San José de Ocoa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San José de Ocoa
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Statue in San Jose de Ocoa, Dominican Republic.
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 San José de Ocoa
Location in the Dominican Republic
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| Country |  Dominican Republic |
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| Province | San José de Ocoa | |
| Founded | 1805 | |
| Municipality since | 1858 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 484.87 km2 (187.21 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 475 m (1,558 ft) | |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Total | 21,148 | |
| • Density | 43.6158/km2 (112.964/sq mi) | |
| • Demonym | Ocoeño(a) | |
| Distance to – Santo Domingo |
112 km |
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| Municipal Districts | 3 |
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San José de Ocoa, often called Ocoa, is the main city of the San José de Ocoa province in the Dominican Republic. It sits in a valley within the southern part of the Central Cordillera mountain range.
Contents
History of San José de Ocoa
The town of San José de Ocoa was started in 1805. People from the nearby southern town of Baní founded it. The first group to settle here were descendants of Spanish Canarians. They are still an important group in the town today.
Later, other families from Spain, Italy, and France moved to Ocoa. Black people also settled here, many of them being Afro-Caribbean Cocolo descendants. They came from San Pedro de Macoris.
Becoming a Municipality and Province Capital
In December 1858, San José de Ocoa became a municipality. A municipality is like a local government area. It was part of the old Santo Domingo province. In 1895, it moved to the Azua province.
Then, in 1944, the province of Peravia was created. San José de Ocoa became a municipality in this new province. Finally, on September 6, 2000, the town became the capital city of the new San José de Ocoa province.
Geography and Location
San José de Ocoa is located at an elevation of 475 meters (about 1,558 feet) above sea level. The municipality covers an area of 484.87 square kilometers (about 187.21 square miles). It is situated along the banks of the Ocoa River. This area is part of the Valdesia sub-region.
Climate in San José de Ocoa
| Climate data for San José de Ocoa (1961-1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 35.8 (96.4) |
34.5 (94.1) |
35.6 (96.1) |
34.7 (94.5) |
35.5 (95.9) |
37.6 (99.7) |
36.7 (98.1) |
37.6 (99.7) |
37.6 (99.7) |
35.7 (96.3) |
35.6 (96.1) |
36.4 (97.5) |
37.6 (99.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.8 (83.8) |
29.3 (84.7) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.1 (86.2) |
30.4 (86.7) |
31.1 (88.0) |
31.8 (89.2) |
32.0 (89.6) |
31.8 (89.2) |
31.0 (87.8) |
30.0 (86.0) |
28.6 (83.5) |
30.4 (86.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) |
17.3 (63.1) |
17.7 (63.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
19.1 (66.4) |
19.7 (67.5) |
19.9 (67.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
19.4 (66.9) |
18.7 (65.7) |
17.9 (64.2) |
18.6 (65.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.5 (50.9) |
11.3 (52.3) |
11.5 (52.7) |
11.5 (52.7) |
11.6 (52.9) |
11.6 (52.9) |
11.5 (52.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
11.5 (52.7) |
12.6 (54.7) |
10.4 (50.7) |
10.5 (50.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 15.9 (0.63) |
24.8 (0.98) |
34.6 (1.36) |
70.3 (2.77) |
151.4 (5.96) |
106.1 (4.18) |
63.4 (2.50) |
97.0 (3.82) |
135.6 (5.34) |
115.1 (4.53) |
55.0 (2.17) |
25.4 (1.00) |
894.6 (35.22) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 5.7 | 10.6 | 8.6 | 6.6 | 7.8 | 10.6 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 78.8 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Economy and Local Products
Farming is the most important part of the economy in San José de Ocoa. The main crops grown here are coffee, beans, and potatoes. Farmers also grow other vegetables like cabbage and carrot. Some tropical fruits, such as avocado and mango, are also produced.
Other ways people make a living include trade, carpentry workshops, and mechanical work. There is also some processing of farm products.
Famous People from San José de Ocoa
- Rafael Sanchez, known as Jack Veneno, was born in Ocoa. He was a famous professional wrestler. He also served as a sub-secretary of sports, which means he helped manage sports for the government.
- Félix Estrella is another notable person from Ocoa. He was a former governor and ran for senator for the San José de Ocoa province.
See also
In Spanish: San José de Ocoa para niños
