Subdivisions of Gran Colombia

The subdivisions of Republic of Gran Colombia, a former independent country in northern South America.

The post-Spanish colonial country existed from 1819 to 1831. The initial 1820 subdivisions were revised and expanded in 1824.

1820 Departments

Gran Colombia departments in 1820.

The initial country subdivision of Gran Colombia was into three departments, without larger districts or smaller provinces. They were:

• Cundinmarca Department
• Quito Department
• Venezuela Department

1824 Districts, departments, & provinces

Gran Colombia departments in 1824.

Distrito del Norte

The Distrito del Norte (northern district) was in present day Venezuela and parts of Guyana and Brazil. Its departments and provinces were:

• Apure Department: 2 provinces — Barinas Province and Achaguas Province.
• Orinoco Department: 4 provinces — Cumaná Province, Barcelona Province, Guayana Province and Margarita Province.
• Venezuela Department: 2 provinces — Caracas Province and Carabobo Province.
• Zulia Department: 4 provinces — Maracaybo/Maracaibo, Coro Province, Mérida Province and Trujillo Province.

Distrito del Centro

The Distrito del Centro (central district) was in present day Colombia and Panamá. Its departments and provinces were:

• Boyacá Department: 4 provinces — Tunja Province, Casanare Province, Pamplona Province, and Socorro Province.
• Cauca Department: 4 provinces — Popayán Province, Buenaventura Province, Chocó Province, Pasto Province.
• Cundinamarca Department: 4 provinces — Bogotá Province, Antioquia Province, Mariquita Province, Neiva Province.
• Istmo Department: 2 provinces — Istmo Province and Veraguas Province.
• Magdalena Department: 3 provinces — Cartagena Province, Riohacha Province, Santa Marta Province.

Distrito del Sur

The Distrito del Sur (southern district) was in present day Ecuador, and north of Marañón River in present day Perú. Its departments and provinces were:

• Azuay Department: 3 provinces — Cuenca Province, Loja Province, Jaén de Bracamoros and Maynas.
• Guayaquil Department: 2 provinces — Guayaquil Province and Manabi Province.
• Ecuador Department: 3 provinces — Pichincha Province, Chimborazo Province and Imbabura Province.

Maps of subdivisions

• 

  3 departments in 1820: Quito, Cundinamarca, Venezuela

• 

  12 departments in 1824

• 

  Gran Colombia in 1827

See also

• Provinces of Gran Colombia
• Departments of Colombia — in present day country.

External links

• Ley de División Territorial de la República de Colombia—(Spanish)
• Historia territorial de Colombia—(Spanish)