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45-634: Cúcuta ( Spanish: [ˈkukuta] ), officially San José de Cúcuta , is a Colombian municipality , capital of the department of Norte de Santander and nucleus of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta . The city is located in the homonymous valley, at the foot of the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes , on the border with Venezuela . It comprises an area of approximately 1119 km, with an urban area of 64 km (divided into 10 communes) and

90-511: A combined population of more than 830,000 people. It is the largest metropolitan area in eastern Colombia and seventh in Colombia, behind Barranquilla , Bucaramanga , and Cartagena . Many notable Colombians are from Cúcuta: The current mayor of Cúcuta is Donamaris Ramírez-Paris Lobo , who was elected for the 2011–2015 period. He represented the Partido Verde and achieved approximately 43% of

135-612: A major offensive against the Spanish forces who were on the east bank of the Magdalena River and quickly achieved resounding victories. These led him to undertake a journey to liberate the Valley of Cúcuta held by the command of royalist Colonel Ramon Correa. On August 30, 1821, the Congress of Cúcuta took place at the town of Villa del Rosario (today part of Cúcuta) in the church known today as

180-435: A rural area of 1055 km (divided into 10 townships). The city has a population of 777,106 inhabitants, which makes it the most populous municipality in the department and the sixth most populous municipality in the country . Similarly, its metropolitan area (made up of the municipalities of Villa del Rosario , Los Patios , El Zulia , San Cayetano and Puerto Santander ) has an approximate population of 1,046,347. The city

225-425: Is 27.6 °C or 81.7 °F; afternoon maximum temperatures are around 32 °C or 89.6 °F. There is a sharp contrast between the wet season and the dry season . The driest months are January, February, June and July; the wettest are April, May, September, October and November. June and July usually however have frequent light precipitation and fog, whereas August is sunny and windy. The annual precipitation

270-569: Is 320 metres (1,050 feet) above sea level . Rivers in Cúcuta and Norte de Santander include the Pamplonita River , Guaramito River , San Miguel River and Zulia River . The Pamplonita River crosses the Norte de Santander Department . ( Comunas ) ( Corregimientos ) ( Caseríos ) Cúcuta has a tropical savanna climate , bordering on a hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen BSh ). The mean temperature

315-547: Is a public, coeducational, research university based primarily in the city of Cúcuta , Colombia, with regional campuses in Ocaña, Colombia , Chinacota and Tibú . It is the largest university in the state with more than 25,000 students. It offers 50 academic programmes, including 37 undergraduate degrees and 13 graduate degrees. The university was founded on July 5, 1962, later being accredited by decree #37 (1964) and decree #323 (1970). The Francisco de Paula Santander University

360-493: Is a special combined functions between a presidential power and a corregimiento. The reason for this classification is that the large territory is mostly inhospitable, inhabited only by indigenous peoples and within the Amazon rainforest . Bogotá is divided into localities ( localidades ): Francisco de Paula Santander University The Francisco de Paula Santander University (Spanish: Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander )

405-684: Is an autonomous university with administrative and financial autonomy, working under the Ministry of National Education . Its main campus is located in Cúcuta , having a branch in the city of Ocaña and in the municipality of Chinacota. It also possesses several regional open education centers in municipalities of the departments of Norte de Santander, Cundinamarca , Santander , Cesar , Sucre , Bolívar , Magdalena , Arauca , and San Andrés y Providencia . Graduate programs: This Colombian university, college, or tertiary institution related article

450-416: Is around 900 millimetres or 35 inches. Higher elevations near the city have cooler and wetter climates. Cúcuta's center, core of the city, is organized as a grid adopted from Spain in colonial times and reformed by Francisco Andrade Troconis after the devastating earthquake of 1875 , with Santander Park as the guiding point. More than 300 neighborhoods form the urban network. Poorer neighborhoods are in

495-640: Is formed by 19 representatives elected by popular vote for four years. They approve or reject each decree issued by the mayor and make or correct laws regarding the city. As the capital of Norte de Santander Department , Cúcuta houses the Department Hall and the City hall of the Metropolitan Area of Cúcuta , along with the Francisco de Paula Santander Justice Palace. Colombian municipality The municipalities of Colombia are also grouped in an association called

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540-827: The Camilo Daza International Airport , and a ground terminal, the Central de Transportes de Cúcuta. Its flagship university is the Francisco de Paula Santander University , one of the most important universities in eastern Colombia. It also has the presence of other universities of local and national renown such as the University of Pamplona , the FESC , the Free University of Colombia , the Simón Bolivar University ,

585-559: The Federación Colombiana de Municipios (Colombian Federation of Municipalities), which functions as a union under the private law and under the constitutional right to free association to defend their common interests. Conforming to the law 1551/12 that modified the sixth article of the law 136/94 the municipalities have the categories listed below: The Department of Amazonas is formed by 2 municipalities which are Leticia and Puerto Nariño; and by "department corregimientos" which

630-723: The University of Santander , the Saint Thomas University , among others. The city has a name composed in the manner of almost all the Spanish foundations in America: San José (one of the most widespread names in the continent thanks to the devotions of San José in Spain), honors Saint Joseph . The name of Cúcuta was taken in honor of the cacique Kuku-ta «Cúcuta in Spanish» and represents the Motilon-Bari indigenous people who inhabited

675-568: The city of Ocaña , calling it "Santa Ana de Hacarí". Some of his colleagues named it New Madrid, and others Santa Ana of Ocaña. The next year, Antonio Orozco, a subaltern of Fernández, founded the town of Teorama, while the Augustinian Friars founded a convent in what is today the city of Chinácota . "A journey through the city centre where the Cathedral of St. Joseph, the Palace of Government and

720-552: The "Earthquake of the Andes". The earthquake occurred at 11:15 am; it destroyed Villa del Rosario, San Antonio del Tachira and Capacho, seriously damaged the Venezuelan settlements of San Cristóbal , La Mulata, Rubio, Michelena, La Grita and Colón (among others), and was felt in Bogotá and Caracas . In the 19th century, the construction of a railroad set off an Industrial Revolution in

765-401: The "Historic Temple of Cúcuta". The congress was established by Antonio Nariño and its participants included Francisco de Paula Santander , Simón Bolívar , and other leaders of Spanish America's struggle for independence from Spain. The main objective of this congress was to unify the territories of New Granada ( Colombia and Panama ) and Venezuela and thus create a huge state to be known as

810-507: The Monument to the column of Bolivar are located is returning to the historical roots of our ancestors.". In the early 17th century a great part of the valley of Cúcuta belonged to Captain Christopher de Araque Ponce de Leon. The land passed through inheritance to his son Fernando Araque Ponce de Leon, who was the owner of the entire territory from the Valley of Cúcuta to the village of San Jose,

855-456: The Republic of Colombia ( Gran Colombia ). Ecuador subsequently joined Gran Colombia. At 11 am on October 3, 1821, Simón Bolívar entered the meeting room in the sacristy of the church. He took a seat next to the president of Congress and was sworn in as president of the fledgling Republic of Colombia. On May 18, 1875, Cúcuta was largely destroyed by the earthquake of Cúcuta , also known as

900-639: The arms that the National Congress adopted for Colombia by the Law of October 6, 1821, at its meeting in the Villa del Rosario . In the center are a quiver of spears, marked with X's, and a set of bow and arrows, tied with tricolor tape. The spears represent attributes of the Roman consuls; the X is a symbol of the right of life or death; the bow and arrows are symbols of the pre-hispanic indigenous people. The anthem of Cúcuta

945-473: The city after a battle that lasted from 9:00 a.m. until early afternoon. About 400 men led by Bolivar fought 800 troops led by the Spanish general Ramon Correa. Bolivar's forces reported losses of two killed and 14 injured, while the royalists are said to have suffered 20 killed and 40 injured. The victory freed the city of Cúcuta and led to the Admirable Campaign . Colonel Simón Bolívar then launched

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990-582: The city. The railroad had four branches: North, East, South and West. The North branch was constructed from 1878 to 1888, and connected Cúcuta with Puerto Santander and Venezuela. Construction of the Eastern and Southern branches began in 1878; the South branch linked with Pamplona, Colombia , and ended in El Diamante. The West branch was not built owing to economic problems. The railroad company fell into bankruptcy and

1035-641: The city: one of these events was the Congress of 1821 , where the Constitution of Cúcuta was written and approved. This constitution created Greater Colombia , a country embracing the present-day territories of Colombia , Venezuela , Ecuador , and Panama . The city preserves places where these historical events took place: the Historical Church of Cúcuta , the House of Santander , and the Park of Greater Colombia . As

1080-457: The construction of a church and land for Spanish families. Today, this area is the neighborhood of San Luis. The Battle of Cúcuta was one of the most important events of the Spanish American wars of independence , due to its role in the independence of Colombia and Venezuela. This battle was the beginning of the Admirable Campaign of Simón Bolívar . On February 28, 1813, Bolivar captured

1125-758: The end of the century, by the King Charles IV of Spain . This was possible thanks to the help of the lawyer of the Royal Audience José María Maldona, who was in charge of legally presenting before the Viceroy José Manuel de Ezpeleta the presentation of the title of village on behalf of the inhabitants of the city. The city has the nicknames The Pearl of the North, Gate of the Border, Green City, City of Trees, The Basketball Capital of Colombia . Cúcuta

1170-469: The indicative "E" (from Este , east) as well (for example, 1st Avenue E, 2nd Avenue E, etc.). The red and black North Santander Department flag was exhibited for the first time in 1928, when the first National Olympics were held in Cali . However, the flag of Cúcuta was not legalized until Mayor Carlos A. Rangel issued Decree 106 on May 3, 1988. The black section represents the rich resources hidden beneath

1215-644: The jurisdiction of the city of San Faustino. These fields had been donated to the older Araque by the Governor of the Province of New Mérida on 9 September 1630. The resistance of the Motilones indigenous group towards the whites who were taking over and controlling the valley with economic ambitions was the key factor in the request for the establishment of a Catholic parish with the name "San José." Juana Rangel de Cuéllar donated 782 hectares (1,930 acres) on June 17, 1733, for

1260-1026: The main governmental bodies of departmental order such as the Government of Norte de Santander, the Assembly of Norte de Santander, the Superior Court of the Judicial District of Cúcuta, the Administrative Court of Norte de Santander and the regional branches of the Superior Council of the Judiciary and the Office of the Inspector General of Colombia . Cúcuta is connected by road with Bogotá , Bucaramanga , Valledupar , Cartagena de Indias and, by its border condition, with Venezuela . It has an air terminal,

1305-529: The most important urban settlement of the Colombian-Venezuelan border along with the Venezuelan city of San Cristóbal , due to its trade dynamics and its historical importance in the consolidation of the modern states of Colombia and Venezuela as well as its diplomatic relations , hosting events such as the Battle of Cúcuta of 1813, the Congress of Cúcuta of 1821 in Villa del Rosario , in more recent times

1350-436: The newly created Governorate of Santa Marta. Alfínger, in search of El Dorado , arrived in an area of indigenous settlements called Tamalameque along the Magdalena River, fighting and defeating several tribes. Alfinger was eventually killed in the outskirts of present-day Chinácota in a battle with Chimila and Chitarero . With Alfínger dead, Fedro St. Martin took command of the troops and returned to Coro, passing through

1395-575: The north, north-west and south-west, many of them squatter areas. The middle class lives mostly in the central and eastern areas. Minor streets ( Calles ) run from east to west, perpendicular to the city's western hills, whose numbering increases from north to south, starting from 1st Street. Major streets ( avenidas ), on the other hand, run from south to north parallel to the hills, starting from Zero Avenue. Avenues west of Zero Avenue increase their numbering from east to west, while those east of Zero Avenue increase their numbering from west to east, adding

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1440-531: The region before the conquest. Kuku-ta in the native language means "House of the Goblin". The city was known as San José de Guasimales from 1733 to 1793, when it changed to its current name. The coat of arms of the city has the legend that it says «Muy Noble, Valerosa y Leal Villa de San José de Cúcuta» Very Noble, Valiant and Loyal Village of San José de Cúcuta , title that was granted to him by means of royal card in just recognition to his laborious sons, shortly before

1485-514: The region. From its foundation in the 18th century and throughout the Spanish viceroyalty, the parish was consolidated as one of the most important settlements of the Colombian East and Spanish America, receiving in 1792 the title of «Very Noble, Valiant and Loyal Village» by King Charles IV of Spain . The city is the political, economic, industrial, artistic, cultural, sports and tourist epicenter of Norte de Santander and constitutes, in turn, as

1530-489: The signing of the 1941 Treaty of Limits between Colombia and Venezuela , the 1959 Treaty of Tonchalá, the charity concerts Peace Without Borders of 2008 and Venezuela Aid Live of 2019, among others. It also played a significant role during Colombian immigration to Venezuela and has recently become one of the most important transit points of the Venezuelan migration crisis . As the capital of Norte de Santander, Cúcuta houses

1575-536: The site of the Battle of Cúcuta (February 28, 1813), the city was the beginning of the Admirable Campaign led by Simón Bolívar . This campaign resulted in the independence of Venezuela. The first European in the North Santander territories was the German conquistador Ambrosio Alfinger , who came from Santa Ana de Coro ( Venezuela ) in 1530 with a troop of adventurers, and invaded the unexplored eastern region of

1620-500: The territory of Cúcuta. In 1541, Hernán Pérez de Quesada reached the territory of Chinácota , but had to turn back the same year due to resistance by the indigenous people. Shortly thereafter, Alfonso Perez de Tolosa left El Tocuyo (Venezuela) and went to Salazar de Las Palmas , through Cúcuta, but also had to turn back after losing many soldiers in clashes with the natives. In 1549, Spanish troops, commanded by Pedro de Ursúa and Ortún Velasco, invaded North Santander and reached

1665-460: The territory, as well as the potential capability of the local people, whereas the red section represents the sacrifices of the independence heroes and the perseverance of the people in charge of reconstructing the city. The coat of arms of Cúcuta was adopted on February 3, 1958, by Decree 032, after a request by the History Academy of North Santander. The shield is a classic shape, and carries

1710-475: The title conferred on the city by Royal Decree of the Emperor Carlos IV : Very noble, valiant and loyal town of San José of Cúcuta . The upper part depicts the arms of the city's founder Juana Rangel of Cuéllar, who donated lands for the foundation of the city on June 17, 1733. They are five silver and red fleur-de-lis in the shape of reels, on a golden background. The lower part of the shield displays

1755-541: The town of Salazar, but it was soon destroyed by the cacique Cínera. In 1583, the town was rebuilt by Alonso Esteban Rangel (great-grandfather of the founder of Cúcuta), on a site more appropriate for its defense in the event of new attacks by the natives. The second expedition, commanded by Captain Francisco Fernández de Contreras, reached the lands of the Hacaritamas indigenous group and, on 26 July 1572, founded

1800-458: The valley of Pamplona. In tribute to the Spanish city of Pamplona , the Spaniards founded the city of Pamplona . The new town soon attracted numerous people because of its agreeable climate, and gold mines that were discovered in the region. Further expeditions left this town and completed the conquest of the current territory of North Santander . An expedition commanded by Diego de Montes founded

1845-536: The votation or 98,588 votes. The city is governed by the three branches of power: the executive power, represented by the Mayor and its departments; the legislative power, represented by the City Council; and the judicial power, which is formed by the tribunals and many other organisms of control. The Mayor is elected for a 4-year period and is in charge of electing each head of the administration departments. The city council

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1890-554: Was closed in 1960. Many of the city's historic buildings lie within the Park of Greater Colombia , including the House of Santander , the historic church , and the historic tamarind . All these are well preserved. The city is in the eastern part of the Department of North Santander , in the Cordillera Oriental , close to the border with Venezuela . The city's area is 110 square kilometres (42 square miles) and its elevation

1935-417: Was founded as a parish on June 17, 1733, by Juana Rangel de Cuéllar , resident of Pamplona in the area under the name of San José de Guasimales , as part of an initiative of the white and mestizo locals to separate themselves from the "Indian Village of Cúcuta" (currently San Luis Quarter). Later, the name was changed to San José de Cúcuta, castellanization of «Kuku-ta», in honor of the indigenous people of

1980-611: Was legalized by means of Decree 039 of February 8, 1984, by Mayor Luis Vicente Mountain Forest. The lyrics were written by Father Manuel Grillo Martínez, and the music by the master Pablo Tarazona Prada. It was chosen as the Anthem of Cúcuta by a unanimous vote in a contest held in the Theater Zulima. The metropolitan area, which includes the municipalities of Villa del Rosario , Los Patios , El Zulia , San Cayetano , and Puerto Santander , has

2025-451: Was originally a pre-hispanic settlement. It was entrusted to Sebastian Lorenzo by Pedro de Ursua as an encomienda in 1550. Juana Rangel de Cuellar founded Cúcuta on June 17, 1733, and donated a further 782 hectares (1,930 acres). The village, centred on a church, grew considerably due to its strategic commercial location, and eventually became a city. Several important events that forged Colombia as an independent republic took place in

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