La Romana, Dominican Republic
| La Romana | ||
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| La Romana (2010)
La Romana (2010)
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 La Romana
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
| Country |  Dominican Republic |
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| Province | La Romana Province | |
| Municipality since | 1897 | |
| Area[1] | ||
| • Total | 185.52 km2 (71.63 sq mi) | |
| Elevation[2] | 10 m (30 ft) | |
| Population (December 2010 −IX Census)[3] | ||
| • Total | 130,426 | |
| • Density | 700/km2 (1,800/sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 127,623 | |
| • Metro | 250,000 (La Romana-Villa Hermosa conurbation) | |
| • Demonym | (spanish: Romanense) | |
| Distance to – Santo Domingo |
210 km |
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| Municipal Districts | 1 |
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| Climate | Aw | |
La Romana is the seventh-largest city in the Dominican Republic with a population estimated in 2010 at 130,426 within the city limits (metropolitan population: 214,109), of whom 127,623 are urban and 2,803 are rural. The city is capital of the southeastern province of La Romana, opposite Catalina Island. The name Romana comes from a balance that was used to weigh merchandise for export. Santa Rosa de Lima is the patron saint of La Romana.
The modern La Romana International Airport was opened in 1999. The city is near several other cities, such as San Pedro de Macorís and the national capital, Santo Domingo de Guzmán. The city is a hub for a growing tourist industry with several nearby local resort spots, such as the beachfront Bayahibe, Dominicus, Casa de Campo, and the growing number of golf resorts that surround the area.
Contents
History
The city of La Romana was founded in 1897 as an oil town. After 1917 with the construction of a large sugar-mill (owned by Italian immigrants in the region of Rome, Lazio) the economy quickly shifted to sugar production. The commissioning of the sugar mill coincided with the rise in sugar prices worldwide, prompting the sugar industry to welcome workers from other parts of the country, many poor families from the Dominican interior moved to La Romana search of a better life.
In early 1960, Gulf and Western Industries, Inc. purchased the sugar mill and started to invest in the livestock industry which was cemented in the province. Meanwhile, $20 million were invested to rebuild La Romana and build schools, clinics, housing and other infrastructure for workers. During the mid-1970s the American conglomerate began selling its Dominican assets, and at the same time built what is now one of the largest exclusive tourist resorts in the Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo.
Tourism
Casa de Campo resort complex is the flagship of the La Romana All Inclusive Resorts area. Built in 1975 by Gulf+Western to be the premiere destination in the Caribbean, it has lived up to the hype. In 1984 Casa de Campo was purchased by the Central Romana Corporation which is co-owned by the Fanjul brothers.
Altos de Chavón is a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village located just minutes from La Romana.
Casa de Campo International Tourist Port (Muelle Turístico Internacional Casa de Campo), located on the West Bank of La Romana River or Rio Dulce, has been utilized primarily for the docking of commercial ships, primarily for the transport of sugar and molasses. Upon exceeding the capacity of its port, the Central Romana Corporation built its new tourism focused port on the east side of the river. The platform on the western bank was renovated and the river channel was dredged to a depth of 10.50 metres (34.4 ft).
Inaugurated with the arrival of the vessel Costa Marina on December 2002, the Central Romana Corporation invested US$12 million to extend the existing port by over 40,000 square metres (430,000 sq ft). The port is a modern platform and harbor terminal, with a capacity for two large modern cruise ships.
Today the new facilities boast two docking platforms (East Dock: 255 metres (837 ft) in length, West Dock: 225 metres (738 ft) in length), a 1,000 square metres (11,000 sq ft) passenger terminal and parking facilities which accommodate 24 buses.
Economy
La Romana is not a typical Dominican town; instead, it is a company town, with the Central Romana Corporation owning the majority of the town. It is a town with nearly 100% employment, mostly in the tourism industry or with The Central Romana Corporation, the Duty Free Zone (Zona Franca Romana), or one of the service businesses there.
La Romana has been a one-company town since the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company built the mammoth Central Romana mill in 1917. It was the only sugar operation not taken over by Rafael Trujillo during his reign. From 1964 to 1967, the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company, including properties in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic became part of the conglomerate Gulf+Western. In 1984, the Gulf+Western Corporation sold their stake in the Central Romana Corporation to a group of local and foreign investors which includes the Fanjul brothers.
Gulf+Western acquired Consolidated Cigar in 1968 and shifted the Canary Island cigar-making operation to its Tabacalera de Garcia tobacco plant in La Romana. The Tabacalera de Garcia factory is currently one of the largest cigar factories in the world, and has been owned by the biggest cigar marketing company in the world, Altadis, since 1999. Three world famous brands are produced in La Romana: Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta.
This town is characterized by its tremendous influence in the country's tourism programs. It's filled with beautiful beaches and many hotels and resorts. There are also many growing suburban areas and fenced communities This town has a large population, and all the problems associated with high-density areas. It does not have many notable sights in terms of architecture or urban spaces, being barely 100 years old. It grew very fast compared to the much older and slower-paced La Vega or Seibo, which are more typical Dominican towns.[citation needed]
Sports
Estadio Francisco Micheli is home to the Toros del Este, a baseball team in the Dominican Winter League.
In 1983, the government of Salvador Jorge Blanco, through the fund for development of this region, built the Polideportivo de La Romana (La Romana Sports Center), which was named after Eleoncio Mercedes in honor of the flyweight boxer who became world champion. The Cañeros de La Romana, a Dominican basketball team, play their home games here.
Demography
- 1981 : 91,571
- 1993 : 140,200
- 2004 : 171,500
- 2012 : 227,856
Notable residents
- Ramon Rijo A.K.A. "MONCHY" Singer, Musician, Songwriter and Musical Producer Monchy y Alexandra
- Antonio Alfonseca pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Juana Arrendel high jumper
- Andújar Cedeño former MLB shortstop
- Domingo Cedeño former infielder in Major League Baseball
- Juan Alberto Cirez - (March 3, 1970) one of the developers behind Storm Linux (a Linux Distro) and Stomix Technologies
- Fredy Deza pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
- Edwin Encarnación first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Pedro Florimón shortstop for the Minnesota Twins
- Freddy García a retired Major League Baseball infielder
- Kelly Horford retired professional basketball player
- Tito Horford retired professional basketball player
- Luis Ernesto José lightweight boxer
- Eleoncio Mercedes former world champion boxer in the Flyweight division.
- John Nolasco featherweight boxer
- Pedro Nolasco retired boxer
- Arismendy Peguero sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres.
- Félix Pie center fielder for the Hanwha Eagles
- Julio César Pimentel pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
- Danny Richar second baseman for the Chicago White Sox
- Julian Yan veteran first baseman (retired)
- Luis Santana retired professional boxer
- Rafael Santana former Major League Baseball shortstop
- Juan Choilos Outfielder for Toronto Blue Jays
References
- ↑ Superficies a nivel de municipios, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Censo 2012 de Población y Vivienda, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Romana. |
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