Penonomé, Coclé

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Penonomé
Penonomé Church
Penonomé
Coordinates: 8°31′07″N 80°21′19″W / 8.518722°N 80.355291°W / 8.518722; -80.355291Coordinates: 8°31′07″N 80°21′19″W / 8.518722°N 80.355291°W / 8.518722; -80.355291
Country Panama
Province Coclé
Founded 1581
Elevation 70 m (230 ft)
Population (2010)[1]
 • City 21,748
 • Metro 88,143
Website penonome.municipios.gob.pa

Penonomé (pop. 120 000.00[1]) is the capital of the Panamanian province of Coclé. The town is located along the Inter-American Highway in the wide, flat lowlands of central Coclé.[1]

History

Overview

Penonomé was founded in 1581.[2] The name of this town comes from the words "penó Nomé". Nome was a chief of a local native American tribe, who was put to death by the Spanish colonial officials. "Penó Nomé" means "Nome was executed."[3] The town was the capital of Panama for a short period after Panama City was sacked by Henry Morgan in 1671.[2]

The town is home to many descendants of Turkish, Chinese, and Arab immigrants.[1]

Local legend

Local legend (unknown origin) has it that Penonomé was a chieftain in love with an indigenous woman named Zaratí. His tribe didn't want him to marry and so told him that his beloved had drowned. Trying desperately and without success to find her, he threw himself from a bluff, crying out "I'm coming Zara!" Hence the names of the Zaratí River and Penonomé ("Nomé died" in the local dialect).

Main sights

The Catedral de Penonomé and the municipal government office (Casa de Gobierno) are located on the town's central plaza.[1] The town also has a small museum, El Museo de Penonomé, which is often closed.[1] The town has two main shopping streets, Avenida Juan Demóstenes Arosemena and the Inter-American Highway along the edge of town.[1]

Transport

Penonomé is served by buses to many locations in Panama.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Contraloría General de la República, Censo 2010 http://www.censos2010.gob.pa/Resultados/cuadros.aspx (Spanish)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Katzman, Patricia. Panama. Hunter Publishing (2006), p. 162. ISBN 978-1-58843-529-3.
  3. ↑ Panama Now. Focus Publications (1986), p. 19. OCLC 15925937.

External links

Media related to Penonomé at Wikimedia Commons

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