Penonomé, Coclé facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Penonomé
Top to bottom, left to right: November 8 Park, the Saint John the Baptist Cathedral, the Monument dedicated to the districts of Coclé Province, and the Penonomé Museum.
Penonomé, Coclé Location in Panama
Country	Panama
Province	Coclé
District	Penonomé
Founded	April 30, 1581
Area
• Land	53 km2 (20 sq mi)
Elevation	70 m (230 ft)
Population  (2010)
• City	21,748
• Density	410.7/km2 (1,064/sq mi)
• Metro	88,143
	Population density calculated based on land area.
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
Climate	Aw

Penonomé is an important town in Panama. It is the capital of the Coclé province. You can find it right in the middle of Panama. It sits along the main Inter-American Highway. This area is part of the wide, flat lowlands of central Coclé.

History of Penonomé

How Penonomé Got Its Name

Penonomé started as a town in 1581. Its name comes from an old story. It means "Nomé was punished." Nomé was a brave local chief. He stood up against the Spanish explorers. Sadly, the Spanish officials put him to death.

For a short time, Penonomé was even the capital of Panama. This happened after Panama City was attacked. A famous pirate named Henry Morgan raided Panama City in 1671.

Many people from different backgrounds live in Penonomé. You can find families whose ancestors came from Turkey, China, and Arab countries. In 2000, about 15,841 people lived here.

The Legend of Nomé and Zaratí

There is a local legend about how Penonomé got its name. It tells the story of a chief named Nomé. He was deeply in love with a woman named Zaratí.

Nomé's tribe did not want him to marry Zaratí. So, they told him that his beloved had drowned. Nomé searched everywhere for her. When he could not find her, he was heartbroken.

He threw himself from a high cliff. As he fell, he cried out, "I'm coming Zara!" This sad story is said to be the reason for the names of the Zaratí River and Penonomé. In Spanish, "Penó Nomé" can mean "Nomé mourned."

Exploring Penonomé's Landmarks

Penonomé has several interesting places to visit. The Catedral de Penonomé is a beautiful church. The main government office, called the Casa de Gobierno, is also nearby. Both are located in the town's central plaza.

There is a small place called El Museo de Penonomé. It is a museum where you can learn about the town's history. Penonomé also has two main streets for shopping. These are Avenida Juan Demóstenes Arosemena and the Inter-American Highway.

Penonomé is home to several football stadiums. One of these is the Estadio Virgilio Tejeira. It was built in 2001. The stadium was funded by FIFA to help support Panama's national football team.

Getting Around Penonomé

Penonomé is a central hub for travel. You can catch buses from Penonomé to many other places in Panama. This makes it easy to explore the country.

Famous People from Penonomé

Many important people were born in Penonomé:

• Arnulfo Arias (1901–1988) – A doctor and a former President of Panama.
• Harmodio Arias Madrid (1886–1962) – A politician and also a former President of Panama.
• Alcibíades Arosemena (1883–1958) – The 15th President of Panama.
• Ana Ibáñez (born 1986) – She was crowned Miss Earth Panama 2012.
• Esther Neira de Calvo (1890–1978) – A strong supporter of women's rights. She received many awards.
• José Gabriel Carrizo (born 1983) – The current Vice President of Panama.
• Carlos Chávez (1928–2006) – An Olympic weightlifter.
• Ezequiel Fernández (1886–1946) – A politician and former acting President of Panama.
• Diana Jaén (born 1992) – She was Miss World Panama 2015.
• Gladys de la Lastra (1932–2005) – A talented musician and a national hero.
• Shey Ling Him (born 1986) – She was crowned Miss World Panama 2007.
• Ramón Maximiliano Valdés (1867–1918) – A politician and former President of Panama.

See also

In Spanish: Penonomé para niños