| Florencia | |
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| — Municipality — | |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Cuba |
| Province | Ciego de Ávila |
| Municipality Florencia | |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 286 km2 (110.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 110 m (361 ft) |
| Population (2004)[2] | |
| • Total | 19,811 |
| • Density | 69.3/km2 (179.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| Area code(s) | +53-336 |
Florencia is a municipality and city in the Ciego de Ávila Province of Cuba. It is located in the western part of the province, south of Chambas. This municipality merged in 1976 as result of the new political and administrative division of Cuba. Florencia was formerly the barrios of Guadalupe, Tamarindo and Marroquí which were separated from the municipality of Moron.
The municipality is a mountain region with beautiful rivers, forest and caves with subterranean rivers. A huge hydraulic complex was constructed under Fidel's government in 1991 named "Liberación de Florencia" ("Florencia Independence") since Florencia quarter was the first quarter taken for local revolutionary forces in the province of Camagüey on December 14, 1998. This hydraulic complex is located on the fertile valleys of Florencia and Tamarindo and it enforces the beauty of this Cuban area. Unlike all other municipalities in this province, Florencia is the only one where its economy is basically tobacco.
Florencia is also the seat of the municipal government and the biggest city with around 7,000 people. Other towns are Tamarindo, Las Pojas, Lowrey, Guadalupe and Marroquí.
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In 1920's the Norte de Cuba railroad opened between the cities of Santa Clara and Puerto Tarafa in Nuevitas (Camagüey). The origin of Florencia was the construction of a railroad station to provide its access to Guadalupe neighbors in 1926. Guadalupe is the oldest town in this region. This train station was built in a farm known as El Merino (in a site called Ojo de Agua (eye of water)). The railroad was crucial for this region, it actually was the first way of communication and transport that linked these lost valleys with the rest of country. In the 1920s the roads were almost nonexistent and people lived in complete isolation. The only ways of communication and transport were by arreas (mules). With the railroad the farmers become wealthier and as a result many merchants and businessmen moved their businesses to be near the new station. Real estate companies and the local owners of those farms started to develop what is now this enchanting town. The railroad station and then the new town was named Florencia. The name was suggested for one of the neighbors who said that the mountain view reminded her of the mountains near Florence in Italy.
The fast increase of its population was in part due to the Sansó & Cia, which opened a big food industry in the town in 1940's and also, after building the dams in the Chambas river. When the water of the dams flooded the Florencia and Tamarindo valleys in 1990, many of the affected farmers and their families moved to Florencia. As Florencia grew quickly, it has become in the most important cultural and economical center with the best communications facilities in the area.
Before 1976 Florencia was part of the municipality of Morón, which was divided into six new municipalities of the also new province of Ciego de Avila. A new identity among its people was created after Florencia was a new municipality: Florencianos (Florencian).
The main economical activity is agriculture with tobacco grown as the major plant. Other important areas are the refinement of conserved food, plantations of vegetables and fruits, and livestock raising.
The culture tradition of this municipality has fundamentally its origin in the country sector. This sector includes a large ethnic diversity formed mainly by the Canarian Migration from the late 19th century and early 20th century. The major artistic manifestation which more representativity has reached in Florencian lands during its history has been La Décima (literary composition to be sung write in 10 syllables). In 1968 was founded in Florencia the Primer Taller Literario Decimista de Cuba (First Decimista Literary symposium of Cuba)integrated by humble country men.[3]
People are proud of their traditions and popular celebrations. The most important events are to spend whole nights on Saturdays in parrandas güajiras (Cuban country music parties), celebrations of 14 de Diciembre, los Pinos (pine tree), memorials of Isabel Victoria (the first teacher and the greatest contributor to public works in Florencia town) and Lucas Buchillon (the regional poet). In other times, the election of La Flor de Virama (the tobacco flower) (similar to a Miss Florencia contest) and the Carnaval Star were ones of the most exciting activities. In Tamarindo is important the celebration of January'28. All of this festivities are celebrated as party street, very common in Cuba.
There are many cultural institutions such as the Municipal Museum, which has a rich collection of objects of Cuban Natives recuperated at differentes areas of Chambas River shores, Casa de la Cultura (cultural house), and Municipal Library.
Boqueron a National Natural Reserve is 4 km west of Florencia city and it is a local, national and international touristic destination. This natural reserve has caves, rivers, and a rich forest and animal life. The "Hipic Center of Florencia" located at Boqueron area together with fishing at the "Liberación" Dam are the most importants turistic destination.
In 2004, the municipality of Florencia had a population of 19,811.[2] With a total area of 286 km2 (110 sq mi),[1] it has a population density of 69.3 /km2 (179 /sq mi). Now, Florencia has an average of total population growing negative, it was -4.59 in 2004. The municipality population decreased of 19,856 in 2002 to 19,765 in 2004. This is controversial in Ciego de Avila when the province has one of the most high average of the total population growing on nation.[4]
This territory is located in the Northwest Ciego de Ávila Province of Cuba. The Chambas River and its affluents flow South to North across the Florencia, Guadalupe and Tamarindo valleys. The Liberation of Florencia Dams, in this river, cover a great areas of those valleys. The valleys are surrounded by hills which are part of the Central Cordillera (one of the three Mountain Systems of the Island). Those elevations separate the municipality to the other part of the province which is almost flat and with different geographical features.[5] To the Northwest the North Jatibonico River merges into Jatibonico Sierra forming a system of caves with a singular beauty at a rich forest and fauna area known as Boqueron.
Boqueron is a National Natural Reserve with a camping area and the seat of the Florencia Hipic Center. Between Boqueron and Florencia Valley merges El Merino Hill, which is the highest peak of the Jatibonico Sierra with 396.6 m over sea level. The hill is visible from every point of the town.
Omar Carrero is one of the most important pitchers of the history of the Cuban Beisbol Team and the most valuable player on 1976, as the list of most valuable players (Spanish: jugadores mas valiosos or jugadores mas destacados) in the Cuban National Series. He was born and grown up in the village known as Lowrey, where today live his family and relatives.
Jaime Sarusky is a narrator and journalist. In 2004, he was the National Literary Award winner. The most notable among his works is The Ghost Of Omaja ( 1986 )
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