Güines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Güines
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
||
.png)
Güines municipality (red) within
Mayabeque Province (yellow) and Cuba |
||
| Country | Cuba | |
| Province | Mayabeque | |
| Founded | 1735 | |
| Established | 1815 (Municipality) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 445 km2 (172 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 65 m (213 ft) | |
| Population
(2022)
|
||
| • Total | 65,037 | |
| • Density | 146.15/km2 (378.5/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Güinero(a) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| Area code(s) | +53-62 | |
.jpg)
Güines is a town and a local government area (called a municipality) in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southeast of Havana. The town is located right next to the Mayabeque River.
Güines is the most populated town in its province. However, it is not the capital city of Mayabeque Province.
Contents
History of Güines
Early Beginnings
Güines was officially founded in 1737 by people from Spain. Before the Spanish arrived, this area was part of a region. This region was led by an Indian chief named Habaguanex.
The name "Güines" first appeared in records in 1598. That's when Don Diego de Rivera received land for a place called Los Güines Corral.
Sugar Production and Change
Güines became very important for Cuba's sugar production. After the Haitian Revolution (a big event in Haiti), Cuba started growing a lot more sugar. This led to big changes in Güines.
Many people were brought from Africa to work on the sugar farms. Because of this, the number of people living in Güines changed a lot. In 1775, about three-quarters of the people were considered white. But by the 1820s, less than 38 percent were.
First Railway
In 1837, a railway line was opened from Havana to Güines. This was the very first railway in Cuba. It was also the first in Spain and one of the earliest in all of the Americas.
Geography of Güines
The municipality of Güines is divided into several smaller areas called barrios. These include Catalina, Norte, Rural Primero, Rural Segundo, Rural Tercero, Rural Cuarto, and Sur.
Population and Area
In 2022, the municipality of Güines had a population of 65,037 people. The total area of the municipality is 445 square kilometers (172 square miles). This means there are about 150 people living in each square kilometer.
Notable People from Güines
Many interesting people have come from Güines, including:
- Cristina Ayala (1856–1936), a poet who wrote poems.
- Julio Moreno (1921–1987), a professional baseball player.
- Roberto Torres (born 1940), a talented musician.
- Enrique Ramos Suárez (born 1930), another poet.
- Leinier Domínguez (born 1983), a famous chess player.
- Alberto Hernández Reyes, a landscape painter.
See also
- Municipalities of Cuba
- List of cities in Cuba
- Güines Municipal Museum
See also
In Spanish: Güines para niños
