Deparment of Colombia
Flag of the Department of Santander Coat of arms of the Department of Santander
Motto: Santandereanos siempre adelante (Spanish: People of Santander always ahead)
Anthem: Himno de Santander
Santander shown in red
Established	May 13, 1857
Region	Andes Region
Capital	Bucaramanga
Number of Provinces	8
Number of Municipalities	87
Governor - Governor's Political Party	Hugo Heliodoro Aguilar Naranjo Civic People's Convergence
Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of total)	Ranked 12 30,537 km² km² km² (%)
Population  - Total (2005)  - Density	Ranked 6 1,916,336[1] 62.75/km²
ISO_Code	CO-SAN
Goverment's Website: www.gobernaciondesantander.gov.co

Santander is a department of Colombia. Santander inherited the name of one of the nine original states of the United States of Colombia. It is located in the central northern part of the country, east of the Magdalena River, bordered to the south and east by Boyacá, and to the north by Norte de Santander Department. Its capital is the city of Bucaramanga. Colombia is a unitary republic conformed by 32 departments (Spanish: departamentos, sing. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Santander_(Colombia). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... New Flag of the Department of Santander, modified on 2006. ... A motto (from Italian) is a phrase or a short list of words meant formally to describe the general motivation or intention of an entity, social group, or organization. ... An anthem is a choral composition to an English religious text sung in church services. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 460 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (746 × 972 pixel, file size: 34 KB, MIME type: image/png) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Santander Department ... The Republic of Colombia is a country in north-western South America. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (134th in leap years). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... Bucaramanga is the capital of the department of Santander, Colombia, and is the hub of Colombias sixth-largest metropolitan area (2003 census: 553,046, metro pop. ... A province is a territorial unit, almost always a country subdivision. ... A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly referring to a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. ... The Governor of the Department Santander heads the executive branch of the government of the Colombian department of Santander. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... The Civic Peoples Convergence (Convergencia Popular Cívica) is a progressive political party in Colombia. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... List of Colombian Departments by area details the Departments of Colombia by their area. ... Shops next to Monserrate Church Universidas de los Andes, Bogotá Cali Fair Fieste de las Flores, Medellin Villagers in Otún Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla List of Colombian Departments by population details population of the Departments of Colombia according to a general census taken on 2005 by the Departamento Administrativo... ISO 3166-2 codes for Colombia cover the 32 Departments of Colombia (3 digit) and the capital territory (2 digit). ... Colombia is a unitary republic conformed by 32 departments (Spanish: departamentos, sing. ... In 1858 the country adopted the name Grenadine Confederation which was changed in 1863 to United States of Colombia by the Rionegro Constitution. ... Map of the Magdalena River watershed. ... Motto: Capital Tunja Governor Jorge Eduardo Londoño Area 23,189 km² Population  - Total (2003)  - Density   1,411,239 61 people/km² Adjective Boyaca (Spanish: Boyacá) is a department of Colombia, one of the original nine states of the United States of Colombia. Boyacá is centrally located within Colombia, almost... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Bucaramanga is the capital of the department of Santander, Colombia, and is the hub of Colombias sixth-largest metropolitan area (2003 census: 553,046, metro pop. ...

History

Pre-Columbian

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards the terrirtory of now Santander was inhabited by Amerindian ethnic groups; Muiscas, Chitareros, Laches, Yariguí, Opón, Carare and Guanes. Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... The Muisca was a South American nation that lived mainly in modern day Cundinamarca and Boyacá highlands. ... The Laches were an indigenous agrarian people in the highlands of what is now central Colombia, in northern Boyacá and Santander departments. ... The Guanes were a South American people that lived mainly in the area of Santander and north of Boyacá, both modern departments of Colombia. ...

Their political and social structure was based on Cacicazgos a federation of tribes led by a cacique, with different social classes. Their main activity consisted on planting maize, beans, yuca, arracacha, cotton, Agave, tobacco, tomato, pineapple, guava, among others, their agricultural skills were somewhat developed, taking advantages of the different mountainious terrains. The Guanes utilized terraces and an artificial system of irrigation and had knowledge on arts and crafts based on ovens to produce ceramics, used the cotton to confection indumentary and accesories such as hats and bags. Cacique may be in reference to: Cacique is one the finest brands of rum produced in Venezuela. ... “Corn” redirects here. ... Green beans Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae) used for food or feed. ... Yuca or Yuka has been used as a semi despective term reffering to Metal and Rock music derivations and their followers (called Yuqueros). The term is used in Latin American countrys, thought most popularly in Venezuela. ... Binomial name Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft The arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) is a garden root vegetable originally from the Andes, somewhat intermediate between the carrot and celery. ... Cotton ready for harvest. ... Species see text. ... Species Nicotiana acuminata Nicotiana alata Nicotiana attenuata Nicotiana benthamiana Nicotiana clevelandii Nicotiana excelsior Nicotiana forgetiana Nicotiana glauca Nicotiana glutinosa Nicotiana langsdorffii Nicotiana longiflora Nicotiana obtusifolia Nicotiana paniculata Nicotiana plumbagifolia Nicotiana quadrivalvis Nicotiana repanda Nicotiana rustica Nicotianasuaveolens Nicotiana sylvestris Nicotiana tabacum Nicotiana tomentosa Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005... Binomial name Solanum lycopersicum L. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Species About 100 species, including: Psidium cattleianum - Strawberry Guava Psidium friedrichsthalium - Costa Rica Guava Psidium guajava - Apple Guava Psidium guineense - Guinea Guava Psidium littorale - Cattley Guava Psidium montanum - Mountain Guava Guava (from Spanish Guayaba; Goiaba in Portuguese) is a genus of about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees... Terraced vineyards near Lausanne The Incan terraces at Písac are still used today. ... High-altitude aerial view of irrigation in the Heart of the Sahara ( ) Irrigation is the replacement or supplementation of rainfall with water from another source in order to grow crops or plants. ... Ancient Egyptian ceramic art: Louvre Museum. ...

Colonization

Spanish Conqueror Antonio de Lebrija led the first expedition throught the area in 1529. The area was later invaded c. 1532 by German Ambrosius Ehinger in a quest to find El Dorado disrrupting and destroying many of the Amerindian villages. Some ethnic groups like the Yariguíes, Opones, and Carares fought the conquerors until becoming extinct. Explorer Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada later made presence in the area in an effort to apeace the tribes. The colonization process in the area was started by Martín Galeano who founded the village of Vélez on July 3, 1539 and Pedro de Ursúa and Ortún Velasco founded the village of Pamplona (now part of the Norte de Santander Department) in 1549. Antonio de Nebrija, also known as Antonio de Lebrija and Antonius Nebrissensis, (1441-1522) was a Spanish scholar born at Lebrija in the province of Andalusia. ... Events April 22 - Treaty of Saragossa divides the eastern hemisphere between Spain and Portugal, stipulating that the dividing line should lie 297. ... Events May 16 - Sir Thomas More resigns as Lord Chancellor of England. ... Ambrosius Ehinger, also Dalfinger, Alfinger, Thalfinger, (* c. ... The Zipa used to cover his body in gold and, from his raft, he offered treasures to the Guatavita goddess in the middle of the sacred lake. ... Oil portrait of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada (unknown artist, Museo Nacional da Colombia, Bogota) GONZALO JIMENEZ QUESADA Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada (1509–1579) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador in Colombia. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Events May 30 - In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal to find gold. ... Pedro de Ursúa (1526–1561) was a Spanish conquistador in the 16th century. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Events July - Ketts Rebellion Francis Xavier arrives in Japan. ...

Once the Amerindian tribes were dominated the Spanish organized the territory based on Cabildos (councils) to maintain the dominance and administer justice in the conquered territory. Amerindian were enslaved and forced to work on agriculture fields, manufacturing goods and mines. These two villages functioned as centers for the Cabildos territories. In 1636 the Cabildo of Vélez was transfered to a new jurisdiction managed in the village of Girón, which area went from the Sogamoso River, Río del Oro to the Magdalena River. The village of San Gil was created in 1689, segregated from the Jurisdiction of Vélez. In 1789 the village of Socorro was also segregated from Vélez and all them put under the mandate of the Province of Tunja, subdivision of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. On July 9, 1795 the corregimiento of Velez - San Gil - Socorro is created due to the unsustainability of the Province of Tunja, establishing the local government in the village of Socorro. Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... A cabildo was a former Spanish colonial administrative unit governed by a council. ... Events February 24 - King Christian of Denmark gives an order that all beggars that are able to work must be sent to Brinholmen Island to build ships or as galley rowers March 26 - Utrecht University founded in The Netherlands. ... Girón is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Map of the Magdalena River watershed. ... San Gil is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Events Louis XIV of France passed the Code Noir, allowing the full use of slaves in the French colonies. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Socorro is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Coordinates: Country Colombia Department Boyacá Province Centro Founded August 6, 1539 Established March 29, 1541 Government type Municipality Mayor Benigno Hernán Díaz Cárdenas Elevation 2,810 m Population (2005)  - City 152,419 Website: http://tunja. ... The Viceroyalty of New Granada was the name given to a group of colonial provinces in northern South America, corresponding mainly to modern Colombia. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Administrative divisions

Provinces

The department is subdivided into provinces: A province is a territorial unit, almost always a country subdivision. ...

Guanentá is a province in the Santander department, in Colombia. ...

Municipalities

Aguada is a town and municipality of the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Aratoca is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Barbosa is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Barichara is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Barrancabermeja from the Magdalena River Barrancabermeja is a city in Santander, Colombia, on the Magdalena River with 214,192[1] inhabitants. ... Betulia is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Bolívar is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Bucaramanga is the capital of the department of Santander, Colombia, and is the hub of Colombias sixth-largest metropolitan area (2003 census: 553,046, metro pop. ... Cabrera is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... California is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Capitanejo is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Carcasi is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Cepita is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Cerrito is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Charala is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Charta is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Chima is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Chipata is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Cimitarra is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Concepción (DANE 68207), founded in 1720 by Pedro Angarita, a soldier with the Spanish Tercios, is a municipality in Santander, Colombia, currently plagued by some guerrilla problems. ... Confines is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Contratación is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Coromoro is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Curiti is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... El Carmen is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... El Florián is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... El Guacamayo is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... El Peñón is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... El Playón is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Encino is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Enciso is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Coordinates: Region Andes Region (Colombia) Department Department of Santander* Foundation Government  - Mayor Elevation 1,026 m (3,366 ft) Population  - City 241,685 [1] * Floridablanca is a municipality in the department of Santander. ... Galan is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Gambita is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Girón is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Guaca is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Guadalupe is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Guapota is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Guavata is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Guepsa is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Hato is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Jesus María is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... La Belleza is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Landazuri is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... La Paz is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Lebrija is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Los Santos is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Macaravita is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Málaga is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Matanza is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Mogotes is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Molagavita is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Ocamonte is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Oiba is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Onzaga is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Palmar is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Palmas Socorro is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Paramo is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Piedecuesta is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Pinchote is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Puente Nacional is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Puerto Parra is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Puerto Wilches is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Rionegro is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Sabana de Torres is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... San Andrés is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... San Benito is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... San Gil is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... San Joaquín is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... San José Miranda is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... San Miguel is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Santa Bárbara is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Santa Helena del Opón is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... San Vicente de Chucurí is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Simacota is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Socorro is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Sucre is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Surata is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Tona is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Valle San José is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Vélez is a municipality of the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Vetas is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Villanueva is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ... Zapatoca is a town and municipality in the Santander Department in northeastern Colombia. ...

External links

• (Spanish) Government of Santander official website

Santander, Colombia travel guide from Wikitravel Wikitravel is a project to create an open content, complete, up-to-date, and reliable world-wide travel guide. ...

See also:

• Postage stamps and postal history of Santander