Juigalpa, Chontales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juigalpa
Municipality
Street in Juigalpa
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Juigalpa, Chontales Location in Nicaragua
Country	Nicaragua
Department	Chontales
Municipality	Juigalpa
Founded	April 24, 1668
Area
• Municipality	727 km2 (281 sq mi)
Elevation	116.85 m (383.37 ft)
Population  (2022 estimate)
• Municipality	61,411
• Density	84.47/km2 (218.78/sq mi)
• Urban	53,798
Time zone	UTCGMT-6

Juigalpa is an important city in Nicaragua. It is the capital city of the Chontales Department. You can find it about 140 kilometers (about 87 miles) east of Managua, Nicaragua's capital.

The city of Juigalpa and its surrounding area cover about 727 square kilometers (281 square miles). Around 61,411 people live here, based on a 2022 estimate. The name Juigalpa means "land abundant of jicaro" or "origin of black snails" in an old Indian language.

History of Juigalpa

Juigalpa has a long history. In 1659, a local leader named Jeronimo Villegas asked for land to start a town. His request was approved on April 24, 1668. This is considered the founding date of Juigalpa.

Later, in 1877, Juigalpa became the capital of the Chontales Department. This happened after a long disagreement with another town called Acoyapa. Juigalpa officially became a city on January 27, 1879. In the past, it was a common stop for miners and farmers in the area.

Geography and Landscape

Juigalpa is located in a valley, surrounded by the beautiful Amerrisque Mountains. The main road, Carretera Rama, runs through the lowest parts of the city. As you move away from the road, the land rises.

From higher points in the city, you can enjoy clear and amazing views of the Amerrisque Mountains.

Climate in Juigalpa

Juigalpa has a warm climate. The temperatures are generally high throughout the year. This is typical for cities in Central America.

Education Opportunities

Juigalpa is a center for learning in its region. It has several branches of universities from Nicaragua and other Central American countries. This means students have many choices for higher education right in their city.

Some of the universities with branches here include:

• Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (UNI)
• Universidad Cristiana Autónoma de Nicaragua (UCAN)
• Universidad Internacional (UNIVAL) - Chontales
• Universidad Nacional Agraria - Juigalpa
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN) - Chontales
• Universidad Popular de Nicaragua (UPONIC)

Economy and Jobs

Compared to some other parts of Nicaragua, Juigalpa is quite successful. The Chontales Department, where Juigalpa is located, produces a lot of beef. In fact, it makes about 90% of all the beef in Nicaragua! This makes the cattle industry very important here.

Because Juigalpa is the biggest city in the area, it also has many shops, restaurants, and other businesses that offer services to people.

Fun Things to Do

Juigalpa offers many fun activities and places to visit. It is the largest city in the south-central part of Nicaragua.

City Squares and Parks

• Plaza Mayor (Main Square) is the heart of the city. It is surrounded by the Cathedral, government buildings, shops, and places to eat. In the afternoons, students and children play around the bandstand. In the evenings, families enjoy walks and dinner.
• Peatonal Asunción is a newer street just for walking. It has a fountain, benches, and lots of shade trees. You can find coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and stores selling leather goods here.
• Palo Solo Park is a beautiful park on a hill. It is about four blocks north of Plaza Mayor. From here, you get amazing views of the city and the Amerrisque Mountains.

Nightlife and Culture

Dancing is a very popular activity in Nicaragua. Juigalpa has three dance clubs, called "discotecas," where people can go to dance and have fun.

Animals and History

• The Thomas Belt Zoo is in Juigalpa. It has many different kinds of animals for visitors to see.
• The Gregorio Aguilar Barea Archaeological Museum is another interesting place. It displays old stone carvings and other items found in the Amerrisque Mountains. Many of these artifacts were made by the ancient Chontal people.

Getting Around Juigalpa

It is easy to travel to and from Juigalpa. You can find all the bus routes at Mercado Mayoreo in Managua. A regular bus trip from Managua takes about three hours. An express bus can get you there in about two hours. For faster travel, you can even charter a helicopter from Managua.

Within Juigalpa itself, taxi cabs are the most common way for people to get around.

Fiestas Patronales (City Festival)

Juigalpa celebrates its patron saint festival, called fiestas patronales, around August 15. This festival honors the Virgin Mary. It is known as one of the best festivals in Central America, attracting visitors from nearby countries.

A big part of the celebration happens at the Plaza de Toros (Bullring). The main event there is bull riding. Riders must be very careful as bull riding can be dangerous.

During the festival, there are also two fairs. One fair is organized by the mayor's office in the city center. The other, larger fair is held by an organization called PRODESA on the western side of town.

City Services and Communication

Juigalpa has reliable electric service. This is because it does not share a power plant with Managua, which helps keep the electricity steady.

For phone services, Enitel provides landline telephones. Two major cell phone companies, Claro and Movistar, offer good cell service in Juigalpa.

The city also has several radio stations, like Radio Asunción 720 AM and Radio Sabrocita 100.1 FM. There are also two local TV channels, Canal 14 and Canal 20.

Juigalpa has one public hospital, called Hospital Camilo Ortega Saavedra, which provides healthcare to the community.

International Connections

Juigalpa has a special connection with a city in the Netherlands. This is called a "sister city" relationship, which helps cities learn from each other and build friendships.

Sister City

Juigalpa is a sister city with:

See also

In Spanish: Juigalpa para niños