Lelydorp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lelydorp
Kofi Djompo
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Resort and town
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From top, left to right: Monument Lelydorp; bird's-eye view of Midtown Mall; I Love Kofidjompo Monument
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Map showing resorts in Wanica District. Lelydorp
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| Country |  Suriname |
| District | Wanica District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 149 km2 (58 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Total | 18,663 |
| • Density | 125.3/km2 (324.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (AST) |
Lelydorp (Sranan Tongo: Kofi Djompo) is the main town and capital of the Wanica District in Suriname. It is the second largest city in Suriname, after Paramaribo. In 2012, about 18,663 people lived there.
Contents
History of Lelydorp
How Lelydorp Got Its Name
Lelydorp was originally called Kofi Djompo. This name is said to come from a Maroon rebel leader named Kofi. He escaped by jumping over a creek. "Kofi" means "born on Friday," and "Djompo" means "jump."
The town was renamed in 1905 by Cornelis Lely. He was the Dutch governor of Suriname at the time. Lely was famous for building many large water projects in the Netherlands.
Early Growth and Agriculture
The small settlement began to grow when the Lawa Railway was built nearby. For a long time, the "Pad van Wanica" (path of Wanica) was the only road connecting Paramaribo to the south. This old road helped Lelydorp develop.
The town mainly relied on farming. Farmers grew crops like cassave and asparagus beans. These crops were very important for the local economy.
Modern Lelydorp Today
Today, Lelydorp is often seen as a very large village rather than a big city. The Wanica District has about 118,000 people. This makes it one of Suriname's most populated areas.
Lelydorp is the main center of the district. It has many shops, offices, and businesses. Even with all these developments, you can still find many farms close to the town center.
Lelydorp is also an important stop between Paramaribo and the Johan Adolf Pengel Airport. This airport is located in Zanderij.
The people of Lelydorp come from many different backgrounds. You will find Javanese, East Indian, Creoles, and Europeans. Many people from Java settled here between 1890 and 1939. Because of this, many street names in Lelydorp, like Sumatraweg and Celebesweg, come from Indonesia.
The Saramacca River forms a natural border between Lelydorp and the Saramacca District.
Lelydorp is home to the "Caribbean Centre," a place for meetings and events. It was started by a writer known as Bhai. In 2010, the Neotropical Butterfly Park opened here. A new hospital, the Regional Hospital Wanica, also opened in Lelydorp in 2020.
Notable People from Lelydorp
- Chan Santokhi (born in 1959) is a famous person from Lelydorp. He is the current President of Suriname. Before becoming president, he was a politician and the chief of police.
Twin City Connection
Lelydorp has a special connection with Lelystad. Lelystad is a city in the Netherlands. This is called a twin city relationship.
See also
In Spanish: Lelydorp para niños
Images for kids
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A street view of Lelydorp in 2004.
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Another view of Lelydorp in 2010.
