Zaraza

Zaraza is a city in Venezuela, the capital of the Pedro Zaraza Autonomous Municipality in the east of the state of Guárico, in the Los Llanos region. It has a population of about 92,027 inhabitants. By 2010 it officially became a university city, forming part of the main cities of the Guárico State, along with Calabozo, San Juan de los Morros and Valle de la Pascua. It was originally founded in 1646 with the name of 'The City of San Miguel de La Nueva Tarragona del Batey'.

History

The place has been known since the 17th century under the name of El Batey. A few kilometers from there, at the confluence of the Unare River with Quebrada Honda, Miguel de Urbés, lieutenant of Juan de Urpín, founded the city of San Miguel de la Nueva Tarragona del Batey in 1645; Similar to the Catalan city of Tarragona in Spain, it was a strategic site where the eastern roads and the plains crossed. Authorization for this foundation was given by the governor and captain general of Cumaná Gregorio de Castellar y Montilla on April 22 of the following year; However, it lasted only a few years. Also near there, the Andalusian Capuchin friar Anselmo Isidro de Ardales founded the Indian town of Santo Tomás de Tucupío in May 1760, with palenques and cumanagotos.

Beginnings

In 1740, the landowner Carlos del Peral bought a huge area of land called "García" for 30 pesos and formed the Chaguaramal de Perales or Batey herd. There he built an oratory dedicated to the Archangel Saint Michael. In 1767 the area was already so populated that marriages and baptisms were authorized in that chapel. Some neighbors, Juan Bautista Arveláiz, Juan Bautista Laguardia, Nicolás Durante, José Antonio Toro, Bartolomé Mature, Bernardino Rodríguez, Juan José Subero and others, commissioned Father José Vicente Machillanda, on May 4, 1778, to request the erection of the site as a parish, which had been authorized since the time of Bishop Diego Antonio Diez Madroñero.

On January 8, 1779, the list of the 75 residents who would pay the parish priest's support was drawn up. The provisor and vicar general Gabriel José Lindo authorized the creation of the new parish of Chaguaramal del Batey, separating it from that of Santa María de Ipire, on June 17, 1779, approved the day before by Governor Luis de Unzaga y Amézaga. It was placed under the patronage of the Archangel San Gabriel and its first parish priest was Father Fernando Barroso, who had encouraged the inhabitants to begin this process.

The common lands of the town were marked on July 7, 1796, demarcating them from Fabiana del Peral's land, and the league of land for the neighbors was marked on August 1, 1799. On May 7, 1783, it was visited by the Bishop Mariano Martí; In the town there were 119 houses and 117 outside it, 862 people were confirmed and it had a total of 1,607 h. It produced cotton, rice, corn, bananas, wheat and cassava; There were also several herds of cattle. During the War of Independence Chaguaramal remained a supporter of the Crown; In 1816 it was occupied by Pedro Zaraza's troops and burned, an action that has been attributed to both sides. On December 2 of the following year, the Battle of La Hogaza took place nearby, in which Zaraza would be defeated by the royalist Miguel de la Torre.

The town remained in ashes until 1828 when local people and other families from neighboring towns began its reconstruction.

“Perhaps between 1830 and 1860 the most relevant figure in the town is that of José Arvelaez, who with his own hands collaborated with the reconstruction work in 1829. Arveláez carefully monitored the life of Chaguaramal, even intervening when the tab of a house tries to disfigure a street, all the sheets examine the children of the municipal school that the one-armed Chacín directed in order to check if the children were learning and if the teacher was fulfilling his duty (De Armas Chitty “Zaraza Biografía de un pueblo”. Page 65).

It was in 1856 when the first girls' school was founded. This Town remained with the name of Chaguaramal de Perales until April 5, 1853, when the decree of the Congress of the Republic of the previous day was sanctioned, which created the Unare canton, changing the name of the town to Zaraza, in honor to the soldier of Independence, Pedro Zaraza. In 1854 it had 14,636 inhabitants and was an important livestock center.

New beginnings: The Unare River as a transportation route

Its economy, almost exclusively livestock, will be transformed at the beginning of the 19th century, when the export of meat to Europe begins. The Unare River was used as a river transport route through which livestock and agricultural products were shipped. After the First World War the exodus to the coastal cities began.

The livestock monopoly, concentrated in the center, remained in the hands of Juan Vicente Gómez, causing the ruin of many landowners, to which was added the oil exploitation in Zulia and the east. In the second half of the 19th century, Zaraza became a supplier of paper, rice, beans, beans, cassava and cotton to the east and center of the country.

In Chaguaramal (today Zaraza) the authorities were appointed by the King of Spain through the representatives they had in the Captaincy General of Venezuela. After Independence the authorities were appointed in Caracas, these authorities are: Lieutenant of Justice, Head of the Royal Treasury and Chief of Militia. These represented the National Government, Justice and matters related to land use.

At the end of the 19th century, a Municipal Council was appointed made up of five people, a judge and a civil and military chief, and in the 20th century through elections in which those who knew how to read and write elected: Councilors, Deputies and state presidents.

Toponymy

The origin of its name comes from General Pedro Zaraza, who fought alongside General Simón Bolívar. Previously his name was Chaguaramal de Perales .

On the banks of the Unare River, it is also known as The Athens of Guárico due to its history, as it is the birthplace of great figures of Venezuela among these politicians, poets, singers, writers, scientists, musicians and athletes.

Symbols

Flag

The Flag of the Pedro Zaraza Municipality has a yellow background, where a sun stands out, which gives off three thick lines of three different colors: green on the left, blue in the center and brown on the right side. On the left side of the flag, in the yellow section, is the Coat of Arms of the Municipality. The flag was designed by Omaira Macayo.

Shield

The municipality's coat of arms has three blue quarters. The first barracks on the upper left side has a newspaper 'El Unare', which was born in Zaraza on January 4, 1881, this was the first newspaper in Zaraza. In the second quarter, located on the upper right side, is the image of the San Gabriel Arcángel Cathedral Church, which is cultural heritage of the municipality, founded in 1914. The third and last quarter of the shield is located in the In the lower center, in this section there is an ear of corn, linked to the words agriculture and livestock, which are the two main economic activities in the area. At the top, before the three mentioned barracks, there is a ribbon with a motto that says "Zaraza La Atenas del Guárico".

Hymn

Lyrics and Music: Oswaldo Emilio Morillo.

Coro

Peasants, workers and students

men of the future, women of the morning

Let's take the new time

that sun that illuminates Zaraza (Bis)

I

The time came for my land

in the Glorious Flag of the Peral

the seed that you sow within it

converted into prosperity

Coro

II

The creative work of the Saracen

in the groove of goodness

the olive gold of the barn grows

Thank God, for giving us our bread

Coro

III

In abundant last totuma

with foam of faith and hope

the culture of my people grows

and my plain with its scent

Coro

IV

San Gabriel is your patron saint

You are Athens of my beloved Guárico

You're a college town.

You are also the basin of my plain

Coro

V

It embraces the Unare and the Ipire

as brothers of the same race

In America the Bovera is over

But it never breaks the Zaraza

Geography and population

Population

Its population in 1990 was 10,370 inhabitants, at the 2011 census the population was 78,642 inhabitants

Limits

The approximate territorial extension of the municipality in which the city is located is 2,475 km² and is delimited by the following territories:

• By the northeast: it limits with the state of Anzoátegui, set by agreement before the federal political and administrative chamber of the Federal Court and Cassation on 12 March 1930.

• In the south: it borders with the municipalities Santa María de Ipire and the Relief, starting from the mountains between the mainlands of the rivers Unare and Ipire, following the latter to the neighborhood Santa Bárbara de Ipire and here in a straight line from Campo Lindo to El Arenal, breaking the Pachaquero Pass in Quebrada Honda.

• By the east: by the state Anzoátegui from the river Unare in its confluence with Quebrada Honda until reaching its headboard in the Sierra.

• To the west: it borders with the Municipality José Félix Ribas, from the pass Pachaquero heading straight to the point called El Caro de La Negra, and from here in a straight line to the Páramo, to where the Quebrado El Pescado counts, going there to the hill Sal if you can

Climate

The climate is tropical rainy with a dry season and temperatures ranging between 22 °C and 38 °C, with an approximate average of 30 °C.

Hydrography

The Pedro Zaraza municipality is the municipality with the most hydrographic sources in the Guárico state, having about eight dams and important tributaries, such as the imposing Unare River and its sources, the Ipire River, Quebrada Honda among many other water sources.

These are the four most important dams in the Pedro Zaraza municipality.

• Presa La Becerra
• Presa El Cigarron
• Presa El Pueblito
• Presa Vista Alegre

Vegetation

Grass vegetation, combined with shrubs and trees, covers most of the area. There are two variants of jungle: jungles at the base of the mountain range and on the river banks, and gallery jungles, with rich woods such as mahogany. The irrational exploitation of these spaces quickly extinguishes many species.

The trees best known to the people of this region are: the cují, the oak, the mango

Fauna

There is a great variety of species, such as corocoro, the chigüire, peacock, curassow, pink turkey, chirindera, guacharaca. In the caños and morichales there are many species such as turkey, catfish and coporo, tortoiseshell, deer, cunaguaro and tigrito and of course the rabbit.

Relief

The municipality has an alluvial plain of the Unare River, which alternates with U-shaped valleys with high slopes except for the plane that falls abruptly on the terrace of the Unare River, presenting slopes greater than 25% on a slope. 35 meters.

This municipality, because it is located in the central plains of Venezuela (Guarico), has many faults, its lands are unstable, hence the existence of so many ravines, lagoons, etc.

Floors

Two geographical units are distinguished: the Chaguaramas formation combined with clays and the alluvial valleys, where the erosion process has deposited deep layers of clays. The soils are characterized by their good fertility, deep and suitable for drainage.

Local economy

Its inhabitants are dedicated to the livestock, agricultural, commercial and tourist industries. Its industrial development is growing as in any medium-sized city, but it has milk and cereal processors, cereal warehouses, construction, tourism, supply of agricultural and livestock services in addition to the production of artisanal cheese.

Livestock

The entire municipality is suitable for livestock exploitation. This activity represents an important sector for the Zone.

Agriculture

The soils provide great fertility for crops such as sorghum, corn, rice, tobacco, cotton, etc.

Tourism

Festivals and regional activities provide an intermittent but effective source of income to artisans and other peripheries of this trade.

Education

Education in the Municipality has several institutions where courses are taught from preschool to university level, with an important regional hierarchy, among which are Schools with Preschools, both public and private, Lyceums of the same nature and Universities. that offer important study opportunities to young high school graduates in the region, there are also Libraries and Associations that keep important sources of local culture and history.

Initial-Basic Education

• C.E.I. The Christ was
• E.B.N. Olga Red Head
• E.B.N. Francisco Salias
• E.B.N. Bonifacio Gómez
• E.B.N. Arturo Alvarez Alayón
• E.B.N. Nohemí Higuera de Guzmán
• E.B.N. Rómulo Gallegos
• E.B.N. Delfina de Molina
• E.B.E. Columba Mendoza
• E.Bol. The Medal
• E.B.E Hugo Chaves

Diversified Secondary Education (Public)

• L. Eduardo Delfín Méndez
• L.B. Antonio José Sotillo
• U.E. Father Francisco Hurtado
• Agricultural Technical School "Creation Zaraza"
• Sports Talent Educational Unit "Pedro Zaraza"
• U.E.N. Bethlehem San Juan Colinas de Tacalito
• U.E.N. Masaguaro

Initial-Basic-Diversified Secondary Education (Private)

• U.E.C. Ana Mayo Torrealba
• U.E.C. Jesus is Lord
• U.E.C. José María Ayala Romero
• U.E.C. San Gabriel
• U.E.C. Pedro Zaraza
• U.E.C. Manuela Sáenz
• U.E.C. Francisco de Miranda
• U.E.C. Giovannina Martínez de González

Higher Education

• Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez, Núcleo Zaraza
• Universidad Nacional Experimental de Los Llanos Centrales "Rómulo Gallegos", Núcleo Zaraza
• Open National University, Zaraza Support Unit
• National Experimental University of the Bolivarian Armed Forces, Nucleo Zaraza
• Bolivarian University of Venezuela UBV, Aldea "Rómulo Gallegos" Headquarters Zaraza
• Colegio Universitario de los Teques "Cecilio Acosta", Zaraza extension (Enfermería y Farmacia, Hospital Dr. Francisco Troconis AT II)
• College of Engineers "Zaraza", Zaraza Extension
• Latin American School of Medicine "Dr. Salvador Allende" (Medicine Integral, a Students of Exchange, Hospital Universitario Gral. Willian Lara).
• Universidad Nacional Experimental de la Seguridad UNES, "En construcción"
• San María University "In Study of Viability and Matricularity"

Courses and Short Courses

• Institute of Vocational Training "Simon Bolivar".
• Instituto Nacional de Cooperación Educativa Socialista INCES
• Instituto Juan XXIII (APEP)

Libraries

• Elsa Sánchez Risso Public Library

Heritage

Civilian

• Casa de la Cultura Ernesto Luis Rodríguez

The Ernesto Luis Rodríguez House of Culture, which functions as a museum, also takes care of planning cultural activities for the region.

• Dr.'s home. José Francisco Torrealba

Remembered for his important work on Chagas Disease.

Religious

• Church San Gabriel Archangel

The Church of San Gabriel Arcángel, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, is the main church of the city.

• Our Lady of Coromoto Church
• Our Lady of the Carmen Church
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
• Holy Family Church
• San Martín de Porres Church
• San José de Unare Church
• Church Father St. Pius of Pietrelcina (in construction)
• Sacred Heart Chapel of Jesus
• Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel
• Sphinx of The Holy Christ of Health (Data of the XVII century)
• Esfinge de San Antonio de Padua (Data del Siglo XVI)
• Replica de la Imagen de La Virgen del Valle
• Monument of the Holy Christ of Health 15m high (In Project)

Events

Cultural, Traditional

• Carnivals of Zaraza
• The Christ of Health

Conventions and Exhibitions

• Gran Feria de Expo Agropecuaria del Llano Oriental

Educational

• Carnival opening parade

Media

Radio

The history of radio in Zaraza began at the beginning of the 20th century when the first AM radio station opened.

Zaraza is a pioneer when it comes to radio broadcasting since it has several FM radio stations and one AM, due to the influence that this medium has on people, informing and organizing events and activities that, in addition to culturalizing, also promote participation of young people in more activities of greater well-being.

The stations are currently operating:

• In Amplitude Modulated

• In Modulated Frequency

Press

In 1881 his first handwritten newspaper El Porvenir was published and the first printing press arrived where El Unare was published; They would follow El Pensil (1883); The Horizon and The Liberal Creed (1887); The Student (1888); The Voice of the People and The Liberal (1889); El Tizón and El Porvenir (1891); The Spark and the Soldier of Duty (1892); Echoes of Zaraza and La Fe (1895); The Sower (1933) and Union (1934).

Currently circulating "LIBERTAD", Diario La Antena, Diario El Tubazo digital, Diario Entornoriental and also other nearby places such as the Vallepascuense newspaper "JORNADA", in addition all the regional newspapers circulate and national.

Television

At the end of 2010, the open signal channels Venezuelan Television channel 10 VHF, Visión Venezuela channel 8, Venevisión Channel 04, Telesur Channel 11, Meridiano Television Channel 17, (VIVE TV) channel 34 UHF and Televisora Venezolana were installed Social (TVES) channel 7 VHF, which cover the entire Perimeter Area of the City and can be tuned freely without the need for a subscription.

There are two television channels that transmit via Subscription service; They are responsible for transmitting educational activities, events and information of importance in the City:

• Vision Zaraza (channel 13), Founded in April 2007 by the Suscription Television Company "Vision Zaraza, C.A.",

• Unare TV (Canal 8) Founded in 22 September 2010 by the G-net Telecommunications TV Company, C.A.

Internet portals

• InfoZaraza, is the first website of Zaraza, created on February 20, 2007 by Jorge Agobian Villegas.
• Zaraza.com.ve, news website, history and photo gallery of the city of Zaraza, since 2021.

Geopolitical division

Sectors

• The Centre
• The Medal
• The Terraces
• Theory
• Lomas (1.2 and 3)
• Gulf Triste
• Moras (1 and 2)
• The Procers
• Monte Oscuro
• Borbollón
• Curacao (high and low)
• Florida
• The Oak
• The Cemetery
• The Prollosa
• The Jungle
• Ali Primera (Carlos Andrés Pérez)
• The Pénsil
• West Circle
• Beds(North and South)
• Calanche
• Jabillal
• Palo Seco
• Labour Bank
• Paradise (1°, 2°, 3°, 4°5 Y 6ta Transversales)
• The Chingoreto
• The Guasmos
• Membrillar
• Hospital
• La Romana
• Terminal (1 and 2)
• Menca de Leoni
• Green Cross
• UNERG Brisas
• Christwas
• San José
• Barrialito
• Table
• Modesto Freites
• Chino neighborhood.
• The Mahomos
• Dry Plan

Residential Complexes and Urbanizations

Residential Complexes

Popular-Urbanizations

Parishes and Villages

Municipal Government