| Santa Cruz de la Palma | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
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Santa Cruz de la Palma
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Canary Islands | ||
| Province | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | ||
| Island | La Palma | ||
| Founded | 3 May 1493 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Alcalde | Juan Ramón Felipe San Antonio (CC) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 43.38 km2 (16.7 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) | ||
| Population (2008) | |||
| • Total | 17,132 | ||
| • Density | 394.9/km2 (1,022.9/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym | Santacrucero,ra | ||
| Time zone | WET | ||
| • Summer (DST) | WEST (UTC) | ||
| Postal code | 38700 | ||
| Official language(s) | Spanish | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Santa Cruz de la Palma (Spanish: Holy Cross of La Palma) is located on the eastern part of the island of La Palma in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the Canary Islands. Santa Cruz de la Palma is the second largest city (after Los Llanos de Aridane) and is the capital of the island. Santa Cruz de La Palma is linked with a main highway encircling every part of the island and is located north of the La Palma Airport. It is located along an old lava flow coming out from the Caldereta (small caldera) a volcano located just south of the city.
The population of the municipality is 17,265 (2001 census), its population density is 398/km² and the area is 43.38 km². Around 15,000 people live within the city limits, with the remaining population residing in other settlements. The city is located at sea level and the highest elevation is around 1,800 m.
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The city was founded by Alonso Fernández de Lugo on May 3, 1493. It was located between a river which is situated by a cave named Tedote (now Cueva de Carías, located north of the city). The city, originally called Villa del Apurón, served as a port that connected routes to the Americas, exporting goods from the island such as sugarcane. The city was sacked by pirates and was later reconstructed and fortified against future pirate attacks. Famous fortifications include the Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de la Virgen. The economic crisis that affected the agriculture sector brought the greatest loss of population in the city's history, which limited its expansion and caused the population to stabilize and drop to 11,000. The population did not approach its original 18,000 again for the next hundred years.
The coastline and the valley areas are made up of farmlands, the remaining areas around Santa Cruz de la Palma and the east central core are urban areas especially hotels, apartments, and colorful homes uphill northwest.
Santa Cruz de la Palma has the only major port in the island, serving ferry routes to Cádiz in Spain, as well as to Tenerife, Los Cristianos and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas on Gran Canaria and Arrecife. The main ferry operators in the port are Naviera Armas and Fred. Olsen Express, and many cruise line firms visit the port.
| Year | Population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late-19th century | around 18,000 | - | - |
| 1900 | 11,000 | - | - |
| 1991 | 17,205 | - | - |
| 1996 | 17,265 | - | - |
| 2001 | 17,265 | - | 401.51/km² |
| 2002 | 18,228 | - | - |
| 2003 | 18,201 | - | 216.26/km² |
| 2004 | 17,857 | - | 399.40/km² |
The 1996 population plunged slowly and from 1996 to 2001 read unchanged but boomed again but a little faster but from the 2002 to the 2004 census, the population slightly fell.
Santa Cruz de La Palma has schools, a few lyceums, a gymnasium, churches, a small beach, a small port, a post office and a few squares plazas.
| North: Puntallana | ||
| West: El Paso | Santa Cruz de la Palma | East: Atlantic Ocean |
| South: Breña Alta |
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