Villapinzón facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Villapinzón
Hato Viejo
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Municipality and town
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Church of Villapinzón
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 Villapinzón
Location in Colombia
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Department |  Cundinamarca |
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| Province | Almeidas Province | ||
| Founded | 14 October 1776 | ||
| Founded by | Francisco de Vargas Figueroa | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality and town | 249 km2 (96 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 0.39 km2 (0.15 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 2,715 m (8,907 ft) | ||
| Population
(2015)
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| • Municipality and town | 19,742 | ||
| • Density | 79.29/km2 (205.3/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 6,526 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) | ||
Villapinzón is a town and a municipality in Colombia. It is part of the Cundinamarca region, located in the Almeidas Province. The town is high up in the mountains, about 2,715 meters (8,907 feet) above sea level.
Villapinzón is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) away from Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. It shares borders with several other towns. To the north, it borders Ventaquemada and Lenguazaque. To the south, it borders Chocontá, Tibiritá, and La Capilla. On the west side, it borders Chocontá and Lenguazaque. To the east, it borders Ventaquemada, Turmequé, and Úmbita.
A very important river, the Bogotá River, starts right here in Villapinzón. Its source is high up in the municipality, at about 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) above sea level.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Villapinzón
For a long time, this town was known as Hato Viejo. But in 1903, its name was changed to "Pinzón." This was done to honor Próspero Pinzón Romero. He was a very important person, serving as a commander in the army and as the Minister of War for Colombia.
Próspero Pinzón Romero was born right here in Hato Viejo. Just one year later, in 1904, the town's name was changed again to what it is today: Villapinzón.
A Look at Villapinzón's Past
The history of Villapinzón as a town is not very old. A historian named Ramón Correa studied the area's history before the Spanish arrived. He did not find any signs that people lived in Villapinzón before the Spanish conquest.
Villapinzón was officially founded on October 14, 1776. The person who founded it was Francisco de Vargas Figueroa.
How Villapinzón Makes a Living
The economy of Villapinzón is mostly known for its large leather industry. This means there are many factories that process animal hides to make leather.
Besides the leather industry, farming and raising animals are also very important for the people of Villapinzón.
Famous People from Villapinzón
Some notable people were born in Villapinzón:
- Próspero Pinzón: The person the town is named after, who was also a Minister of War.
- Rodrigo Contreras: A professional cyclist.
- Efraím Rico: A former professional cyclist.
Images for kids
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A view of Villapinzón from a place called Altamira
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The train station in Villapinzón
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The start of the Bogotá River
See also
In Spanish: Villapinzón para niños
