San Pedro Sula
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| San Pedro Sula ("Usula (Valley of Birds)") |
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| Nickname: " La Capital Industrial " |
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| Country | Honduras | ||
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| Department | Cortés | ||
| Foundation | June 1536 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Alcalde (Mayor) | Padilla Sunceri | ||
| Area | |||
| - Urban | 136 km² (52.5 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1999) | |||
| - City | 800,000 | ||
| - Density | 2,427.7/km² (6,287.7/sq mi) | ||
| - Metro | 1,200,000 | ||
San Pedro Sula is a city in the Central American Republic of Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Sula Valley, some 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean Sea. With a population of about 900,000 people (2006 estimate) in its metro area, it is the second largest city in the country behind the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, and is considered the economic heartland of Honduras. It is the capital of Honduras's Cortés department.
San Pedro Sula is known as the Industrial Capital of Honduras, due to the many factories, plantations, and businesses concentrated around the city.
The city has a museum of archeology and history, which includes both Pre-Columbian artifacts and materials from the history of the city. The cigar making business is important here, as are factories for making clothes. Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) is the major airport in Honduras. Real C.D. España is their best known football team while Club Deportivo Marathón is the most popular team in this city. There is the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, Estadio Francisco Morazan and Estadio Yankel Rosenthal. It is generally easier and cheaper to fly into San Pedro Sula from abroad than to fly into the capital Tegucigalpa.
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[edit] History
San Pedro Sula was founded on June 27, 1536, by Pedro de Alvarado with the name Villa de San Pedro de Puerto Caballos. The Spanish of "villa" was one step below city status at this time. There were around 18 indian towns ( "pueblos de indios" ) in the valley at this time, and their labor service (repartimiento) was divided among the Spanish Conquistadors. Early descriptions of the landscape around San Pedro indicate that there was abundant swamp land and dense tropical forests, with little land good for agriculture or cattle nearby. San Pedro becomes San Pedro Sula in the 18th century, after undergoing many transformations of its name. The "Sula" part of its name comes from the Minas de Sula, gold mines located to the west of Naco in the Quimistan and Sula valleys, which were reopened in the 1770s.
Puerto Caballos was the Spanish port town on the coast, along the south shore of the Laguna de Alvarado, where Puerto Cortes is today. For the first few years of its history, San Pedro was the colonial mint, where gold, found to the west in the Naco, Sula, and Quimistan valleys, had to be brought to smelt, and where the Spanish Crown's fifth of the value of the gold was collected. After the mint was moved to Comayagua, San Pedro became a very small town with few permanent residents until the late 18th century.
San Pedro was founded near the modern town of Choloma, but moved closer to the Chamelecon river sometime in the 16th century. Later on French, English (which later conquered the Bay Islands) and Dutch "pirates" raided and sacked San Pedro. This left the city in ruins and on fire. The Spanish moved San Pedro to its modern location and stopped using San Pedro as a mint. This meant little Spanish interest which hindered development. On the other hand, it created an opportune environment for illicit trade in alcohol from the Carribean islands such as Cuba.
The Spanish didn't consider the area around San Pedro to be a worthy place to live, preferring the higher, dryer valleys to the west and south with large fields and gold mines. As such, San Pedro soon languished as a backwater with few Spanish inhabitants. It grew from a size of about 800 residents in 1590, to almost 10,000 by the 1890s, but most of this population growth happened in the 19th century from 10,000 to 100,000 in the mid 1920s. Later in 1950s it went to 400,000. Late 1980s brought the figure to 800,000s and today San Pedro houses more than 1 Million habitants and is expected to grow even more. Immigrants included Palestinians, who had a heavy presence in the city. Today most Palestinians have become traditional Hondurans. The building of a rail line between San Pedro and the coast, and connecting the banana plantations to the ports of Tela and Puerto Cortes spurred the development of San Pedro as an industrial city.
San Pedro, whose name has evolved over the years to San Pedro Sula (after the mines to the west), was officially recognized as a city by the Congress of Honduras on October 8, 1902, long after it had grown to be the industrial capital of Honduras, and the second largest city in the country.
[edit] Places of Interests
[edit] Museums
San Pedro Sula has three main museums.
- Museo de Arqueología e Historia
- Museo de la Naturalez
- Planetario Infantil
The Museo de Arqueología e Historia occupies a 2 story building not far from the central park of San Pedro Sula, on Tercera avenida. The museum is licensed by the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History so that it can have archaeological and historical collections, which by law belong to the people of Honduras. The ground floor of the museum is devoted to the history of Honduras, and San Pedro Sula in particular. The upper floor exhibits are about the prehistory of the valley where San Pedro is located. There is also a fine gift shop. The Museum has a research library with much information related to the history of Honduras. The museum director is Teresa de Pastor.
The second museum has to do with the flora and fauna surrounding the city. In this museum various insects species are found. Also there are books about the nature and the animals found in El Merendon, the mountain covering the city. The museum is located on the corner where the Francisco Morazan stadium is located.
The planetarium is a astronomy museum. It shows the night sky as seen from San Pedro Sula. In the planetarium also provides information about the solar system. The museum also provides a sky scene on the known constelations. There is also a small space exhibit. The museum is located beside the county Gym.
[edit] Malls
San Pedro Sula has two main malls and other small ones.
- City Mall
This is sustained as an important mall in the city by the locals. It is by far the biggest. Also it contains various stores that vary from antiques, household items, electronics, movie theatres, food court, arcade and banking institutions. This mall was recently opened.
- Multiplaza
Is the second largest mall. This mall was the main mall since 1998 until City Mall opened. It is run by a group of Salvadoran investors. The mall, due to its time, has many fine stores. Some said the mall was going to decline once City Mall opened, but to this date it has maintained firm. This mall has many high quality products for any tourist looking for Honduran crafting or products. This mall was remodeled on the basis to include theatres.
- Megaplaza
The first true mall built in the city. This mall was made on the basis of the Ontario Mills in Ontario, California. In the mall was built in 1994 and was remodeled in 2000 and once again in 2002 to include a movie theatre.
- Metroplaza
Is a minor mall. This mall introduced to Honduras to the first mall containing a movie theatre. This mall proved to be a challenge to many other malls as it contained a movie theatre.
- Nova Prisa
Is the oldest mall in the city and was originally called Prisa Shoping Center. It was built in 1981. The mall later was closed due to missed taxes. It reopened in 1982 and was remodeled the same year. It served later as a supermarket to 1994. It later closed and stayed closed until 1999. The building was demolished and the owners rebuilt the mall under the same name with the word 'novo', meaning new, before Prisa. Today it offers office supplies for the center of the city and also is used for card game and video game consule tournaments.
[edit] Educational Institutions
[edit] Schools (Elementary and High)
- Academia Americana
- Instituto Bilingue Florencia
- Academia Escoto
- Academia Sagrado Corazón
- Albert Einstein School of San Pedro Sula (A.E.S.)[1]
- Escuela Happy Days And Freedom Highschool
- Centro Cultural Sampedrano
- Centro Tecnico Hondureño Aleman
- Escuela Dr. Miguel Paz Baraona
- Escuela Internacional Sampedrana[2]
- Escuela Mixta Don Juan Bosco
- Escuela Petronila Barrios De Cabañas
- Escuela Rodolfo Rojas
- Escuela Catolica San Vicente De Paul
- New Horizon School
- Escuela El Buen Pastor
- Instituto Experimental La Salle
- Infop
- Infot
- Instituto Departamental 15 De Septiembre
- Instituto Debe Y Haber
- Instituto Departamental Evangélico Anna D. Bechtold
- Instituto Departamental La Salle
- Instituro Cristiano Vida Abundante
- Instituto Educacional Adventista
- Instituto Felipe Zelaya
- Instituto Liceo Sampedrano
- Instituto Tecnologico del Norte I.T.N[3]
- Instituto Tecnologico Sampedrano I.T.S (Nuevas instalaciones)
- Instituto Maria Auxiliadora
- Instituto Oficial 1ro De Mayo De 1954
- Instituto Tecnologico De Administracion De Empresas
- Instituto: Jose Trinidad Reyes
- Instituto Bilingue Valle De Sula*Itee
- Kiddy Kat-Morazzanni
- Liceo Sampedrano
- Liceo Militar Del Norte
- Maria Auxiliadora
- New Life Bilingual School
- San Jeronimo Bilingual School (Cofradia)[4]
- San Vicente De Paul
- Seran
- St. Thomas Parroqial
- Escuela Internacional La Lima [5]
- List of primary (elementary) and secondary (middle and high) schools in San Pedro Sula
[edit] Main city attractions
[edit] Central Park
The city has its central park. In the central park of the city there is a small Gazeebo. In the past many city council meetings were held there. Also it is in the Gazeebo's area that the city was founded.
[edit] Armenta
The city also has the Armenta banks located near the mountain. The Armenta stream is a cold water river that comes from the Merendon mountain. The place has been suited to allow small groups of people to enter and have a refreshing time in the stream.
[edit] AGAS
San Pedro Sula also has its anual fair. During the fair the city can attend the AGAS campus. AGAS is short for Associasion de Ganaderos y Agricultores de Sula (Agriculture and Livestock Association of Sula). The AGAS has main offices and a campus for social events. The AGAS has various stables. In these stables there are cows, bulls and horses. AGAS is also a livestock show compettion. The animals in the stables are the best since each of them competes in the variuos catehgories. AGAS also provides native food and drink stands. The AGAS also have many entertainment venues as an ordinary fair, aswell as mechanical rides. The AGAS also features a center stadium in which rodeos are held. There is a project in order to remodel AGAS.
[edit] Plaza Catracha
During the fair the Plaza Catracha is also available. This plaza is only opened during the fair. The plaza offers 100% Honduran food and drinks. There are also dance places in the plaza with the traditional dances and the new modern dances. The plaza is visited by many tourists to try out the Honduran ways.
[edit] Guamilito
Another attraction is the Guamilto Market. This market contains a vast collection of craftsmanship and art works. Crafts include baskets, pottery, hamacas, and any other antique like items. The art in sale is about painted pottery and normal paintings. The market can also allow people to order certain artifacts that can be personalized. This is new and is usually the work ordered is delivered within two days of the order being placed. However, the Guamilito market is also known for the flower and food sales. The market contains a vast assortment of flowers in abundance. Besides the flowers the market has small stands where traditional honduran, salvadoran, guatemalan and nicaraguan food is served.
[edit] Teatro Saybe
In the city culture is not neglected. The Francisco Saybe Theatre (FST) is the main acting theatre in the city. It contains a sidewalk with name bricks. These name bricks contain the names of the people who contributed to the building of the theatre and San Pedran culture. Since its opening the FST has always maintained quality plays to the public and has incorporated Latin American plays aswell as European and American plays to its shows.
[edit] Water Parks
The most recent additions to San Pedro Sula is the "Wonderland" water park. It is one of the few year round entertainment places. There is to be a new water park to be completed called Zezima Water Park.
[edit] El Merendon
The Merendon Mountain range is ver popular. It is a very protected area and also a good place to hike or visit nature. The best way to see nature in El Merendon is to go through with a small expedition. You can also climb the famed Coca-Cola road. This road starts in Bella Vista neighborhood and goes up the mountain until the big Coca-Cola sign is reached. The total road up the mountain is 1.6 miles long. Even though the trip is commonly to the sign of the Coca-Cola the road continues .4miles more. That makes the total and full trip 2 miles long. During the trip up people can see the beauty of nature and hear the sounds of the birds. The trip up is what people describe as 4 miles long as for the trip long it is said to last 10 seconds.
[edit] Division
San Pedro Sula is divided into 21 and counting Colonias (Neighbourhoods). These are some of the divisions in San Pedro Sula.
- Colonia Gracias a Dios
- Colonia Bella Vista
- Colonia Juan Lindo
- Colonia Jardines del Valle
- Colonia Villas del Sol
- Colonia El Pedregal
- COlonia El Roble
- Colonia Smith
- Colonia Rio Piedras
- Colonia Rancho Coco
- Colonia Bosques del Merendon
- Colonia Trejo
- Colonia Los Arcos
- Colonia Prado Alto
- Colonia Altamira
- Armenta
- Colonia Altiplano
- Colonia Satellite
- Colonia Fesitrahn
- Colonia Lomas del Potosi
- Colonia Moderna
- Colonia Los Naranjos
- Colonia Moderna
- Colonia Ideal
- Colonia San Jose V
- Villas Mackey
- Nova
- Los Alamo
- Universidad
- Barrio Guamilito
- Barrio El Benque
- Barrio El Centro
- Barrio Paz Barahona
- Barrio Suyapa
- Barrio Medina
- Barrio Barandillas
- Barrio Las Acadias
- Barrio Santa Ana
- Barrio Los Andes
- Barrio Concepcion
- Barrio Las Palmas
- Barrio Cabañas
- Residencial Bosques de San Pedro
[edit] Football
San Pedro Sula has two stadiums and two local teams. The first stadium is the Francisco Morazan stadium. This stadium is located in the heart of the city and can hold up to 35,000 people. The growing population demanded a greater stadium which lead to the building of the Olipimic Stadium. The Olimpic stadium is to this date the most widely used stadium. The Olimpic stadium can hold up to 55,000 people when full.
San Pedro has two local teams
[edit] Marathon
Official name is Club Deportivo Marathon. Is the main team of the city. This football team has red, white and green as color. It moto is "La furia verde" which means the green fury.
[edit] Real Espana
Is the second team of the city. The team holds black and yellow as colors.
[edit] Tourism
San Pedro Sula is not much of a tourism attraction, but it serves as a destination for those willing to travel to nearby Roatan, Utila, Maya ruins of Copan and La Ceiba. The city is served by the modern Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport; airport code SAP. The airport is conveniently located about 15 minutes from the city's centre and serves North-Western Honduras through several domestic and international air companies, such as: Continental, American, Delta, COPA and TACA which link the city with San Salvador, Mexico City, Panama City, Guatemala City, San José, Atlanta, Houston, Newark and Miami.
[edit] External links
