Penonomé, Coclé
| Penonomé | |
|---|---|
|
Penonomé Church | |
  Penonomé | |
| Coordinates: 8°31′07″N 80°21′19″W / 8.518722°N 80.355291°WCoordinates: 8°31′07″N 80°21′19″W / 8.518722°N 80.355291°W | |
| Country | Panama |
| Province | Coclé |
| District | Penonomé |
| Founded | 1581 |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 53 km2 (20 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Population (2010)[1][2] | |
| • City | 21,748 |
| • Density | 410.7/km2 (1,064/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 88,143 |
| Population density calculated based on land area. | |
| Time zone | EST (UTC−5) |
| Website |
penonome |
Penonomé (pop. 21,748) is the capital of the Panamanian province of Coclé. The town is located along the Inter-American Highway in the wide, flat lowlands of central Coclé.[3]
History
Overview
Penonomé was founded in 1581.[4] The name of this town comes from the words "penó Nomé". Nome was a chief of a local Native American tribe, who was put to death by the Spanish colonial officials. "Penó Nomé" means "Nome was executed."[5] The town was the capital of Panama for a short period after Panama City was sacked by Henry Morgan in 1671.[4]
The town is home to many descendants of Turkish, Chinese, and Arab immigrants.[3] Its population as of 1990 was 12,117; its population as of 2000 was 15,841.[1]
Local legend
Local legend (unknown origin) has it that Penonomé was a chieftain in love with an indigenous woman named Zaratí. His tribe didn't want him to marry and so told him that his beloved had drowned. Trying desperately and without success to find her, he threw himself from a bluff, crying out "I'm coming Zara!" Hence the names of the Zaratí River and Penonomé ("Penó Nomé" in Spanish meaning "Nomé mourned", with subject and verb inverted).
Landmarks
The Catedral de Penonomé and the municipal government office (Casa de Gobierno) are located on the town's central plaza.[3] The town also has a small museum, El Museo de Penonomé, which is often closed.[3] The town has two main shopping streets, Avenida Juan Demóstenes Arosemena and the Inter-American Highway along the edge of town.[3]
Transport
Penonomé is served by buses to many locations in Panama.[3]
Notable people
- Esther Neira de Calvo (1890-1978) - women's rights activist
- Diana Jaen - Miss World Panama 2015
References
- 1 2 3 "Cuadro 11 (Superficie, población y densidad de población en la República...)" [Table 11 (Area, population, and population density in the Republic...)] (.xls). In "Resultados Finales Básicos" [Basic Final Results] (in Spanish). National Institute of Statistics and Census of Panama. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
- ↑ Contraloría General de la República, Censo 2010 http://www.censos2010.gob.pa/Resultados/cuadros.aspx (Spanish)
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Friar, William. Panama. Moon Publications (2008), p. 236–37. ISBN 159880085X.
- 1 2 Katzman, Patricia. Panama. Hunter Publishing (2006), p. 162. ISBN 978-1-58843-529-3.
- ↑ Panama Now. Focus Publications (1986), p. 19. OCLC 15925937.
External links
Media related to Penonomé at Wikimedia Commons
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