Wanica District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wanica
District
Map of Suriname showing Wanica district
Country	Suriname
Capital	Lelydorp
Area
• Total	443 km2 (171 sq mi)
Population  (2012 census)
• Total	118,222
• Density	266.87/km2 (691.2/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3

Wanica is a district in the north of Suriname, a country in South America. Its capital city is Lelydorp, which is the second-largest city in Suriname.

Wanica is a busy place! It has a population of 118,222 people and covers an area of 443 square kilometers. After Paramaribo, its neighbor, Wanica is the second most populated and city-like district in Suriname. A big part of Suriname's population, about two-thirds, lives in these two districts.

A famous person, Jules Ajodhia, was born in Wanica. He was the third Vice President of Suriname and received a special award called the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star.

History of Wanica

This district was created in 1983. It was made from parts of what used to be called the Suriname District. The name "Wanica" comes from a main road, Pad van Wanica, and a creek in the area called Wanica Creek. This name was also found on old maps.

Years ago, gold was found in other districts like Brokopondo and Sipiliwini. This led to the building of the Lawa Railway. Villages along the railway, especially Kofi Djompo, grew bigger because of it. However, the railway stopped being used in 1986.

The capital of Wanica, Lelydorp, was originally named Kofi Djompo. In 1905, it was renamed after Cornelis Lely. He was a Dutch architect who worked on many big building projects in the Netherlands. He was also a governor of Suriname.

Over time, many people from Java moved to the area. Because Wanica is close to Paramaribo, it has become a mix of suburban areas and places where farming still happens. In the early 2000s, many new buildings were constructed in the district.

In the past, Rice was the main crop grown in Wanica. But by the late 1900s, farmers started focusing more on animal husbandry, which means raising animals. Growing Fruit and vegetables is less common now. Trade and businesses have grown, especially around Lelydorp. Lelydorp is still developing its city structure, and you can find farms quite close to its center and neighborhoods.

Resorts of Wanica

Wanica Districts.

Wanica is divided into 7 smaller areas called resorts (ressorten):

• De Nieuwe Grond
• Domburg
• Houttuin
• Koewarasan
• Kwatta
• Lelydorp
• Saramacca Polder

Villages

• Santigron

See also