La Romana, Dominican Republic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Romana
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Altos de Chavon church in La Romana, Dominican Republic
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 La Romana
Location in the Dominican Republic
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| Country |  Dominican Republic |
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| Province | La Romana Province | |
| Municipality since | 1897 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 185.52 km2 (71.63 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) | |
| Population
(2022 census)
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| • Total | 153,241 | |
| • Density | 826.008/km2 (2,139.35/sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 149,840 | |
| • Metro | 270,000 (La Romana-Villa Hermosa conurbation) | |
| • Demonym | (spanish: Romanense) | |
| Distance to – Santo Domingo |
120 km |
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| Municipal Districts | 1 |
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| Climate | Aw | |
La Romana is a city and the capital of the La Romana Province in the southeastern part of the Dominican Republic. It is located across from Catalina Island. La Romana is one of the 10 biggest cities in the Dominican Republic.
In 2022, about 153,241 people lived in the city. Most of them (149,840) lived in urban areas. The name Romana comes from "Bomana." This was a name given by local people to what is now the Romana River.
The modern La Romana International Airport opened in 2000. The city is close to other important places. These include San Pedro de Macorís and the capital city, Santo Domingo. La Romana is a growing center for tourism. It has many nearby resorts like Bayahibe, Dominicus, and Casa de Campo. There are also many golf resorts in the area.
Contents
Discovering La Romana's Past
The city of La Romana was first started in 1897. It began as a town focused on oil. However, things changed quickly after 1917. A large sugar mill was built, and the city's economy moved to sugar production.
When the sugar mill opened, sugar prices around the world went up. This brought many workers to La Romana. Families moved from other parts of the country and the Caribbean. They came looking for new job chances.
In the early 1960s, a company called Gulf and Western Industries, Inc. bought the sugar mill. They also started to invest in raising animals in the province. The company spent $20 million to rebuild La Romana. They built schools, clinics, homes, and other important buildings for workers.
In the mid-1970s, Gulf and Western began selling its properties in the Dominican Republic. At the same time, they built Casa de Campo. This is now one of the biggest and most exclusive tourist resorts in the country.
How La Romana's Economy Works
La Romana has often been called a "company town." This means that one large company, the Central Romana Corporation, owns most of the town. Almost everyone in La Romana has a job. Most people work in tourism or for The Central Romana Corporation. Others work at the Duty Free Zone (Zona Franca Romana) or in service businesses.
The Central Romana mill was built in 1917 by the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company. It was the only sugar business not taken over by Rafael Trujillo during his time in power. From 1964 to 1967, the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company became part of the Gulf+Western company.
In 1984, Gulf+Western sold its share in the Central Romana Corporation. It was bought by a group of local and foreign investors, including the Fanjul brothers.
Cigar Production in La Romana
Gulf+Western also bought Consolidated Cigar in 1968. They moved their cigar-making business to the Tabacalera de Garcia tobacco plant in La Romana. This factory is now one of the largest cigar factories in the world. Since 1999, it has been owned by Altadis, a major cigar marketing company.
Three very famous cigar brands are made in La Romana: Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta.
City Views of La Romana
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Exploring Tourism in La Romana
The Casa de Campo resort is the main attraction in the La Romana area. It was built in 1975 by Gulf+Western. The goal was to make it the best place to visit in the Caribbean. In 1984, the Central Romana Corporation bought Casa de Campo. It is partly owned by the Fanjul brothers.
Altos de Chavón is a special village located very close to La Romana. It looks like a European village from the 16th century. It's a popular place for visitors to explore.
La Romana's International Port
The Casa de Campo International Tourist Port is on the west side of the La Romana River. It used to be mainly for commercial ships, carrying sugar and molasses. As the port got busier, the Central Romana Corporation built a new port for tourists on the east side of the river. The old area was updated, and the river was made deeper (about 10.50 meters or 34.4 feet).
The new port opened in December 2002. The Central Romana Corporation spent $12 million to make the port much bigger. It is a modern port with space for two large cruise ships. Today, it has two docking areas (East Dock: 255 meters or 837 feet long, West Dock: 225 meters or 738 feet long). There is also a large passenger terminal and parking for 24 buses.
La Romana International Airport
La Romana International Airport (IATA: LRM, ICAO: MDLR) is a private airport in the eastern Dominican Republic. It serves the city of La Romana and the Casa de Campo resort. The airport was built in a traditional Dominican style, with open-air buildings.
Many charter flights come to La Romana. In 2002, this airport had a lot of visitors. It became one of the most visited airports in the Dominican Republic.
Currently, it is the fifth busiest airport in the country. It is behind Punta Cana, Las Américas, Puerto Plata, and Santiago airports. The airport welcomes many international airlines. It has 7 spots for planes at the international terminal. There is also a large private aviation terminal where up to 12 private jets can park.
Understanding La Romana's Climate
La Romana has a tropical savanna climate. This means it is warm all year with a wet and a dry season. It is a bit like a hot semi-arid climate because the city is protected from strong winds.
| Climate data for La Romana, Dominican Republic (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.8 (94.6) |
33.0 (91.4) |
34.0 (93.2) |
35.0 (95.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
36.6 (97.9) |
36.8 (98.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
37.6 (99.7) |
37.7 (99.9) |
34.2 (93.6) |
33.8 (92.8) |
37.7 (99.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.7 (85.5) |
30.0 (86.0) |
30.5 (86.9) |
30.9 (87.6) |
31.2 (88.2) |
32.0 (89.6) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.6 (90.7) |
32.2 (90.0) |
31.8 (89.2) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.9 (85.8) |
31.2 (88.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.5 (67.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.8 (67.6) |
20.5 (68.9) |
22.0 (71.6) |
22.9 (73.2) |
23.2 (73.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
22.9 (73.2) |
22.6 (72.7) |
21.6 (70.9) |
20.2 (68.4) |
21.5 (70.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 14.0 (57.2) |
15.0 (59.0) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.0 (59.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
20.8 (69.4) |
20.8 (69.4) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.7 (67.5) |
17.4 (63.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 32.7 (1.29) |
27.8 (1.09) |
27.5 (1.08) |
45.2 (1.78) |
91.0 (3.58) |
57.0 (2.24) |
60.9 (2.40) |
105.2 (4.14) |
116.8 (4.60) |
164.6 (6.48) |
96.2 (3.79) |
47.6 (1.87) |
872.5 (34.35) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 7.4 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 9.7 | 8.3 | 5.7 | 78.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Sports in La Romana
Estadio Francisco Micheli is the home field for the Toros del Este. This is a baseball team that plays in the Dominican Winter League.
In 1983, the government built the Polideportivo de La Romana. This is a large sports center. It was named after Eleoncio Mercedes, a boxer who became a world champion. The Cañeros de La Romana, a Dominican basketball team, play their home games here.
La Romana's Population Growth
- 2022: 131,828
- 2010: 139,671
- 2022: 153,241
Famous People from La Romana
- Fernando Abad – Major League Baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
- Antonio Alfonseca – pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Juana Arrendel – high jumper
- Miguel Castro – baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
- Andújar Cedeño – former MLB shortstop
- Domingo Cedeño – former MLB infielder
- Rafael Dolis – relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Edwin Encarnación – first baseman for the Cleveland Indians
- Pedro Florimón – shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Freddy García – former MLB infielder
- Tito Horford – retired professional basketball player
- Luis Ernesto José – lightweight boxer
- Eleoncio Mercedes – former world champion boxer in the Flyweight division
- Yermín Mercedes – catcher/designated hitter for the San Francisco Giants
- Ramon Rijo A.K.A. "MONCHY" – singer, musician, songwriter and musical producer, Monchy y Alexandra
- John Nolasco – featherweight boxer
- Pedro Julio Nolasco – professional boxer & Winner of Dominican Republics first ever Olympic medal (bronze), during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Silver medalist at the 83 Pan American Games.
- Arismendy Peguero – sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres
- Félix Pie – center fielder for the Hanwha Eagles
- Danny Richar – second baseman for the Chicago White Sox
- Luis Santana – retired professional boxer
- Rafael Santana – former MLB shortstop
- Julian Yan – retired professional baseball player
- Edison Azcona – professional footballer who plays for Inter Miami
See also
In Spanish: La Romana (municipio) para niños
