Guarenas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guarenas
City
Urbanization February 27, Villa Panamericana, Nueva Casarapa Lagoon, Guarenas' Bolivar Plaza and Educational Village in Guarenas
Seal
Nickname(s):  Guarenas
Guarenas Location in Venezuela
Country	Venezuela
State	Miranda
Municipality	Ambrosio Plaza
Founded	February 14, 1621
Area
• Total	142 km2 (55 sq mi)
Elevation	374 m (1,227 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	200,417
• Density	1,411/km2 (3,650/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−4 (VET)
Postal Code	1220
Area code(s)	+58 212
Climate	Aw
Website	http://alcaldiadeplaza.gob.ve/

Guarenas is a city located in the Miranda state of Venezuela. It was founded a long time ago, in 1621, and was first known as Nuestra Señora de Copacabana de los Guarenas. Today, Guarenas is very close to another city called Guatire, and they almost feel like one big area.

The city is about 39.2 miles (or 36 minutes) away from Caracas, which is the capital of Venezuela. As of 2006, about 185,010 people lived in Guarenas. The Curupao Power Plant, built in 1933, still provides electricity to Guarenas and Guatire. Also, a movie production studio called Villa del Cine is located here.

History of Guarenas

Founding the City

Guarenas was officially established on February 14, 1621. It was meant to be a city for indigenous people, guided by a priest. However, some powerful landowners, called encomenderos, didn't want this to happen. They were people who had been given control over groups of indigenous people and their land by the Spanish crown.

Construction of the city finally began in 1623. This happened because King Felipe III of Spain ordered it. He wanted to protect indigenous people from the abuses of the encomenderos. Before this, indigenous people often worked on the landowners' farms all week. They were not given their own land to farm. They also didn't get days off for rest or religious holidays, even though Spanish law said they should. Some even suffered physical abuse.

The first founding ceremony took place in the Mariche mountains, in a spot later called "El Rodeo". This is where the main square and church were planned for the "Indian Village" of Our Lady of Copacabana of Guarenas.

Early Inhabitants and Name

The lands for the new city were given to families like Hernando Closed and Avila. The people who lived there were from the Chagaragotos (also called Guarenas) and Mariches indigenous groups. Because of this, the local council had two chiefs: one for the Guarenas/Chagaragoto people and one for the Mariche people.

The name "Guarenas" or "Huerena" comes from the Caribbean language. It means "meadow" or "land of much grass." This is what the Chagaragotos Indians called these lands. The city later moved to its current location by the end of the 1600s.

The Caracazo Event

On February 27, 1989, a morning protest started in Guarenas. People were upset about a recent increase in bus fares across the country. This protest quickly spread to Caracas, the capital. It led to several days of widespread protests and unrest, which became known as the Caracazo.

Economy of Guarenas

Industrial Areas

Guarenas has traditionally had three main industrial areas: Cloris, Maturin, and Guairita. These areas are home to many medium and small businesses. You can find textile factories, laboratories, and distribution centers for various products here. There are also dealerships for commercial vehicles.

However, these industrial areas have not fully grown as expected. Today, many parts of them are not doing well, except for a few companies like laboratories.

A "Bedroom Community"

The economy of Guarenas mostly relies on its role as a "bedroom community" for Caracas. This means that many people who live in Guarenas travel to Caracas for work. Guarenas has become a place where people can find housing, especially as Caracas has grown.

Because of this, the main economic activities in Guarenas are in the commercial sector (both formal shops and informal street vendors) and services. Most people living in Guarenas get their jobs and income from the nearby capital city of Venezuela.

Notable People from Guarenas

• Benito Canónico, a famous musician and composer.
• Juan Rivera, a former professional baseball player.
• Henry Blanco, a professional baseball coach and former player.
• Garbiñe Muguruza, a professional tennis player.
• Oswaldo Cabrera, a professional baseball player for the New York Yankees.

See also

In Spanish: Guarenas para niños