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| Santa Cruz de Barahona | |
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  Santa Cruz de Barahona
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Dominican Republic |
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| Province | Province |
| Municipality | Santa Cruz de Barahona |
| Founded | 1802 |
| Incorporated | 1858 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | |
| Area | |
| - City | 163.02 km² (62.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2002 est.) | |
| - City | 74,958 |
| - Density | 476.62/km² (1,234.4/sq mi) |
| - Urban | 77,698 |
| Time zone | GMT-4 (UTC) |
Santa Cruz de Barahona is the main city of the Barahona Province, in the south of the Dominican Republic. It is one of the most important cities on the island, with a very active port and many ecotourism attractions. The city is also a centre of sugar production and industry.
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Population
The municipality had, in 2002, a total population of 77,698: 38,093 men and 39,605 women. The urban population was 96.76% of the total population, one of the most urban municipality in the country.1 In this numbers are included the population of the municipal districts La Guázara and Villa Central.
History
Since the 18th century, the region was occupied by fishermen and people that came here to cut trees. When Toussaint L'Ouverture took the eastern part of the Hispaniola island in the name of France, he gave the order to create the town of Barahona in 1802 as part of the Ozama Department.2 After the Independence in 1844, Barahona was a military post of the Azua Province.
In 1858, Barahona was elevated to the category of municipality. When the province was created in 1881, Barahona was made its head municipality.
Economy
The main economic activity of the province is agriculture; the main product in the municipality is a very good coffee ("Barahona Type Coffee"), grown in the mountains of Eastern Bahoruco.
There are also some important industries, mainly to produce textiles to send to other countries, and sugar in the Ingenio Barahona ("Barahona Sugar Factory").
Notable People
- Julio Lugo, shortstop for the Boston Red Sox
- Ruddy Lugo, relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
- Maria Montez, "Queen of Technicolor" - former Hollywood starlet.
- Casandra Damirón, singer.
