La Villa de los Santos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Villa de los Santos
La Heroica Villa de Los Santos
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
City and corregimiento
|
|||
 |
|||
|
|||
 La Villa de los Santos
Location in Panama
|
|||
| Country |  Panama |
||
| Province | Los Santos | ||
| District | Los Santos | ||
| Established | November 1, 1569 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Land | 72.9 km2 (28.1 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2010)
|
|||
| • Total | 7,991 | ||
| • Density | 109.6/km2 (284/sq mi) | ||
| Population density calculated based on land area. | |||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| Climate | Aw | ||
La Villa de los Santos, also known as La Heroica Villa de Los Santos, is an important city in Panama. It is the capital of the Los Santos District in Los Santos Province. The city is located on the left side of the La Villa River.
La Villa de los Santos is famous for its big role in Panama's fight for independence from Spain. This important event, known as the First Cry of Independence, happened in November 1821. The people of La Villa de los Santos were very brave and helped start the movement to become free.
Contents
A Look at History
The city was first started in 1555 by Juan Rodriguez Monjaraz. He was the governor of the area at that time. The city was originally named Santa Cruz. Over the years, it grew into the important place we know today.
The First Cry of Independence
La Villa de los Santos is known as "La Heroica Villa" because of its heroic actions. On November 10, 1821, the people of this city were the first to declare their independence from Spanish rule. This event sparked the wider movement for Panama's freedom.
Key People in the Movement
Several important people helped lead the independence movement in La Villa de los Santos:
- José Higinio Durán: He was a Catholic bishop in Panama. He supported the idea of Panama becoming independent.
- Julián Chávez: He was the mayor of La Villa de los Santos. He also called for Panama to break away from Spain.
There is also a local story about a woman named Rufina Alfaro. She was born to enslaved parents. According to the tradition, she helped take over Spanish military posts in the town. While this story is very popular, some historians debate if it truly happened.
Celebrating Freedom
Every year, La Villa de los Santos hosts a special festival. This festival celebrates the anniversary of the day Panama's war for independence began. It's a time for the community to remember their history and the brave actions of their ancestors.
About the City
La Villa de los Santos is also a corregimiento. A corregimiento is like a local administrative area within a district. Even though it's a corregimiento, people usually call it "Villa de los Santos" instead of "Corregimiento de Los Santos."
The city has grown over the years:
- In 1990, its population was 6,543 people.
- By 2000, the population had grown to 7,194 people.
- In 2010, the population was 7,991 people.
See also
In Spanish: La Villa de Los Santos para niños
