Rubio is a town in the Venezuelan Andean state of Táchira. Founded in 1794 by Gervasio Rubio, this town is the shire town of the Junín Municipality and, according to the 2001 Venezuelan census, the municipality has a population of 68,869.[1]
Rubio | |
|---|---|
 View of Santa Barbara Cathedral (Iglesia Santa Barbara), from Rubio Community TV Station | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname(s): "La Ciudad Pontalida" (English:"The Bridge City") | |
  Rubio | |
| Coordinates: 7°42′N 72°21′W / 7.700°N 72.350°W | |
| Country | Venezuela |
| State | Táchira |
| Municipality | Junín |
| Founded | December 8, 1794 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Angel Marquez (PSUV) |
| Area | |
• Total | 315 km2 (122 sq mi) |
| Population (2010) | |
• Total | 87,249 |
| • Density | 280/km2 (720/sq mi) |
| • Demonym | Rubienses -o |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (VET) |
| Postal code | 5030 |
| Area code | 0276 |
| Climate | Aw |
| Website | junin-tachira.gob.ve |
| The area and population figures are for the municipality | |
Rubio is one of the largest towns in the state of Táchira. Its importance derives from its coffee production and the nearby commerce that exists with Colombia. Venezuela's former president, Carlos Andrés Pérez, was also born in Rubio.
Rubio has beautiful natural tunnels called La Cueva de los Miagros. There are some rivers and waterfalls on the outskirts of town. The town has many bridges especially in Old Rubio. For this reason it is called "Ciudad Pontalida" or "City of Bridges." Rubio is located in the west of Estado Táchira and is a 40-minute drive from San Cristóbal, the capital of Táchira.
History
editRubio was founded by Gervasio Rubio in 1794.[2] It was then the capital of the Táchira State, before the capital was moved to San Cristóbal. Rubio is sometimes called "La Ciudad Pontalida" ("The City of Bridges") and housed Christiansen Academy, an international school.
Demographics
editThe Junín Municipality, according to the 2001 Venezuelan census, has a population of 68,869 (up from 53,981 in 1990). This amounts to 6.9% of Táchira's population.[3] The municipality's population density is 566.2 people per square mile (218.63/km²).[1]
Government
editRubio is the shire town of the Junín Municipality in Táchira. The mayor of the Junín Municipality is Angel Marquez Elected in 2017 after winning the elections against Jobel Sandoval at the end of 2017
The economy of the city is based on coffee production. The first exploitation of oil in Venezuela (1883) was in La Petrolia by the company "Compañia Nacional Minera Petrolía del Táchira" and the first well was called "Salvador" ("Savior").
Sites of interest
editReligious buildings
edit- Catedral de Santa Bárbara de Rubio
Squares and parks
edit- Plaza Simón Bolívar
- Parque la Petrolia
- Plaza Urdaneta
- Plaza Gervasio Rubio
Notable people
edit- Carlos Andrés Pérez, President of Venezuela (1974-1979) and (1989-1993).[4]
- Leonardo Ruiz Pineda, Political Leader in Venezuela Founder of AD
- Carlos Zapata, Architect.[5]
- Konrad Bernheimer, Art Dealer and Collector
- Roberto Giusti, Journalist and Author
References
edit- ^ a b http://www.tachira.gov.ve/paginaweb/tachira/estadisticas/Estadisticas_Municipios/junin.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ Municipios del estado Táchira Archived 2007-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Primeros Resultados XIII Censo General de Población y Vivienda Archived 2007-08-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Carlos Andrés Perez - Venezuela Tuya
- ^ "WAM | Architecture by Carlos Zapata".
External links
edit
- junin-tachira.gob.ve (in Spanish)
- Information on the Junín Municipality (in Spanish)
- More information on the Junín Municipality[permanent dead link] (in Spanish)
- desderubio.com (in Spanish)