El Tocuyo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
El Tocuyo was founded by Juan de Carvajal in 1545 on the banks of the Tocuyo River and was the administrative capital of Venezuela from 1546 to 1548. It is located in Lara State about 60 km southwest of Barquisimeto. Its original name was Nuestra Señora de la Pura y Limpia Concepción del Tocuyo. El Tocuyo is now just the municipal seat of Morán. Its population was 41,327 (2001).
The surrounding area has good soil and an ideal climate for agriculture, dry and warm with plenty of water available from the Tocuyo River. Sugar cane was for centuries the biggest crop, but now vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, chiles, and potatoes are taking its place.