Monte Cristi Province
| Monte Cristi | |
| Province | |
 Beach in El Morro, Monte Cristi
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| Country |  Dominican Republic |
|---|---|
| Capital | Monte Cristi |
| - elevation | 16 m (52 ft) |
| - coordinates | 19°51′0″N 71°39′0″W / 19.85°N 71.65°W |
| Area | 1,924.35 km² (743 sq mi) |
| Population | 109,607 (2010) |
| Density | 57.0 /km² (148 /sq mi) |
| Province since | 1879 |
| Subdivisions | 6 municipalities 4 municipal districts |
| Congresspersons | 1 Senator 2 Deputies |
| Timezone | EST (UTC-4) |
| Area code | 1-809 1-829 1-849 |
| ISO 3166-2 | DO-15 |
 Location of the Monte Cristi Province
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Monte Cristi is a province in the north-west of the Dominican Republic. The capital city is San Fernando de Monte Cristi (usually simply Monte Cristi). The spelling Montecristi is also seen.
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Location [change]
The Monte Cristi province is bordered to the north and the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the east by the Puerto Plata and Valverde provinces and to the south by the Dajabón and Santiago Rodríguez provinces.
History [change]
It was created as a Maritime District (a special administrative category similar to a province and that has been abandoned) in 1879. The 1907 Dominican Constitution changed its status to province. It was part of the Santiago province before being elevated to the category of province.
Origin of name [change]
When Christopher Columbus visited for the first time the northern coast of the Hispaniola island, he saw on 4 January 1493 a mountain with the shape of a dromedary and gave the name of Monte Cristo or Monte Christi (in English, Mountain of Christ) to this mountain now known as El Morro, close to the city of San Fernando de Monte Cristi.[1]
Municipalities [change]
The Monte Cristi province has a total area of 1,924.35 km².[2] It has 4.0% of the area of the Dominican Republic and it is ranked as the 9th (out of 31 provinces plus the National District) largest province.
There are six municipalities and four municipal districts in the province.
The municipalities and their municipal districts (M.D.) are:
- San Fernando de Monte Cristi, head municipality of the province
- Castañuela
- Palo Verde (M.D.)
- Guayubín
- Cana Chapetón (M.D.)
- Hatillo Palma (M.D.)
- Villa Elisa (M.D.)
- Las Matas de Santa Cruz
- Pepillo Salcedo
- Villa Vásquez
Population [change]
In 2010 (last national census), there were 109,607 people living in the Monte Cristi province, and 58,388 (53.27%) living in towns and cities. The population density was 57 persons/km².[3]
Its population represents 1.2% of the total population of the country and the province is ranked as the 21th (out of 31 plus the National District) more populated province.
The largest city of the province is Monte Cristi, its head municipality or capital, with a population (in 2010) of 24,644 inhabitants.[3]
Geography [change]
The Monte Cristi province is in the northwestern part of the Cibao Valley; this part is also called the Yaque del Norte Valley or Línea Noroeste and is very dry because it does not rain much here.
The most important river in the province is the Yaque del Norte, the longest river of the Dominican Republic. Other rivers are Guayubín and Maguaca, tributaries of the Yaque del Norte.
The Cordillera Septentrional (in English, "Northern mountain range") runs along the northern coast of the province; there are not high mountains, only low hills. At the western end of this mountain range is the "El Morro" mountain, forming a headland or a small peninsula.
Economy [change]
The main economic activity in the province is farming and banana and rice are grown here. Fishing and salt production is also important in the capital city of San Fernando de Monte Cristi.
References [change]
- ↑ Columbus, Christopher; de las Casas, Bartolomé, Dunn, O.C., and Kelley, James E. (1989). The Diario of Christopher Columbus's First Voyage to America, 1492-1493. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
- ↑ Listado de Códigos de Provincias, Municipio y Distritos Municipales, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oficina Nacional de Estadística. "IX Censo Nacional de Población y Vivienda. Informe Básico" (in Spanish) (PDF). http://censo2010.one.gob.do/resultados/Resumen_resultados_generales_censo_2010.pdf. Retrieved 2013-1-29.
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