San Fernando de Apure

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For other similarly names places, see San Fernando.

San Fernando de Apure is a city in Apure State, Venezuela. The population of the municipality area is 109,999 (est. 1996).

It was founded February 28, 1788 on the banks of the Rio Apure, Apure River, by Don Fernando de Miyares González, the Governor and Capitán General of Barinas Province, New Granada, with the assistance of Don Juan Antonio Rodríguez and the Capuchine monk Fray Buenaventura de Benaocaz. On December 1, 1793 it was elevated to the status of a town (Villa). The Eighteenth Century exports included heron feathers (for pens) and animal hides.

In 1831 a private school for young men was opened by Master Juan Castellano; in 1844 classes for younger children were added; in 1875 the Federal High School (el Colegio Federal de Segunda Categoría) was opened; and at the end of the 19th century the Federal School Leon XIII was opened.

The bridge across the Rio Apure at San Fernando commenced construction in 1959 under the direction of President Rómulo Betancourt, and was opened February 1, 1961. It cost 8.5 million bolivars.

Notable is the Casa de Bolivar, a National Historical Monument, at the intersection of Comercio St. and Independencia St. It is the 18th Century Armory, and was the dwelling of General Miguel Gerrero. Now it contains a public library as well as the cultural offices of the municipality. It was restored in 1983.

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Coordinates: 7°54′N, 67°28′W