San Dionisio, Nicaragua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids San Dionisio
Municipality
San Dionisio Location in Nicaragua
Country	Nicaragua
Department	Matagalpa
Area
• Municipality	166 km2 (64 sq mi)
Population  (2005)
• Municipality	17,742
• Density	106.9/km2 (276.8/sq mi)
• Urban	2,576
Climate	Aw

San Dionisio is a small town in Nicaragua. It is also a municipality, which is like a local government area. San Dionisio is located in the Matagalpa department. A department is similar to a state or province.

The town was first called Espino Blanco. It was later renamed San Dionisio. This new name honors Dionisio de Herrera. He was a former leader of Nicaragua. San Dionisio is about 90 miles (145 km) from Managua. Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua. It is also about 30 miles (48 km) from Matagalpa city. Matagalpa is the capital of the Matagalpa Department.

People of San Dionisio

People from San Dionisio are often called "nichanos". Most people here are mestizos. This means they have mixed European and Indigenous ancestry. There are also important groups of native people. They live in areas called Wibuse and Portillo del Jicaro.

Villages and Areas

The municipality of San Dionisio is divided into several comarcas. These are like small villages or rural areas. The comarcas include:

• El Corozo
• El Carrizal
• Las Cuchillas
• El Ocote
• Monte Verde
• Piedra Larga
• Los Limones
• Wibuse
• El Tempisque
• El Portillo del Jicaro

What People Do and Services Available

The main activities in San Dionisio are farming and raising animals. Farmers grow crops like coffee beans, regular beans, and corn. They also grow different kinds of vegetables. Many people also raise livestock, such as cattle.

Kids in San Dionisio can go to school up to the secondary level. This means they can finish high school. The town also has a medical center. There is even a hospital to help people who are sick or hurt.

The Rio Calico river flows through the town. It runs from the northwest to the southeast. The Matagalpa River is found in the southeast part of the area. Buses travel all day from Matagalpa and Esquipulas. This makes it easy for people to get around.

Sports in San Dionisio

Baseball is the most popular sport in San Dionisio. Many talented baseball players come from this town. Some of them play for the national team of Nicaragua. Others play in Nicaragua's major baseball league. Famous players from San Dionisio include:

• Benigno Arauz
• Jose Angel Arauz
• Narciso Zeledon
• Sergio Arauz
• Evenor Zeledon
• Benedicto Arauz

Religion and Traditions

Most people in San Dionisio are Catholic. However, many evangelical churches are also growing in the area. On October 9, the town celebrates a special Catholic festival. This festival honors Pope Dionysius, who is also known as San Dionisio.

Like many small towns in Nicaragua, San Dionisio does not always get a lot of help from the main government. They often only get attention during political campaigns. Because of this, changes in the town can happen slowly.

See also

• In Spanish: San Dionisio (Nicaragua) para niños