Cárdenas, Matanzas, Cuba

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Cárdenas
Street in Cárdenas
Location of Cárdenas in Cuba
Area Population Density	320 km² (Municipality) 103,537 (Municipality) 323.6 /km²
Established Location Altitude Province	1828 23°02′18.0″N, 81°11′59.8″W sea level to 15 m Matanzas Province
Municipio Cardenas

Cárdenas (San Juan de Dios de Cárdenas) is a town in the Matanzas Province of Cuba, about 150 km (75 mi) east of Havana.

The municipality of Cárdenas extends over 320 km² and includes the town of Cárdenas and the communities of Cantel, Fundición, Guásimas, Marina, Méndez Capote, Pueblo Nuevo and Santa Marta^[1].

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
- 3.1 Elián González
4 Attractions
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Cárdenas is a maritime port town on the level and somewhat marshy shore of a spacious bay of the northern coast of the island (Bahia de Cárdenas), sheltered by a long promontory (the Hicacos peninsula). The city lies between the sea and hills.

A large quantity of asphalt has been taken from the bed of the harbour. A flow of fresh water from the bed of the harbour is another peculiar feature; it presumably comes from the outlets of subterranean rivers.

There are mostly narrow streets, various squares (including the Plaza de Colón, with a bronze statue of Columbus given to the city by Queen Isabella II. and erected in 1862) and substantial business buildings. ^[2]

Varadero, on the peninsula at the northern side of the bay, has a long beach (considered one of the best in Cuba), with many hotels, all-inclusive resorts and vacation villas.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2004, the municipality of Cardenas has a total population of 103,537, with 93,488 living in the town of Cardenas and 10,049 in the surrounding rural area. ^[3] Cardenas experiences a population growth of 0.24%/year. ^[4]

[edit] History

Cárdenas was founded in 1828, and in 1861 already had 12,910 inhabitants. The completion of the railroad in 1841 led to further development.

In 1850 General Narciso Lopez landed here on a filibustering expedition, and held the town for a few hours, abandoning it when he saw that the people would not rise to support him in his efforts to secure Cuban independence.

On 11 May 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the Battle of Cárdenas was fought here. In this engagement an American torpedo boat and revenue cutter attacked a Spanish gunboat and shore batteries, and Ensign Worth Bagley was killed—the first American naval officer to lose his life in that war.

In the early 20th Century, Cárdenas was one of the main sugar-exporting towns of Cuba. By 1907 the population was 24,280. The shallowness of the harbour necessitated lighterage and repeated loading of cargoes. The surrounding region is farmed for its fertility.

[edit] Elián González

The town's greatest claim to fame is being the home of attempted refugee Elián González. As of 2003, González attended Marcelo Salado Elementary School in Cárdenas.

[edit] Attractions

One of the better preserved buildings in Cardenas is the Museum of Battles of Ideas (Museo a La Batalla de Ideas), dedicated to modern history. Casa Natal de Jose Echeverria is another exhibition displaying the history of anti-Batista fights between 1952 and 1958.