Assomada
| Assomada | |
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File:Cape Verde Santiago Assomada 2011.jpg
The summit city
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country | Cape Verde |
| Island | Santiago |
| Municipality | Santa Catarina |
| Civil parish | Santa Catarina |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 12,332 |
Assomada (in Cape Verdean Creole: Somada) is a city on the Sotavento (leeward) island of Santiago in Cape Verde. It is the seat of the municipality of Santa Catarina, which comprises the central western part and much of the interior of the island, and it is the largest city in that region. Assomada lies at about 550 m elevation on a plateau surrounded by mountains, farmland, and hills in the center of Santa Catarina.
Assomada lies at approximately the midpoint on the highway that runs the length of the island of Santiago from Praia (the capital) in the south to the seaside port of Tarrafal in the north. It is also connected by road to the eastern port of Pedra Badejo. Assomada is located 26 km northwest of Praia.
Geography
Assomada is subdivided into 22 neighborhoods over an urban area of about 213 ha or 2.13 km². In 2010, the city is projected to grow to 550 ha or 5.5 km² with about 12,000 to 13,000 people throughout the municipality. The city has grown considerably since the independence of Cape Verde, and the regional center attracts many people coming from the interior and other parts of the island in search for work.
Assomada plays an important commercial role and has a pleasant combination of urban areas and fields. The city centre features many Portuguese-style colonial buildings.
The market of Assomada is one of the largest on the island of Santiago, with a large variety of agricultural products and crafts. It is the central collection and distribution point for products produced throughout the surrounding countryside, and while the consumer-focused market is very large and vibrant, the majority of the trade is between middlemen (rabidantis) who bring the produce to larger national and international markets.
Assomada is also home to one of Cape Verde's few museums: the Museu da Tabanka, which sits outside the city square. The building was built by the Repartição da Fazenda e dos Correios, and is considered a cultural and historic heritage site for its architectural origins. It doubles as the Assomada Cultural Centre when hosting parades, traditional concerts, and other cultural events. The Museu da tabanca organizes temporary exhibits, adding to cultural life in Santa Catarina and the interior of the island of Santiago. The museum also features a valuable collection of local writing and paintings.
Demography
Though the Portuguese and mullattos made up the majority of residents at least until 1975, today (2015), Assomada is increasingly becoming cosmopolitan with a diverse population. Thousands of immigrants (i.e., black Africans, Chinese, Portuguese, and other nationalities) live and work in the city.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1990 | 3,414 | — |
| 2000 | 7,067 | +107.0% |
| 2015 | 15,000 | +112.3% |
| Source: [2] | ||
Education
In addition to a professional school (i.e., Escolha de Formação Profissional), Assomada has two universities (i.e., Instituto Universitário de Educação and Universidade de Santiago), an extensive school complex, including a public "Liceu" (Amilcar Cabral High School), two private secondary schools (Centro de Ensino de Assomada and Escolha Secundária Abrolhos) and a "Escola Primária" (primary school). It is also the home of the elite vocational school (i.e., technical school Grand Duke Henri), which trains the most promising Cape Verdean youth in career skills.
Economy
Commerce, financial services (particularly banking), transport, and educational services are the lifeblood of the city. Among the entities that contribute much to the local economy are: six commercial banks, hundreds of retail and wholesale businesses, a relatively large fleet of taxis and minivans, schools (including private secondary schools and a private university). The "summit city" as it is kindly called by its locals and the outsiders is increasingly consolidating its economic success and self-sustainability. The residents of the city of Assomada enjoy the highest living standards on the island of Santiago.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Source: City Population, citing the Instituto Nacional de Estatísticas.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Assomada. |
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