Santiago de los Caballeros
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| Santiago De Los Caballeros | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Dominican Republic |
| Municipality | Santiago Province |
| Founded | 1495 |
| Population (2006) | |
| - City | 750,000 (approx.) |
Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago de los Caballeros (the first Santiago of America) is the second most important city in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. Also known as Santiago de los 30 Caballeros. It is the capital of Santiago Province.
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[edit] History
The original colony was in Jacagua, but when this was destroyed by an earthquake it was moved to its present location in 1506. It was devastated by another earthquake in 1562. Santiago de los Caballeros has sometimes been the capital of the country, and was an important strategic city in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844.
On a hill overlooking Santiago is a 67 meter high marble monument. Construction of the monument began in 1944 on the orders of then-dictator Rafael Trujillo. He named it the "Monument of the Peace of Trujillo". Trujillo was assassinated in 1961, after which the monument was renamed the "Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration".
[edit] Present day
Santiago is Dominican Republic's second largest city and the third largest in the island of Hispaniola. Santiago has a population of more than 600,000 inhabitants. Its most important economic activity is in the service sector, having one of the largest tax-free zone parks in the country.
[edit] Growth And Development
Like Santo Domingo Santiago has recently gone through an era of rapid growth and development. It has become a city of great importance for the nation's and region's development. A Metro Rail system has been proposed and it's in the process of being studied by city government officials.
The city is also home to the Aguilas Cibaeñas baseball team and several major
[edit] Education
Much Like the City of Santo Domingo it contains numerous amount Of universities including Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra(PUCCM) and UTESA. It provides Private schools due to the fact that in the Dominican Republic their is not a Good Sector of public Education.
[edit] Sports
As much as the nation does the Santiago residents enjoy baseball and love to see the Dominican winter Season with the local team being Aguilas Cibaeñas Baseball team. other sports in the city are played but not in significant amounts.
[edit] Transportation:
- Carro Publicos
Santiago does not have an efficient form of transportation. Instead it has Cheap taxis and private & independent bus owners who form their own route according to demands.
- Proposed Rail System
This year 2007, construction of a city metro rail was proposed. The proposition is in its developing stages but not yet approved.
- Bus Transportation
The city has bus transportation to other important cities. Bus companies include Metro, Caribe Tours, Transporte Espinal, Aetra Bus.
- Airports
Also close by is the Cibao International Airport. It serves mostly Dominicans living in the United States and other Caribbean islands like Cuba, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico and Panama.
[edit] New And Planned Projects
- HOMS: Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago
The HOMS is the biggest hospital in Santiago and the most modern of the Dominican Republic. This one will have 2 towers with 14 floors each one. one of the towers will be for doctor's offices and another one for rooms. One hopes that the HOMS begins to work in the middle of the 2007.
- Light Rail In Santiago
A Light Rail Development in the city Metro Area has been proposed but not yet accepted. It May Be the Second city In the Republic to have a Mass transportation System
[edit] Trivia
- Despite the fact that Santiago is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic, the metropolitan area of New York City has a larger population of Dominicans.
[edit] External links
- Carnival Mask of Dominican Republic
- Pontifícia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra
- La Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago
