| City of Cárdenas (Calle Calzada) |
|
|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |
| Street in Cárdenas | |
| Motto: Primus In Cuba | |
|
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Cuba |
| Province | Matanzas-MTZ |
| Founded | 1828[1] |
| Established | 1859 |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 566 km2 (218.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2007)[3] | |
| • Total | 153,087 |
| • Density | 182.1/km2 (471.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-6) |
| Area code(s) | +53 45 + number dial |
Cárdenas (Calle Calzada Cárdenas) is a municipality and city in the Matanzas Province of Cuba, about 175 km (109 mi) east of Havana.
Contents |
Cárdenas is a maritime port town on the level and somewhat marshy shore of a spacious bay of the northern coast of the island (Bay of Cárdenas), sheltered by a long promontory (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.[4]
The municipality is divided into the barrios of Cantel, Fundición, Guásimas, Marina, Méndez Capote, Pueblo Nuevo and Versalles.[1]
Cárdenas was founded in 1828,[1] and in 1861 already had 12,910 inhabitants. The completion of the railroad in 1841 led to further development.
In 1850 General Narciso López 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.
In May 1898, during the Spanish–American War, three notable battles were fought at Cardenas.
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. The Cuban Flag was first raised over Cuban soil in this once picturesque and historic city of straight and narrow streets, horse-drawn carriages, industry and "cangrejos" (blue crabs).
Cárdenas is the home of Elián González, a child used in a political dispute between Cuba and the United States.
In 2007, the municipality of Cárdenas had a population of 103,087.[3] With a total area of 566 km2 (219 sq mi),[2] it has a population density of 182.1 /km2 (472 /sq mi). Cardenas experiences a population growth of 0.24% a year.
| Varadero | Bay of Cárdenas | Martí | ||
| Matanzas | Máximo Gómez | |||
| Cárdenas | ||||
| Limonar | Jovellanos | Perico |
|
|||||||