Villa Jaragua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Villa Jaragua
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People gathered in town hall of Villa Jaragua
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 Villa Jaragua
Location in the Dominican Republic
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| Country | Dominican Republic | |
| Province | Bahoruco | |
| Municipality since | 1974 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 120.23 km2 (46.42 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Total | 13,562 | |
| • Density | 112.800/km2 (292.152/sq mi) | |
| Municipal Districts | 0 | |
Villa Jaragua is a town and a municipality in the Bahoruco province of the Dominican Republic. It is located close to Lake Enriquillo.
The town was once known as Barbacoa. Later, a former leader, Rafael Trujillo, renamed it Villa Trujillo Valdéz, honoring his father. In 1961, its name was changed to the current one, Villa Jaragua.
Contents
History of Villa Jaragua
The town of Jaragua began around 1883. Families like the Rivas, Méndez, Trinidad, and Díaz moved there from Azua. The Méndez and Trinidad families settled on the west side of a stream. The Rivas and Díaz families chose the east side.
Natural Features and Early Life
This area in the Southwest was part of a route to Haiti. Along this path, there was a natural line of mango trees. These trees grew from the town of Galván (Cambronal) all the way into Haitian land. Many of these mango trees were very old.
Along this natural mango tree line, there are many small water sources called furnias. There are also three larger water sources called cachones. These cachones have more water flow than the furnias. Their names are Pocilga, Cachón en Medio, and Cachón Mamey.
Moving the Town and Trade
At the start of the 20th century, an earthquake happened. It caused some land in the lower part of Jaragua, near the cachones, to sink. Because of this, the people living there moved to a higher part of the community.
Around the same time, people from Jaragua traded a lot with people from San Juan. They used a place called El Hierro, near El Cercado, as a trading spot.
Changes in Name and Status
In its early days, Jaragua was called Barbacoa. Later, it was named Villa José Trujillo Valdez. This name was given by or in honor of the father of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, a former leader.
On August 22, 1943, the community was officially made a Municipal District. It kept the name Villa José Trujillo Valdez. Then, in 1963, local leaders decided to change its name. From that moment, it was called Jaragua. This name honors a powerful indigenous chiefdom that existed in the area long ago.
More recently, in the 20th century, Angel Rafael Rivas, one of the Rivas family members, was honored. A gathering was held in the eastern part of Villa Jaragua park. In 2020, new theme park games were added to the eastern side of Villa Jaragua. Some of these games are called "el barco" and "estrellita". On Saturdays and Sundays, these games become very popular with both kids and adults.
See also
In Spanish: Villa Jaragua para niños
- Dominican Republic
- Bahoruco Province
