Yaracuy

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"Yaracuy" redirects here. For other uses, see Yaracuy (disambiguation).

Estado Yaracuy


State flag	State Coat of Arms

Yaracuy State Anthem

Motto: none

Location within Venezuela

Created
(given current status) 1909

State capital San Felipe de Yaracuy

Area
•% 7,100 km²
0,77 (Ranked 19th)

Population
•% 597,700 hab. (2007 est.)
2,16 (Ranked 18th)

Emblematic tree The Chaguaramo
(Roystonea venezuelana)

ISO 3166-2 VE-U

Governor Carlos Gimenez
2004 - 2008

Website: Gobernacion del Estado Yaracuy

Estado Yaracuy is one of the 23 states (estados) of Venezuela. It is bordered by Falcón in the north, in the west by Lara, in the south by Portuguesa and Cojedes and in the east by Cojedes and Carabobo.

Its geography is mountainous: the Andes range ends there, and the Coastal Range begins. It is split by two mountainous systems, the Sierra de Aroa on the North and the Sierra de Nirgua. In between lays the agricultural land drained by the Yaracuy river. Most cities and towns are in this valley, including its capital San Felipe.

The economy of Yaracuy is mostly agricultural (Sugar cane, Corn, cattle raising). Some manufacturing can be found in Yaritagua area and Chivacoa, usually agribusiness.

In recent years Yaracuy had experienced some growth and social development under governor Lapi. But in 2004 thanks to the Chavez landslide he was barely unseated by Gimenez, supported by Chavez political allies in the area. Since then the economy has been in some turmoil as a considerable amount of land invasions by poor farmers in search lands have created havoc with the agricultural system. In particular the sugar cane production has plummeted. Currently the political situation is tense as Gimenez questioned rule has brought him under a Recall Election threat for late 2007.

[edit] Municipalities and municipal seats

Yaracuy is divided into fourteen municipalities:

#	Municipality	Seat
1	Aristides Bastidas	San Pablo
2	Bolivar	Aroa
3	Bruzual	Chivacoa
4	Cocorote	Cocorote
5	Independencia	Independencia
6	Jose Antonio Paez	Sabana de Parra
7	La Trinidad	Boraure
8	Manuel Monge	Yumare
9	Nirgua	Nirgua
10	Peña	Yaritagua
11	San Felipe	San Felipe de Yaracuy
12	Sucre	Guama
13	Urachiche	Urachiche
14	Veroes	Farriar

The state capital is San Felipe de Yaracuy. Other important towns are Aroa, Chivacoa, Cocorote, Marín, Nirgua, Sabana de Parra, Yaritagua, and Urachiche.

Yaracuy State covers a total surface area of 7,100 km². Population: 597,700 inhabitants (2007 est).