Cochabamba Department
Encyclopedia
Cochabamba is one of the nine component departments
of Bolivia
. It is known to be the "granary
" of the country because of its variety of agricultural products due to Cochabamba's geographical position. It has an area of 55,631 km². Its population, in the 2007 census, was 1,750,000. Its capital is the city of Cochabamba
. Cochabamba is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" and "The Garden City" due to its spring-like temperatures year round.
The first Spanish inhabitant of the Valley was Garci Ruiz de Orellana in 1542. He purchased the majority of the land from local tribal chiefs Achata and Consavana through a title registered in 1552 at the Imperial City of Potosí. The price paid was 130 pesos. His residence, known as the House of Mayorazgo, still stands in the Cala Cala neighbourhood of the city.
The city, called Villa de Oropesa was founded on 2 August 1571 by order of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa. It was to be an agricultural production centre to provide food for the mining towns of the relatively nearby Altiplano region, particularly the city of Potosí which became one of the largest and richest cities in the world during the 17th century - funding the vast wealth that ultimately made Spain a world power at the time. With the silver mining industry in Potosi at its height, Cochabamba thrived during its first centuries of existence. The city entered a period of decline during the 18th century as mining began to wane.
In 1786, King Charles III of Spain renamed the city to the 'loyal and valiant' Villa of Cochabamba. This was done to commend the city's pivotal role in suppressing the indigenous rebellions of 1781 in Oruro by sending armed forces to Oruro to quell the uprisings. Since the late 19th century it has again been generally successful as an agricultural centre for Bolivia.
The 1793 census shows that the city had a population of 22,305 persons. There were 12,980 mestizos, 6,368 Spaniards, 1,182 indigenous natives, 1,600 mulattos and 175 African slaves.
In 2000, Cochabamba was wracked with large-scale protests over the privatisation of the city's water supply. See Cochabamba protests of 2000.
In January 2007 city dwellers clashed with mostly rural protestors, leaving four dead and over 130 injured. The democratically-elected Prefect of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, a former military aide to the Luis García Meza dictatorship of the 1980s, had allied himself with the leaders of Bolivia's Eastern Departments in a dispute with President Evo Morales over regional autonomy and other political issues. The protestors blockaded the highways, bridges, and main roads, having days earlier set fire to the departmental seat of government, trying to force the resignation of Reyes Villa. Citizens attacked the protestors, breaking the blockade and routing them, while the police did little to stop the violence. Further attempts by the protestors to reinstate the blockade and threaten the government were unsuccessful, but the underlying tensions have not been resolved.
In July 2007, a monument erected by veterans of January's protest movement in honour of those killed and injured by government supporters was destroyed in the middle of the night, reigniting racial conflicts in the city.
In August 2008, a nationwide referendum was held, and while the president Evo Morales had 67% support in Bolivia, the prefect of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, was not confirmed by the voters of the department.
and Potosi Department
to the south, Oruro
and La Paz Department to the west, Beni Department
to the north, and Santa Cruz Department
to the east. The borders are formed mainly by rivers, like Ichilo to the east, Rio Grande to the south and Cotacajes to the west.
(since May 2010) is the governor; until then, the office was called the prefect, and until 2006 the prefect was appointed by the President of Bolivia
. The current governor, Edmundo Novillo Aguilar of the Movement for Socialism – Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples was elected on 4 April 2010 and took office 30 May.
Under the 2009 Constitution, Bolivian departments have an elected legislature, the Departmental Legislative Assembly. The Cochabamba Assembly has 34 members including two indigenous representatives.
The most recent election results are as follows.
(municipios) and - on the fourth level - into 144 cantons
.
The provinces with their capitals are:
and Quechua
. The following table shows the number of those belonging to the recognised group of speakers.
Departments of Bolivia
Bolivia is divided into nine departments . Each of the departments is subdivided into provinces , which are further subdivided into municipalities ....
of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. It is known to be the "granary
Granary
A granary is a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed. In ancient or primitive granaries, pottery is the most common use of storage in these buildings. Granaries are often built above the ground to keep the stored food away from mice and other animals.-Early origins:From ancient times grain...
" of the country because of its variety of agricultural products due to Cochabamba's geographical position. It has an area of 55,631 km². Its population, in the 2007 census, was 1,750,000. Its capital is the city of Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the fourth largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people...
. Cochabamba is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" and "The Garden City" due to its spring-like temperatures year round.
History
The Cochabamba valley was inhabited for over a thousand years due to its fertile productive soils and climate. Archaeological evidence suggests that the initial valley inhabitants were of various ethnic indigenous groups. Inca, Tupuraya, Mojocoya, Omereque, and Tiwanaku inhabited the valley at various times before the Spanish arrived.The first Spanish inhabitant of the Valley was Garci Ruiz de Orellana in 1542. He purchased the majority of the land from local tribal chiefs Achata and Consavana through a title registered in 1552 at the Imperial City of Potosí. The price paid was 130 pesos. His residence, known as the House of Mayorazgo, still stands in the Cala Cala neighbourhood of the city.
The city, called Villa de Oropesa was founded on 2 August 1571 by order of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa. It was to be an agricultural production centre to provide food for the mining towns of the relatively nearby Altiplano region, particularly the city of Potosí which became one of the largest and richest cities in the world during the 17th century - funding the vast wealth that ultimately made Spain a world power at the time. With the silver mining industry in Potosi at its height, Cochabamba thrived during its first centuries of existence. The city entered a period of decline during the 18th century as mining began to wane.
In 1786, King Charles III of Spain renamed the city to the 'loyal and valiant' Villa of Cochabamba. This was done to commend the city's pivotal role in suppressing the indigenous rebellions of 1781 in Oruro by sending armed forces to Oruro to quell the uprisings. Since the late 19th century it has again been generally successful as an agricultural centre for Bolivia.
The 1793 census shows that the city had a population of 22,305 persons. There were 12,980 mestizos, 6,368 Spaniards, 1,182 indigenous natives, 1,600 mulattos and 175 African slaves.
In 2000, Cochabamba was wracked with large-scale protests over the privatisation of the city's water supply. See Cochabamba protests of 2000.
In January 2007 city dwellers clashed with mostly rural protestors, leaving four dead and over 130 injured. The democratically-elected Prefect of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, a former military aide to the Luis García Meza dictatorship of the 1980s, had allied himself with the leaders of Bolivia's Eastern Departments in a dispute with President Evo Morales over regional autonomy and other political issues. The protestors blockaded the highways, bridges, and main roads, having days earlier set fire to the departmental seat of government, trying to force the resignation of Reyes Villa. Citizens attacked the protestors, breaking the blockade and routing them, while the police did little to stop the violence. Further attempts by the protestors to reinstate the blockade and threaten the government were unsuccessful, but the underlying tensions have not been resolved.
In July 2007, a monument erected by veterans of January's protest movement in honour of those killed and injured by government supporters was destroyed in the middle of the night, reigniting racial conflicts in the city.
In August 2008, a nationwide referendum was held, and while the president Evo Morales had 67% support in Bolivia, the prefect of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, was not confirmed by the voters of the department.
Geography
Cochabamba Department is bordered by ChuquisacaChuquisaca Department
Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia located in the center south. It borders on the departments of Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí, and Santa Cruz. The departmental capital is Sucre, which is also the constitutional capital of Bolivia.-Geography:...
and Potosi Department
Potosí Department
Potosí Department is a department in southwestern Bolivia. It comprises 118,218 km² with 709,013 inhabitants . The capital is the city of Potosí....
to the south, Oruro
Oruro Department
Oruro is a department in Bolivia, with an area of 53,588 km². Its capital is the city of Oruro. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 391,870.- Provinces of Oruro :...
and La Paz Department to the west, Beni Department
Beni Department
Beni, sometimes El Beni, is a northeastern department of Bolivia, in the lowlands region of the country. It is the second largest department in the country , covering 213,564 square kilometers , and it was created by supreme decree on November 18, 1842 during the administration of General José...
to the north, and Santa Cruz Department
Santa Cruz Department
Santa Cruz, with an area of 370,621 km², is the largest of the nine constituent departments of Bolivia. In the 2001 census, it reported a population of 2,029,471. The capital is the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The state is one of the wealthiest states in Bolivia with huge reserves of...
to the east. The borders are formed mainly by rivers, like Ichilo to the east, Rio Grande to the south and Cotacajes to the west.
Government
The chief executive office of Bolivia departmentsDepartments of Bolivia
Bolivia is divided into nine departments . Each of the departments is subdivided into provinces , which are further subdivided into municipalities ....
(since May 2010) is the governor; until then, the office was called the prefect, and until 2006 the prefect was appointed by the President of Bolivia
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
. The current governor, Edmundo Novillo Aguilar of the Movement for Socialism – Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples was elected on 4 April 2010 and took office 30 May.
Under the 2009 Constitution, Bolivian departments have an elected legislature, the Departmental Legislative Assembly. The Cochabamba Assembly has 34 members including two indigenous representatives.
The most recent election results are as follows.
Provinces
The Department of Cochabamba is divided into 16 provinces (provincias) which are further subdivided into 47 municipalitiesMunicipalities of Bolivia
Municipalities in Bolivia are administrative divisions of the entire national territory governed by local elections. Municipalities are the third level of administrative divisions, below departments and provinces. Some of the provinces consist of only one municipality...
(municipios) and - on the fourth level - into 144 cantons
Cantons of Bolivia
||On the level below municipalities, Bolivia is divided into cantons ....
.
The provinces with their capitals are:
| Province | Capital | km² | Population |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arani Arani Province Arani is a province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Arani, situated about 53 km from Cochabamba. Arani is known for its bread but also for the town's artisan wickerwork.- Subdivision :... |
Arani Arani (Bolivia) Arani is the capital of Arani Province and Arani Municipality located in Cochabamba Department in the center of Bolivia at an altitude of 9,400 ft . At the time of census 2001 it had 3,512 inhabitants..... |
506 | 24.372 | |
| Arque Arque Province Arque is a rural province in Cochabamba Department in the eastern cordillera of the South American state of Bolivia. Quechua is the most commonly used language of this region.- Geography :... |
Arque Arque Arque is a location in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is the seat of Arque Province and Arque Municipality. Arque is situated at an elevation of 10,735 ft on the northern bank of Arque River.... |
1.077 | 26.283 | |
| Ayopaya Ayopaya Province Ayopaya is a province in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Ayopaya .- Subdivision :Ayopaya Province is divided into three municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.... |
Ayopaya Ayopaya Ayopaya or Independencia is a town in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is the capital of the Ayopaya Province and Ayopaya Municipality. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 2,014.- External links :*... |
9.620 | 63.997 | |
| Bolívar | Bolívar | 413 | 9.470 | |
| Capinota Capinota Province Capinota is one of sixteen provinces in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is the city of Capinota. The province has a population of 25,582 inhabitants .- Subdivision :... |
Capinota Capinota Capinota is a small town in the Bolivian Department of Cochabamba and capital of the Capinota Province.-Location:Capinota is situated at an altitude of 2.380 m where the rivers Río Arque and Río Rocha meet to become the Río Caine and the Río Grande downstream... |
1.495 | 26.053 | |
| Carrasco Carrasco Province (Bolivia) Carrasco is a province in the Cochabamba Department in central Bolivia. Its capital is Totora.- Subdivision :Carrasco Province is divided into six municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.Entre Ríos Municipality was created in 2004.... |
Totora Totora, Cochabamba Totora is a town in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is the seat of the Carrasco Province.... |
15.045 | 140.481 | |
| Cercado | Cochabamba Cochabamba Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the fourth largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people... |
391 | 564.882 | |
| Chapare Chapare Province Chapare, also called The Chapare and is pronounced Cha-pa-reh, is a rural province in the northern region of Cochabamba Department in central Bolivia. The majority of the territory consists of valley rainforests that surround the area's main waterway, the Chapare River, which is also a tributary of... |
Sacaba Sacaba Sacaba is the capital of the Bolivian province of Chapare. The city, located 13 kilometers eastward from Cochabamba, is the second largest city in the Cochabamba Department after Cochabamba city... |
12.445 | 227.404 | |
| Esteban Arce Esteban Arce Province Esteban Arce is a province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Tarata.- Subdivision :The province is divided into four municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons. The municipalities with their seats are:- External links :... |
Tarata | 1.245 | 32.986 | |
| Germán Jordán | Cliza Cliza Cliza is a town in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is the capital of the Germán Jordán Province and the Cliza Municipality. Along with Punata, Cliza is the major city in the valle alto of the Cochabamba Department.- External links :*... |
305 | 33.876 | |
| Mizque Mizque Province Mizque is a province in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Mizque.The province, in 1992, had a population of 27,959 inhabitants, mostly indigenous citizens of Quechuan descent. In 2001, the population increased to 36,181 inhabitants and it was estimated at 41,062 in 2005... |
Mizque Mizque Mizque is a town in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is the capital of the Mizque Province. Mizque is located in the valley of the Mizque River, one of the main tributaries of the Río Grande.... |
2.730 | 40.702 | |
| Narciso Campero Narciso Campero Province Narciso Campero is a province in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Aiquile. Aiquile lies on one transportation route between the citys of Cochabamba, Sucre and Santa Cruz.- Subdivision :... |
Aiquile Aiquile Aiquile is a town in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is the capital of the Narciso Campero Province and Aiquile Municipality. Most of its population is Quechua, and its residents are reputed to be the best charango makers in the country.... |
5.550 | 40.532 | |
| Punata Punata Province Punata is a province almost in the middle of the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia, located about 45 km south of the city of Cochabamba. Its capital is Punata... |
Punata Punata Punata is the capital of Punata Province and Punata Municipality in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 14,742 inhabitants... |
850 | 47.653 | |
| Quillacollo Quillacollo Province Quillacollo is a province in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia.It is known for its festival in August where people from all over Bolivia come and pay homage to the Virgin of Urqupiña... |
Quillacollo Quillacollo Quillacollo is the capital of Quillacollo Province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia.- Population and growth :The city of Quillacollo is located westward of Cochabamba City. Quillacollo's population is 74,980 based on the 2001 census and is estimated to reach 85,224 in 2009... |
720 | 303.903 | |
| Tapacarí Tapacarí Province Tapacarí is a province in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Tapacarí. The province is located at a turnoff from the major highway that links Cochabamba and Oruro. It has traditionally been amongst the poorest in the department... |
Tapacarí Tapacarí Tapacarí is the capital of Tapacarí Province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is located at an elevation of 2997 m. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 411 .- External links :*... |
1.500 | 29.712 | |
| Tiraque Tiraque Province Tiraque is a province in the Cochabamba Department in central Bolivia. Its capital is Tiraque.- Subdivision :The province is divided into two municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.... |
Tiraque Tiraque Tiraque is a location in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It is the seat of the Tiraque Province. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 1,906.-External links:*... |
1.739 | 36.738 |
Languages
The languages spoken in the Cochabamba Department are mainly SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and Quechua
Quechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
. The following table shows the number of those belonging to the recognised group of speakers.
| Language | Department | Bolivia |
|---|---|---|
| Quechua Quechua languages Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably... |
872,010 | 2,281,198 |
| Aymara Aymara language Aymara is an Aymaran language spoken by the Aymara people of the Andes. It is one of only a handful of Native American languages with over three million speakers. Aymara, along with Quechua and Spanish, is an official language of Peru and Bolivia... |
84,921 | 1,525,321 |
| Guaraní Guaraní language Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of... |
1,379 | 62,575 |
| Another native | 3,351 | 49,432 |
| Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... |
1,101,822 | 6,821,626 |
| Foreign | 40,579 | 250,754 |
| Only native | 269,588 | 960,491 |
| Native and Spanish | 648,195 | 2,739,407 |
| Spanish and foreign | 454,273 | 4,115,751 |
Population and Demographics
| Description | Department | Bolivia |
|---|---|---|
| Inhabitants | 1.455.711 | 8.274.325 |
| Rural | 41 % | - |
| Urban | 59 % | - |
| Total fertility rate Total Fertility Rate The total fertility rate of a population is the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime if she were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates through her lifetime, and she... |
4.00 | 4.40 |
| Infant mortality Infant mortality Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying... |
72.00 | 66.00 |
| Net migration rate Net migration rate Net migration rate is the difference of immigrants and emigrants of an area in a period of time, divided per 1,000 inhabitants... |
2.40 | - |
Places of interest
- Carrasco National ParkCarrasco National ParkCarrasco National Park is a national park in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. It has a surface area of 6,226 square kilometers. More than 5,000 plant species have been registered in the area, placing the park among Bolivia's most biologically diverse. It is a protected area and people are prohibited...
- Tunari National ParkTunari National ParkTunari National Park is a national park located in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia.- External links :*...
- Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous TerritoryIsiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous TerritoryIsiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory is a protected area and Native Community Land in Bolivia situated between the north of the Cochabamba Department and the south of the Beni Department...
- Inkallajta
- Inkachaka
- Inkaraqay
- QuillacolloQuillacolloQuillacollo is the capital of Quillacollo Province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia.- Population and growth :The city of Quillacollo is located westward of Cochabamba City. Quillacollo's population is 74,980 based on the 2001 census and is estimated to reach 85,224 in 2009...
- Villa TunariVilla TunariVilla Tunari or Tunari is a location in the department of Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is the seat of the Villa Tunari Municipality, the third municipal section of the Chapare Province. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 2,510....
- Laguna La AngosturaLaguna La AngosturaLaguna La Angostura is a lake in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. At an elevation of 2700 m, its surface area is 10.5 km²....
- Pairumani: The Pairumani estate about 20 km from the city of Cochabamba comprises Villa Albina, a landed estate which was property of the Bolivian industrialist Simón I. Patiño, built between 1925 and 1932, a model farm and seed centre and a Centre for Phytoecogenetic Research. The palace of Pairumani was declared Bolivian National Monument in 1967.