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History of Barquisimeto


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Barquisimeto was founded in 1552 by Juan de Villegas, as a headquarter and to have better control of the territory believed to be rich in gold. Its original name was "Nueva Segovia de Barquisimeto".

This city had four settlements due to ignorance of the physical environment of the region. The first one was in 1552 nearby Bur�a River, but moved in 1556 due to frequent floods suffered inhabitants. The second one was in the valley of the Turbio River where the city stayed until the �tyrant� Lope de Aguirre burned it down in 1561. Its rebuilding was made 102 kilometres above (63 miles), but in 1562 they asked for permission to move to another site due to strong winds blowing in the place. Finally, Barquisimeto is located on the north plateau of the Turbio River in 1563.

During the country's independence, Barquisimeto joined the liberation movement and its deputy Jos� �ngel �lamo signed, along with other heroes, the Independence Act on July 5, 1811.

In 1929, the city went through a modernization program carried out by General Eustoquio G�mez. He fixed the streets and avenues and buildings were built, like the Jacinto Lara Headquarters, the Government Palace and the Ayacucho Park.

Etymology

According the German adventurer Nikolaus Federmann, the Caquet�o aborigines used to call it Variquicimeto, which translates as "ash-colored river", the name with which the natives distinguished the water stream near the city. This river was named "Turbio River" by the Spanish conquerors, name that continues to these days. Another possible name origin is due to a red dye called bariqu�.

When Juan de Villegas founded it, he named the city "Nueva Segovia de Barquisimeto", but years later becomes just "Barquisimeto", a word popularized by Oviedo y Ba�os in his book "History and Conquest of the Venezuelan Population".

Neighboring Municipalities

*   North: Urdaneta Municipality

*   South: Palavecino
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