decay. One of the most beautiful buildings in this city, El Casino Español (The Spanish Casino) built in 1908, was the meeting place for the Sociedad Sagüera (Social Club of Sagua). The historical center of the city retains the neoclassic essence of its constructions and the layout of its streets. The historical center of Sagua La Grande was declared National Monument on December 6th, 2011, due to its architectural values and its preservation state.

Transport

Sagua is crossed in the middle by the national highway "Circuito Norte" (CN), that runs through the southern part of its municipality. It is served, along with the municipal villages of Isabela, Sitiecito and Nueva Isabela, by the railway line Santa Clara-Cifuentes-Sagua-Isabela, and by the branch line Sagua-Corralillo.

Personalities

  • Mel Martinez, former U.S. Senator (R-FL)
  • José Luis Robau, Patriot
  • Wifredo Lam, Painter
  • Antonio Machín, Singer
  • Alberto Morales Ajubel, Cuban-Spanish Illustrator and painter
  • Ramón Solís, Flutist
  • Joaquín Albarrán, Doctor
  • José "Pepe" Núñez, Painter
  • Carlos Alvarez del Castillo, R&TV Announcer. President of the Municipality of Sagua la Grande (E)
  • Pedro Suárez Rojo, Naturalist, Explorer
  • Miriam Cajiga, Republican Party Activist and Vice-President of the Municipality of Sagua La Grande in Exile
  • Esteban Gallard, boxer "Kid Charol"
  • Peter Henry Emerson, photographer
  • Enrique Labrador Ruiz, writer
  • Elizabeth Pérez, Cuban Venezuelan Journalist
  • Emilio Núñez, Patriot
  • Panchito Rodríguez, Doctor
  • Concepcion Campa Huergo, Scientific, developed the meningitis B vaccine.
  • Rodrigo Prats, Music Composer
  • Julian de Palenzuela, Baron de Casablanca
  • Edelmira Sampedro y Robato, Countess of Covadonga
  • Enrique Sacerio-Garí, Writer, Professor, Artist, Activist
  • Oscar B. Cintas, Industrialist, patron of the arts
  • Alfredo Sosabravo, Painter
  • Justo Espinosa Mondéjar, Lawyer
  • Baudilio Espinosa Huet, Writer, Actor
  • Jorge Luis "Cuco" López, Actor
  • Conrado Marrero, Baseball Player
  • Manuel Gayol Fernández, Writer, Professor, Attorney
  • César Leal, Painter
  • Asenneh Rodríguez, Actress
  • Jorge Mañach Robato, Writer, Attorney
  • José Antonio Evora, Journalist
  • Juan de Dios de Oña y Ribalta, Philanthropist
  • Enrique González Mántici, Musician
  • Raúl Villavicencio Finalé, Historian, Professor
  • Cayo Bécquer, Singer
  • Michel Martín Pérez, Poet
  • Carlos Rendo, New Jersey lawyer and politician
  • José Guardiola Alfert, Public Notary, Artist
  • Cruz Alvaré, Doctor
  • Arnaldo Miguel Fernández Díaz, Journalist, Writer, Attorney, Professor
  • Jorge Laureano Moya Rodríguez, Professor, Researcher
  • Yoel Rivero Marín, Radio and television producer[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Guije.com. "Sagua la Grande" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  2. 1 2 Statoids (July 2003). "Municipios of Cuba". Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  3. 1 2 Atenas.cu (2004). "2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  4. ↑ 5884794 Encrucijada on OpenStreetMap
  5. ↑ 259846350 Sagua la Grande on OpenStreetMap
  6. ↑ (in Spanish) Playa Uvero on EcuRed
  7. ↑ Info about Yoel Rivero Marín
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