Camajuaní

(Redirected from Camajuani)

Camajuaní is a municipality and town in the Villa Clara Province of Cuba.

Camajuaní
Eclectic architecture in a Camajuani street
Eclectic architecture in a Camajuani street
Coat of arms of Camajuaní
Camajuaní municipality (red) within Villa Clara Province (yellow) and Cuba
Camajuaní municipality (red) within
Villa Clara Province (yellow) and Cuba
Coordinates: 22°28′4″N 79°43′26″W / 22.46778°N 79.72389°W / 22.46778; -79.72389
CountryCuba
ProvinceVilla Clara
Settled (Corral) [1]1703
Became a Homestead [1]1735
Founded1864[2]
Incorporated [1]1876 (town)
1879 (municipality)
Government
 • TypeAsamblea Municipal del Poder Popular (AMPP)
 • PresidentAna Delia García Darias
 • Vice-PresidentYamirka Torres Granela
Area
 • Municipality585.71 km2 (226.14 sq mi)
Elevation
115 m (377 ft)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Municipality57,600
 • Density103.5/km2 (268/sq mi)
 • Urban
37,866
 • Rural
19,734
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
Area code+53-422
Websitehttps://www.soycamajuani.gob.cu/es/

History

edit
 
The old train station

In 1819 was decided the construction of a new port in near Caibarién to replace an old one located in Tesisco. From that moment, settlers established in the surroundings creating a new village. In 1832 blueprints for the new town of Caibarien were presented, and finally in 1841 this city was founded. Consequently, in 1864 an extension of the railway was planned in order to bring the sugar from the Camajuani valley to Caibarien and a new settlement began near the train station.[2] This is the starting point and birth of Camajuaní village.

 
Planned map of Camajuaní in 1877

January 1, 1871 Camajuani was declared a «villa» and on August 1, 1879 the city hall was established. The first mayor of the villa was Hipólito Escobar Martelo.

In the 1907 census Zulueta, which was a barrio at the time was switched from being a part of the municipality of Camajuaní to Remedios.[5] In 1909 Camajuaní was split into the barrios of Egido (main city of Camajuaní), Santa Fe, Sabana, Santa Clarita (including Falcón), Guadalupe, and Salamanca (including José María Pérez).

Geography

edit
 
Camajuaní Valley

Camajuaní is located in a valley, surrounded by an old range. Predominantly the city lies in a flat terrain. With the same name, the Camajuani river passes near the city, and Sagua la Chica river also passes through the region, playing both an important role in the fertility of the municipality.

The municipality is divided into 9 consejos populares (i.e. "popular councils"): the main town of Camajuaní (municipal seat, divided in C. I and C. II), and the villages of Aguada de Moya, José María Pérez, Luis Arcos Bergnes (or Carmita), San Antonio de las Vueltas (or Vueltas), Taguayabón, Vega Alta, and Batalla de Santa Clara.[6] [nb 1]

Demographics

edit

In 2004, the municipality of Camajuaní had a population of 63,544.[8] With a total area of 614 km2 (237 sq mi),[9] it has a population density of 103.5/km2 (268/sq mi).

Economy

edit
 
CCS Raúl Torres Acosta in Vega Alta
 
Sugarcane truck passing through Camajuaní
 
Camajuaní's "Prado" avenue

Main economic activity is agricultural in nature, sugarcane and high quality tobacco have been key.

The foundation of the town was a natural consequence of the establishment of train station constructed by "Ferrocarriles Unidos de Caibarién", (United Railways of Caibarién) in 1864, this node connected the valley where the city now is with the port in Caibarien at the North, Santa Clara on the South, Vega Alta and Placetas west and east respectively. The valley soon gain agricultural importance with important productions of Tobacco and Sugar. Most of the biggest sugar mills in the island were located in the Camajuani region, and its productions were exported to the rest of the country and the world using this port located in the near coastal city of Caibarien.

Camajuaní’s cooperatives include 17 UBPC, 33 CCS, and 15 CPA.[10] Major cooperatives include CPA Benito Ramirez in CP Vega Alta, UBPC Crescencio Valdés in CP Batalla de Santa Clara, CPA Roberto Rodríguez in CP Batalla de Santa Clara, CCS Julio Antonio Mella in Guajén, CP Aguada de Moya, and much more.

Culture

edit
 
Welcome sign in Camajuaní, with the Sapos y Chivas (Toads and Goats), which represents the parrandas of Camajuaní

Camajuaní along with Remedios, Vueltas, Taguayabón and Caibarien, all located in the same region and just few kilometers from one each other are famous due to the parrandas, a carnival like party with origins date back to the 18th century. Every Parranda has its own difference in every town, but they share some similarities as well; like division of the population in two neighborhoods that compete each year in best decorative flat, plaza works or "Wall of lights" (a structure meant to support a display of lights or fireworks), traditional dance and fireworks display. In the case of Camajuani the city is divided in Chivos (Goats) and Sapos (Toads).

Transportation

edit

Camajuaní has 2 main highways, which connect in Entronque de Vueltas, the Circuito Norte and the Carretera de Camajuaní. The Circuito Norte comes from the municipality of Encrucijada and continues to Remedios, while the Carretera de Camajuaní comes from Santa Clara and merges onto the Circuito Norte to also go into Remedios. Smaller roads of the municipality usually go into sugar mills or big towns. These include the Carretera a Luis Arcos Bergnes, Vial a La Quinta, Carretera al Fe, and the Vial al Playa Juan Francisco. The rest of the paved roads are residential streets.

Notable people

edit

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ The Camajuani official website says 9, but other sources say 13. ex.[7]

References

edit

Camajuaní, Land of Valley and Sprees [11]

  1. ^ a b c http://www.camajuani.net/origenes-e-historia [bare URL]
  2. ^ a b Guije.com. "Camajuaní" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  3. ^ "Sobre nosotros". Camajuani official Website (in Spanish).
  4. ^ "Estudios y datos sobre la poblacion cubana" (PDF). ONEI. May 2022. p. 348. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  5. ^ Population. Cuba: census.gov. 1907. p. 6.
  6. ^ Nacional, Equipo de Producción (2020-03-18). "Portal del Ciudadano en Camajuaní - Sobre nosotros". Portal del Ciudadano en Camajuaní (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  7. ^ "VILLA CLARA". Fundacion Palma Real.
  8. ^ Atenas.cu (2004). "2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  9. ^ Statoids (July 2003). "Municipios of Cuba". Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  10. ^ "Portal del Ciudadano en Camajuaní - Sobre nosotros". www.soycamajuani.gob.cu. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  11. ^ Sitio Web de los Joven Club de Camajuani – Inicio[permanent dead link]
edit