Penonomé, Coclé Explained

Official Name:Penonomé
Pushpin Map:Panama
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Panama
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Coclé
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Penonomé
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Paula Gonzalez
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:April 30, 1581
Area Land Km2:53
Area Footnotes:[1] |population_as_of = 2010|population_total =21,748|population_footnotes=[2] [3] |population_density_km2 = 410.7|population_note = Population density calculated based on land area.|population_metro = 88143|timezone1 = EST|utc_offset1 = −5|coordinates = 8.5187°N -80.3553°W|elevation_m = 70|area_code =|blank_name = Climate|blank_info = Aw |website = }}Penonomé (pronounced as /es/) is the capital of the Panamanian province of Coclé. The town is located in the geographic center of Panama along the Inter-American Highway in the wide, flat lowlands of central Coclé.[4]

History

Overview

Penonomé was founded in 1581.[5] The name of this town comes from the words "penó Nomé". Nomé was a chief of a local Native American tribe who resisted the Spanish conquistadores and was put to death by colonial officials. "Penó Nomé" means "Nomé was punished."[6] [7] The town was the capital of Panama for a short period after Panama City was sacked by Henry Morgan in 1671.

The town is home to many descendants of Turkish, Chinese, and Arab immigrants. Its population as of 1990 was 12,117; its population as of 2000 was 15,841.

Local legend

Local legend (unknown origin) has it that Nomé 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. The town also has a small museum, El Museo de Penonomé, which is often closed. The town has two main shopping streets, Avenida Juan Demóstenes Arosemena and the Inter-American Highway along the edge of town.

Penonomé is the location of several football stadiums, including the Estadio Virgilio Tejeira, a built in 2001. It was funded by FIFA as a part of the Goal Project to support Panama's national team.[8]

Transport

Penonomé is served by buses to many locations in Panama.

Notable people

External links

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Notes and References

  1. http://www.contraloria.gob.pa/inec/archivos/P3601Cuadro11.xls "Cuadro 11 (Superficie, población y densidad de población en la República...)" [Table 11 (Area, population, and population density in the Republic...)]
  2. http://www.contraloria.gob.pa/inec/archivos/P3601Cuadro11.xls "Cuadro 11 (Superficie, población y densidad de población en la República...)" [Table 11 (Area, population, and population density in the Republic...)]
  3. Contraloría General de la República, Censo 2010 Web site: Censos Nacionales 2010 - Resultados Finales Básicos . 2010-12-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110307170158/http://www.censos2010.gob.pa/Resultados/Cuadros.aspx . 2011-03-07 . es.
  4. Friar, William. Panama. Moon Publications (2008), p. 236–37. .
  5. Katzman, Patricia. Panama. Hunter Publishing (2006), p. 162. .
  6. Panama Now. Focus Publications (1986), p. 19. .
  7. Web site: Jackson. Eric. Victoriano Lorenzo, a century after his execution. The Panama News. https://web.archive.org/web/20031017061349/http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_09/issue_10/community_01.html. 17 October 2003. 2003.
  8. Web site: 2019-03-17 . FEPAFUT reinaugura el Complejo Futbolístico Virgilio Tejeira Andrión – Federación Panameña de Fútbol . FEPAFUT REOPENS THE VIRGILIO TEJEIRA ANDRIÓN FOOTBALL COMPLEX . 2024-05-01 . fepafut.com . es.