Puerto Plata Province
| Puerto Plata | |
| Province | |
| Country |  Dominican Republic |
|---|---|
| Capital | Puerto Plata |
| - elevation | 8 m (26 ft) |
| - coordinates | 19°48′0″N 70°41′0″W / 19.8°N 70.683333°W |
| Area | 1,852.90 km² (715 sq mi) |
| Population | 321,597 (2010) |
| Density | 173.6 /km² (450 /sq mi) |
| Province since | 1865 |
| Subdivisions | 9 municipalities 12 municipal districts |
| Congresspersons | 1 Senator 6 Deputies |
| Timezone | AST (UTC-4) |
| Area code | 1-809 1-829 1-849 |
| ISO 3166-2 | DO-18 |
 Location of Puerto Plata Province
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Puerto Plata is one of the northern provinces of the Dominican Republic. The area is a popular tourist attraction since the late 1990s because there are many fine beaches.
It was created in 1865. It was a municipality of Santiago province before being elevated to the category of province.
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Location [change]
Puerto Plata province is along the northern coast of the island. To the north, it has the Atlantic Ocean; to the east, Espaillat; to the south, Santiago and Valverde provinces; and to the west, Monte Cristi province.
Origin of name [change]
The province is named after its capital city, Puerto Plata. When Christopher Columbus visited the northern coast of the Hispaniola island for the first time, on 11 January 1493 he saw a mountain with clouds on its top and he gave it the name of Monte de Plata (in English, Mountain of Silver).[1] The town that was founded on the foot of that mountain was called Puerto de Plata (in English, Port of Silver); the name was changed later to just Puerto Plata.
History [change]
The first European town, La Isabela, was founded by Columbus in January 1493 by Columbus near the city of Puerto Plata; the city of Puerto Plata was founded in 1502.
It was created as a Maritime District (a special administrative category similar to a province and that has been abandoned) in 1865. The 1907 Dominican Constitution changed its status to province. It was part of Santiago province before being elevated to the category of province.
Municipalities [change]
Puerto Plata province has a total area of 1,852.90 km2.[2] It has 3.8% of the area of the Dominican Republic and it is ranked as the 10th (out of 31 provinces plus the National District) largest province.
There are nine municipalities and 12 municipal districts in the province. The municipalities and their municipal districts (M.D.) are:
- Puerto Plata, head municipality of the province
- Maimón (M.D.)
- Yásica Arriba (M.D.)
- Altamira
- Río Grande (M.D.)
- Guananico
- Imbert
- Los Hidalgos
- Cerro de Navas (M.D.)
- Luperón
- Belloso (M.D.)
- Estrecho (M.D.)
- La Isabela
- Sosúa
- Cabarete (M.D.)
- Sabaneta de Yásica (M.D.)
- Villa Isabela
- Estero Hondo (M.D.)
- Gualete (M.D.)
- La Jaiba (M.D.)
- Villa Montellano
Population [change]
In 2010 (last national census), there were 321,597 people living in the Puerto Plata province, and 187,553 (58.32%) living in towns and cities. The population density was 174 persons/km2.[3]
Its population represents 3.4% of the total population of the country and the province is ranked as the 6th (out of 31 plus the National District) more populated province.
The largest city of the province is San Felipe de Puerto Plata, its head municipality or capital, with a population (in 2010) of 128,240 inhabitants.[3]
Geography [change]
The Cordillera Septentrional (in English, "Northern mountain range") runs along the southern half of the province. Another mountain range is Sierra Atravesada that goes from the Cordillera Septentrional to the coast. The mountain "Isabel de Torres" (the "Monte de Plata" of Columbus) is close to the city of Puerto Plata.
Because the Cordillera Septentrional is close to the coast, rivers in this province are short. The most important rivers are Bajabonico, Yásica and Camú del Norte.
Economy [change]
There are several important economic activities in the province, like tourism along the coast, farming and industry (like food products and rhum).
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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