| Urdaneta | |
|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |
| Municipio Urdaneta | |
| Location in Miranda | |
| Country | Venezuela |
| State | Miranda |
| Shiretown | Cúa |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jorge H. Castro (MVR) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 273 km2 (105.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 130,641 |
| • Density | 478.5/km2 (1,239.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | VST (UTC-4:30) |
| Area code(s) | 0239 |
| Website | Official website |
The Urdaneta Municipality is one of the 21 municipalities (municipios) that makes up the Venezuelan state of Miranda and, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 130,641.[1] The town of Cúa is the shire town of the Urdaneta Municipality.[2] The municipality is one of several in Venezuela named "Urdaneta Municipality" in honour of Venezuelan independence hero Rafael Urdaneta.
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The first establishments of Cúa dates from the pre-Columbian period, being the first founders the Quiriquires natives, has like nickname The Tuy Pearl, because its location at the borders of the Tuy River. After the officially foundation on October 6, 1690 by fray Manuel de Alesson, under the invocation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Cúa, the first inhabitants came from different regions motivated by the agriculture, due to the fertility and strategic location of the valley. However, this town was founded initially at the site known like Marín in 1633, this first village was destroyed in its totality by a violent earthquake that affected a great part of the Tuy Valleys.
The name of Cúa, according to some historians, has it origin from the Cumanagotos natives, from the Carib language that means Crab, meaning that Cúa is the place where the crab abounds. Others affirm that its name is associate with Apacuana, a brave native woman from the region, that fought against the Spaniards. Others think that that name was giving in honor to the native Cue , ally of the Spaniards, that helped in the foundation and consolidation of the town.
The Urdaneta Municipality, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, has a population of 130,641 (up from 114,221 in 2000). This amounts to 4.6% of the state's population.[3] The municipality's population density is 478.54 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,239.4 /sq mi).[4]
The mayor of the Urdaneta Municipality is Jorge H. Castro, re-elected on October 31, 2004 with 42% of the vote.[5][6] The municipality is divided into Cúa parishes; Cúa and Nueva Cúa.[2]
The Joropo central, is a musical style characteristic from the states Aragua and Miranda and the Eastern zones of Carabobo and north of Guárico. Is also called Joropo tuyero or pasaje aragüeño, it accompanies the dance of joropo at the central zone of Venezuela, is interpreted by a harpist and a singer, that also executes the maracas. At the joropo central emphasize the following modalities: golpes, resbalosas, pajarillos, yaguazos, pasajes, guabinas, being executing one by one. In addition of two suites or sets, known like Revueltas, that are conformed by a group of modalities that are executed in a specific sequence: Pasaje, Yaguaso, Guabina, Marisela and llamada del mono.