Nizao facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nizao
Juan Pablo Duarte Square, Nizao.
Nizao Location in the Dominican Republic
Country	Dominican Republic
Province	Peravia
Area
• Total	48.54 km2 (18.74 sq mi)
Population  (2012)
• Total	39,686
• Density	817.59/km2 (2,117.56/sq mi)
Municipal Districts	2

Nizao is a city located in the Peravia Province of the Dominican Republic. It is known for its beautiful beaches and its connection to professional baseball players.

About Nizao: A City in the Dominican Republic

Nizao is an important city in the Dominican Republic. It is the capital of the Nizao Municipality. This city is the second largest municipality in the Peravia Province. You can find it in the southeastern part of the province. It sits where the Nizao River meets the Caribbean Sea. Nizao is famous for its many luxury cars. These cars are often owned by young professional athletes from the area. Local people sometimes call these athletes "carajitos firmao."

Nizao's History and Growth

Nizao was first settled in the 1500s. Diego Columbus, the son of Christopher Columbus, built a sugar mill and a large farm here. The Nizao Municipality includes two smaller areas called municipal districts: Santana and Pizarrete. It also has one municipal section, Don Gregorio.

Nizao became a municipal district on January 1, 1945. Later, in 1989, it became a full municipality. This meant Nizao could elect its own leaders. In 1990, Salvador Clemente Pérez Pérez, a school teacher, became its first mayor. Five council members were also elected at that time. Many people believe that Nizao and the town of Don Gregorio might become one city in the future.

Economy and Lifestyle in Nizao

For many years, Nizao's economy was mostly based on farming. People grew crops like rice, onion, chilis, and tomato. However, things have changed a lot. Many people from Nizao have moved to other countries. Also, the city has grown, so there is less land for farming.

Now, many people work in other ways. Some work in rented jobs, and others drive motoconcho (motorcycle taxis). A big part of the economy now comes from young people who become professional baseball players in other countries, especially in the United States. Fishing is also a very important part of Nizao's economy.

Beautiful Beaches and Vacation Homes

Nizao has a lovely beach called Playa Linda. This beach stretches for almost 3 kilometers (about 1.8 miles). It goes from Don Gregorio all the way to Catalina, Baní. In the early 1980s, a company bought land near the beach. They built over 50 vacation houses, a clubhouse, and an artificial lake. These homes were sold to people as vacation spots. This area, called Covacasa, is an international community. People from the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States own homes there.

In recent years, more international people have invested in this beach area. Many Dutch and Italian families are buying land and houses. A new highway to Santo Domingo was finished around 2010. This highway makes it possible to reach the capital city in about half an hour.

Leaders of Nizao: Mayors Through the Years

Nizao has had several mayors since it became a municipality. Here is a list of some of them:

In 2010, new elections were held. Mr. Gomez tried to be re-elected, but Lic. Glovis Reyes won. The Dominican Constitution changed the election period for local and national leaders from four years to six years. This change helps these elections happen at the same time as presidential elections.

Population and Neighborhoods of Nizao

In 2002, a national Census (a count of people) showed that Nizao City had 6,188 people. The whole municipality, including its two districts, had a total population of 22,850.

The people of Nizao are a mix of different backgrounds. Many have ancestors from the Canary Islands and from African slaves. People from Nizao are known for being hard-working and friendly.

Nizao is divided into five main neighborhoods or areas:

El Zapotal

El Zapotal is a flat area located on top of a hill to the northeast. It used to be a municipal section. In the past, El Zapotal had a sugarcane mill and plantation. The Gonzalez and Lorenzo families lived there. This area is still rich in agriculture.

Mono Mojao

Mono Mojao (which means "wet monkey") is located to the north, near the baseball field. The Pérez and Valdez families are the largest groups living in this area.

Media Blanca

Media Blanca (meaning "white stocking") is found to the west/northwest. This is considered the most traditional and culturally rich part of Nizao. African traditions, beliefs, and culture are very strong here. The Perdomo and Valdez families are the biggest family groups in this neighborhood.

Ciudad Nueva

Ciudad Nueva (meaning "new city") is located to the southeast of Nizao.

The rest of the area is simply called Nizao. The city is also growing towards the southwest. This growth includes the Ciudad del Niño area. A few houses have been built along the Marcos A. Cabral canal, where the Mercedes family owns land.

Covacasa Residential Community

The Covacasa Nizao community is a gated area right on the beach. It has villas (large houses) with beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea. The beach is easy to reach for everyone who lives in Covacasa.

Education in Nizao

Nizao has two main schools: one elementary school and one high school. For a long time, both schools were in the same building. This building was called Aliro Paulino Elementary and Aliro Paulino High School. Aliro Paulino was a personal teacher for the family of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. He was originally from Don Gregorio.

Aliro Paulino High School, now known as Lucila Mojica High School, used to be an evening school. It operated in the Aliro Paulino Elementary school from 1978 until 2000. In 2000, the high school moved into its own new building. This new building is at the corner of Maximo Gomez and Gaston F Deligne streets.

For students looking for international schools, the closest and best ones are in Santo Domingo. Thanks to the new highway, it only takes about half an hour to get there. Some top international schools include Saint George School, The Carol Morgan School, and The New Horizon School.

Sports in Nizao

Nizao does not have many large sports facilities. The only basketball and volleyball courts are made of rough concrete. They are located at the public schools. These courts used to be open to the public in the afternoons, but these sports are not played as much in Nizao anymore.

Like most of the Dominican Republic, baseball is the most popular sport. Nizao has a baseball field, but it has been under construction for over 20 years.

Despite the lack of facilities, Nizao has produced many professional baseball players. Some famous players from Nizao include Efrain Valdez, Julio Valdez, Rafael Valdez, Felix Perdomo, Carlos Valdez, Sandi Santiago, Wilson Valdez, Deivi Cruz, Rafael Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero, Wilton Guerrero, Jesus Sanchez, and Ketel Marte. Many other young players from Nizao are currently playing in the Baseball Minor Leagues.

Religion in Nizao

Most people in Nizao, like the majority of Dominicans, say they are Catholic. More than 90% identify as Catholic, even though less than 5% regularly attend church.

There are also different groups of protestants in Nizao. The Pentecostals are the largest Protestant group. You can also find Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) chapels and Seventh-day Adventist churches in Nizao.

Churches in Nizao

• Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes Catholic Church, located at the corners of Duarte, Sánchez, and Maria Trinidad Sánchez streets.
• Iglesia Evangelica Peniel, on Duarte street.
• Seventh-day Adventist Temple, on Ruben Perdomo street.
• Iglesia Evangelica Asamblea de Dios, on Sanchez street.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) chapel, on Mella street.

Fun Facts About Nizao

• The border between Nizao and Don Gregorio is a small stream called La Pava creek. People say it is a haunted place.
• In the 1950s, the people of Nizao went to the Municipal Building to remove their mayor from office.
• All the fishermen in Nizao belong to one family, the Santana Gómez family. They all live in the Ciudad Nueva neighborhood.
• For many years, two nightclubs, El San Antonio and Johnny bar, were rivals. Both of them have now closed down.
• Leonor Mercedes, also known as Pasón, once turned his old house into a bar. The house was so narrow that he had to make it longer by adding to the back. It became so long that people called it El Túnel (The Tunnel).

Notable People from Nizao

• Ketel Marte, a professional baseball player.
• Deivi Cruz, a professional baseball player.
• Modesto DeLaPaz, a business, financial, and infrastructure developer.
• Salvador Gomez, a former mayor of Nizao.
• Vladimir Guerrero, a professional baseball player and a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame since 2018.
• Wilson Valdez, a professional baseball player.
• Dr. Manuel Eduardo Valdez, known as one of the best eye doctors in the Dominican Republic.
• Efraín Valdez, a professional baseball player.
• Oneil Cruz, a professional baseball player.
• Marileidy Paulino, an Olympic Gold medalist in the 400m race in 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Nizao para niños