Garzón, Huila facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Garzón (Colombia)
Municipality and town
Garzon Cathedral
Flag Coat of arms
Location of the municipality and town of Garzón (Colombia) in the Huila Department of Colombia.
Country	Colombia
Department	Huila Department
Area
• Municipality and town	606.5 km2 (234.2 sq mi)
• Urban	5.22 km2 (2.02 sq mi)
Elevation	828 m (2,717 ft)
Population  (2020 est.)
• Municipality and town	74,136
• Density	122.236/km2 (316.589/sq mi)
• Urban	39,544
• Urban density	7,575/km2 (19,620/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	http://garzon-huila.gov.co

Garzón (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡaɾˈson]) is a town and municipality in the Huila Department, Colombia. It is located in the center of the Huila Department. Garzón is about 450 kilometers south of Bogotá. It is also 91 kilometers south of Neiva, the capital city of the department.

Garzón is known as the "Diocesan Capital of Huila." It was home to the first Catholic diocese in the region. The town is proud of its religious buildings and culture. People also call Garzón "the Soul of Huila." It is famous for growing and processing some of the best coffee in the world. Even actor Hugh Jackman buys coffee from Garzón for his company and coffee shop in New York, called Laughing Man Foundation.

History of Garzón

The town of Garzón started around 1775. This was on land given by Don Vicente Manrique de Lara. In 1783, a small settlement called "Garzoncito" was officially founded.

On January 1, 1788, it became a municipality. Later, in 1810, it received the special title of Villa. On May 19, 1825, Garzón was named the head of the Canton of Timaná. It then became the capital of the southern province of Colima.

How Garzón Got Its Name

The area where the town is located was first known as "Garzoncito." When it became a municipality, the "cito" (meaning "little") was removed. So, it became Garzón.

Historians say the name might come from an animal. Long ago, a huge heron-like bird called a "Garzón" appeared there. This bird was very big and aggressive. It was seen for some time and then disappeared. The early settlers called it the great heron. The river where this bird was seen also changed its name to Garzón.

Notable People from Garzón

Many talented people have come from or lived in Garzón.

• The painter and poet Yesid Morales Ramírez was born here.
• The sculptor Emiro Garzón lives in La Jagua, a small village in Garzón.
• Pablo Emilio Figueroa Urriago started the bambuco music and folk festivals in the town. He also owned the famous Café Minino. This café is now called Café Roxy, but many still call it "El Minino."
• The teacher and novelist Antonio Iriarte Cadena is from Garzón.
• Writers like Amadeo González Treviño and Diego Calle Cadavid also live here.
• Journalist Juan Pablo Plata spent his childhood and teenage years in Garzón.

Women have also achieved great things in Garzón.

• Irma Vargas Cadena was the first female doctor in the city.
• Her sister, Ángela Constanza Vargas Cadena (Angie McCallum), was the first female Petroleum Engineer.

The Baracoa Cultural Foundation is from Garzón. This group is known for its Colombian Andean music. One of their popular groups is Las Gargueñas, which plays local rural music. The singer Carolina Ramos lived in Garzón for eight years. This time inspired her music.

Garzón has also been celebrated in songs. World-famous composers like Jorge Villamil Cordovez and Ramiro Chavarro have written about this town.

Economy

Garzón's economy is mostly based on farming. The main crops grown here are coffee, cacao, and various fruits. Raising livestock (farm animals) is also very important. Fish farming, which is raising fish for food, is another key part of the economy. Products from Garzón are sold in bigger cities like Neiva and Bogotá.

Climate and Rivers

Garzón has a mild climate. It has a rainy season from March to May. The summer season is from November to January. During summer, temperatures can reach up to 30 °C (86 °F).

The town gets its water from the Magdalena and Suaza rivers. There are also smaller rivers like Agua Caliente, Caguancito, Cara de Perro, Damas, Garzoncito, Pescado, and Río Loro.

See also

In Spanish: Garzón (Huila) para niños