Barbosa, Santander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barbosa, Santander
Municipality and town
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality and town of Barbosa, Santander in the Santander Department of Colombia.
Country	Colombia
Department	Santander Department
Area
• Municipality and town	46.67 km2 (18.02 sq mi)
• Urban	3.59 km2 (1.39 sq mi)
Population  (2018 census)
• Municipality and town	31,050
• Density	665.31/km2 (1,723.1/sq mi)
• Urban	23,249
• Urban density	6,476/km2 (16,773/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Barboseño -a
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Climate	Af
Website	www.barbosa-santander.gov.co

Barbosa is a lively town located in the northeastern part of Colombia, in a region called the Santander Department. It's often called the "Golden Gate of Santander" because it's an important entrance to the department from the south. It's also a municipality within the Vélez province.

A Look at Barbosa's Past

How Barbosa Began

Barbosa was officially founded on May 24, 1940. It was named after a Spanish general, Heliodoro Barbosa. He was known for fighting bravely against the local Ubazas Indians.

Before Barbosa became a town, its first beginnings were in a place called Cite. Cite was founded much earlier, on May 24, 1539, by a Spanish explorer named Martín Galeano. Many people consider Cite to be the very first settlement in the Santander Department.

Cite was first a small village connected to another area. But it grew very quickly, especially because of its busy trade. Because of this growth, it was made into a main town (a municipal seat) on June 21, 1940.

The First People and Explorers

Long ago, the lands around Barbosa were home to several groups of native people. These included the Agataes, Yariguíes, Guanes, and Chalalaes. They lived in small family groups, not large cities. They had different ways of speaking and different customs.

In 1539, the first Spanish explorers arrived. Martín Galeano, following orders from Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, explored the mountains of Santander. After many battles with the native people, Galeano and his group camped by the Suarez River in May 1539. This camp became known as Cite.

The area was mainly inhabited by the Ubazas Indians. They were known for being very skilled with bows and arrows. Captain Heliodoro Barbosa fought a tough battle against this tribe. The Spanish were almost defeated, but after many days, they won. To honor Captain Barbosa's bravery, Martín Galeano built a bridge over the Suarez River and named it "Puente Barbosa" (Barbosa Bridge). This is how the name Barbosa first came to the region.

Some of the first families to settle in Barbosa included those with surnames like Becaría, Camacho, Escamilla, Ulloa, Moncada, Chaparro, Fajardo, Cely, Ríos, and González.

Where is Barbosa?

Location and Surroundings

Barbosa is located in the very south of the Santander Department. It shares borders with the Boyacá department. The town sits by the Suarez River, surrounded by mountains of the Eastern Cordillera.

It's about 190 kilometers (118 miles) from Colombia's capital city, Bogotá. It's also about 214 kilometers (133 miles) from Bucaramanga, another important city. Barbosa is in a great spot because it's on National Road No. 45, which connects Bogotá and Bucaramanga. This is why it's known as the "Golden Gate of Santander."

The main part of Barbosa town is on the left side of the Suarez River. The total area of Barbosa is about 46.43 square kilometers (17.93 square miles). This area includes rural parts that range from 1588 meters (5210 feet) to 2050 meters (6726 feet) above sea level.

Neighboring Areas

Barbosa has several neighbors:

• To the north, it borders the municipality of Güepsa.
• To the south, it borders Puente Nacional.
• To the east, it borders the Suarez River and Moniquirá (in Boyacá).
• To the west, it borders Vélez and Guavatá.

Barbosa is connected to Bogotá by a mostly paved road that goes through Puente Nacional and Chiquinquirá. It also has a small airport for twin-engine planes.

Weather in Barbosa

Barbosa has a tropical climate, which means it's warm all year round. It also gets a lot of rain throughout the year. This type of climate is called "Af" in the Köppen climate classification.

The average yearly temperature in Barbosa is about 72°F (22°C). The hottest months are usually from January to March, with an average temperature of about 77°F (25°C). The coolest month is December, with temperatures around 69°F (20.5°C). The area receives about 87 inches (2200 mm) of rain each year.

See also

In Spanish: Barbosa (Santander) para niños