Urdaneta Municipality, Miranda

Urdaneta Municipality
Municipio Urdaneta
Municipality
Flag of Urdaneta Municipality
Flag
Official seal of Urdaneta Municipality
Seal
Location in Miranda
Location in Miranda
Map showing the location of Urdaneta Municipality within Venezuela
Map showing the location of Urdaneta Municipality within Venezuela
Urdaneta Municipality
Location in Venezuela
Coordinates: 10°07′30″N 66°54′53″W / 10.125°N 66.9147°W / 10.125; -66.9147
Country Venezuela
StateMiranda
Municipal seatCúa
Government
 • MayorEdicson Sarmiento (PSUV)
Area
 • Total
298.9 km2 (115.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total
167,768
 • Density560/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−4 (VET)
Area code(s)0239
WebsiteOfficial website
[edit on Wikidata]
Sculpture of General Ezequiel Zamora located in the Cúa rail station.

Urdaneta is one of the 21 municipalities (municipios) that makes up the Venezuelan state of Miranda and, according to a 2016 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 167,768. The town of Cúa is the municipal seat of the Urdaneta Municipality.[1] The municipality is one of several in Venezuela named "Urdaneta Municipality" in honour of Venezuelan independence hero Rafael Urdaneta.

History

The first establishments of Cúa dates from the pre-Columbian period, being the first founders the Quiriquires natives, has like nickname The Tuy Pearl, because its location at the borders of the Tuy River. After the officially foundation on October 6, 1690 by fray Manuel de Alesson, under the invocation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Cúa, the first inhabitants came from different regions motivated by the agriculture, due to the fertility and strategic location of the valley. However, this town was founded initially at the site known like Marín in 1633, this first village was destroyed in its totality by a violent earthquake that affected a great part of the Tuy Valleys.

The name of Cúa, according to some historians, has it origin from the Cumanagotos natives, from the Carib language that means Crab, meaning that Cúa is the place where the crab abounds. Others affirm that its name is associate with Apacuana, a brave native woman from the region, that fought against the Spaniards. Others think that that name was giving in honor to the native Cue, ally of the Spaniards, that helped in the foundation and consolidation of the town.

Demographics

Cúa Municipal Council
Typical street of the town

The Urdaneta Municipality, according to a 2016 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, has a population of 167,768 (up from 114,221 in 2000). This amounts to 4.6% of the state's population. The municipality's population density is 478.54 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,239.4/sq mi).

Government

The mayor of the Urdaneta Municipality is Jorge H. Castro, re-elected on October 31, 2004 with 42% of the vote.[2][3] The municipality is divided into Cúa parishes; Cúa and Nueva Cúa.[1]

Transportation

  • Buses are the main means of mass transportation, operated by several companies on normal streets and avenues:
    • bus; large buses.
    • buseta; medium size buses.
    • microbus or colectivo; vans or minivans.
  • IAFE; train services to and from Caracas and Charallave.
Perimetral Avenue

Main avenues

  • Perimetral avenue
  • Monseñor Pellín avenue
  • José María Carreño street
  • El Rosario street
  • El Carmen street
  • Lecumberry street
  • San Rafael street
  • Juan España street
  • Zamora street

Notable natives

References

  1. ^ a b "Estado Miranda.- División político territorial, según municipios y parroquias, 2003". Archived from the original (ZIP/XLS) on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  2. ^ "Alcalde de Municipio" [Mayor of Municipality] (in Spanish).
  3. ^ "ELECCIONES 30 DE JULIO DE 2000 - DIRECTORIO DE ALCALDES ELECTOS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2008-03-23.