Cojedes, Venezuela

For other uses, see Cojedes.

Cojedes State Estado Cojedes
—  State  —
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Latin: Ad sum (I am here)
Anthem: Cojedes State Anthem
Location within Venezuela
Coordinates: 9.36°N 68.32°W / 9.36; -68.32
Country	Venezuela
Created	1864
Capital	San Carlos
Government
• Governor	Erika Farías (2012–2016)
Area
• Total	14,800 km2 (5,700 sq mi)
Area rank	13th
	1.62% of Venezuela
Population (2007 est.)
• Total	300,300
• Rank	22nd
	1.14% of Venezuela
Time zone	UTC-04:30
ISO 3166 code	VE-H
Emblematic tree	Apamate (Tabebuia rosea)
Website	www.cojedes.gob.ve

Cojedes (Spanish: Estado Cojedes, IPA: [esˈtaðo koˈxeðes]) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Carlos.

Cojedes State covers a total surface area of 14,800 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 300,300.

History

Native Americans from the Orinoco region kept moving through this region to colonize or trade with the regions around the Tacarigua Lake (the native name for Lake Valencia).

Fray Cirilo Bautista of Sevilla founded Santa Clara de Caramacate in 1750. Bishop Martí wrote some of the first reports about the area in 1760. That year missionaries Fray Gabriel de San Lucas and Fray Salvador of Cádiz founded the city of San Carlos. The original name was San Carlos de Austria. Nuestra Señora de la Chiquinquirá of El Tinaco was founded by Fray Pablo de Orichuela on the same year. El Pao was founded one year later, in 1661. The towns and the areas around them became cantons under jurisdiction of the Province of Caracas.

After the independence, the territory became part of Carabobo Province, one of the 11 Provinces of Venezuela at independence.

Municipalities and municipal seats

1. Anzoátegui (Cojedes)
2. Falcón (Tinaquillo)
3. Girardot (El Baúl)
4. Lima Blanco (Macapo)
5. Pao de San Juan Bautista (El Pao)
6. Ricaurte (Libertad)
7. Rómulo Gallegos (Las Vegas)
8. San Carlos (San Carlos)
9. Tinaco (Tinaco)

See also

• States of Venezuela