Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Cape Verde

Ribeira Grande de Santiago is a concelho (municipality) of Cape Verde. It is situated in the southwestern part of the island of Santiago. Its seat is the city Cidade Velha. Its population was 8,325 at the 2010 census, and its area is 137.3 km2.[2]

Ribeira Grande de Santiago
Municipality
Municipal hall of Ribeira Grande de Santiago
Municipal hall of Ribeira Grande de Santiago
Location of Ribeira Grande de Santiago
Coordinates: 14°58′N 23°38′W / 14.97°N 23.64°W / 14.97; -23.64
CountryCape Verde
IslandSantiago
SeatCidade Velha
Area
 • Total
137.3 km2 (53.0 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total
8,325
 • Density61/km2 (160/sq mi)
ID79

Subdivisions

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The municipality consists of two freguesias (civil parishes):

Geography

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The municipal territory is mountainous. One of the main streams of the area is Ribeira Grande de Santiago.

History

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The municipality was created in 2005, when two parishes of the older Municipality of Praia were separated to become the Municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santiago.[3]

The old city of Ribeira Grande de Santiago (Cidade Velha) is one of the oldest European settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was an important port for the slave trade from West Africa to the Americas. The town has numerous protected significant buildings and ruins. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009.[4]

Demography

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Population of Ribeira Grande de Santiago (1980—2010)
Year Population
1980[5]
6,321
1990[5]
6,527
2000[5]
7,713
2010[2]
8,325

Politics

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At the federal level, it belongs to the constituency of Santiago South. Since 2008, the Movement for Democracy (MpD) is the ruling party of the municipality. The results of the latest elections, in 2016:[6]

Party Municipal Council Municipal Assembly
Votes% Seats Votes% Seats
MpD 49.78 5 50.26 7
PAICV 47.81 0 47.58 6

Notes

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  1. ^ "2010 Census results". Instituto Nacional de Estatística Cabo Verde (in Portuguese). 24 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b 2010 Census Summary
  3. ^ Lei nº 63/VI/2005, p. 25
  4. ^ Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande, UNESCO
  5. ^ a b c Ribeira Grande de Santiago, opendataforafrica.org
  6. ^ Official results local elections 2016, Boletim Oficial I Série, Número 53, 23 September 2016
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