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La Ceiba

Coordinates: 15°46′N 86°50′W / 15.767°N 86.833°W / 15.767; -86.833
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La Ceiba
La Ceiba Municipality in 2007
La Ceiba Municipality in 2007
Official seal of La Ceiba
Seal
Nickname: 
La novia de Honduras (Honduras' girlfriend/bride)
Country Honduras
DepartmentAtlántida
Government
 • mayorCarlos Aguilar
Area
 • Metro
25 km2 (4.251 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • City174,006
Time zoneHonduras

La Ceiba is a port city on the northern coast of Honduras in Central America. It is located on the southern edge of the Caribbean, forming part of the south eastern boundary of the Gulf of Honduras. With an estimated population of over 174,000 living in approximately 170 residential areas (called colonias or barrios)[2], it is the third largest city in the country and the capital of the Honduran department of Atlántida. La Ceiba was officially founded on August 23, 1877. The city was named after a giant ceiba trees which grew near the old dock, which itself finally fell into the sea in late 2007. Its climate is tropical, with a latitude of 15° 46.0 and a longitude of 086° 50.0. The city has been officially proclaimed the "Eco-Tourism Capital of Honduras" as well as the "Entertainment Capital of Honduras". Every year, on the third or fourth Saturday of May, the city holds its famous carnival to commemorate Isidore the Laborer (Spanish San Isidro Labrador). During this time, the city is host to approximately 500,000 tourists.

History

A shop selling air conditioning. Pico Bonito Mountain in the far right background

In 1872, a man named Manuel Hernandez built a small shack under the Ceiba tree that was at one point by the old docks. Over time, more and more people from all over present-day Honduras (especially the departments of Olancho and Santa Barbara), and from around the world settled in La Ceiba. These people were attracted by the cultivation of bananas that became popular in the region. In the late 19th century, the banana business caught the attention of big North American banana companies such as the Vaccaro Brothers' Standard Fruit Company from New Orleans. This new economic activity attracted national and international immigrants to La Ceiba. The current neighborhood known as Barrio Ingles was the first recognized neighborhood in the city and was named so because of the number of English speaking people living in that area. At that point the main thorougfare of La Ceiba was present-day Avenida La Republica, which is where the train tracks were set. These train tracks were built by the Standard Fruit Company (now Standard Fruit de Honduras), now a Dole subsidiary. This company is laregly responsible for the early growth of the city.

La Ceiba was declared a municipality on August 23, 1877. At that time Marco Aurelio Soto was the Honduras President. La Ceiba was the center of banana and pineapple business and the regional economy depended laregly on it. This led to the birth of newer and larger national companies such as:

Banco Atlantida on 1era Calle (1st Street)
  • Cerveceria Hondureña, the national brewing company and holder of the Coca-Cola licence in Honduras. Founded in 1918
  • Fabrica de Manteca y Jabon Atlantida, known as La Blanquita, at one point, the largest producer of consumer goods in Honduras, now defunct.
  • Banco Atlantida, oldest Bank in the country, founded in 1913
  • Mazapan School, the first bilingual school of the nation, the oldest high school and second oldest elementary school in the city.

The first municipal building or city hall was located in the corner of 2da Calle and Avenida Atlantida, where the present day Ferreteria Kawas warehouse is. The building was made of wood and in 1903 it was burnt down due to vandalism from people wanting to get rid of private property ownership records in La Ceiba. The municipal building was again set on fire on March 7, 1914. The Municipal Corporation moved the offices more south of the city where it was again set on fire in 1924. It was shortly built in its current location, a piece of land donated by Manuel Mejia.

Economy

Currently La Ceiba is the second most important port town after Puerto Cortes. Its economy is made up of mostly commerce and agriculture. Pineapple is the city's major export. Its largest producer is the Standard Fruit Company, a subsidiary of the Dole Food Company, which operates all over northern Honduras and is based in La Ceiba. Tourism also plays a large role in the city's economy (see below). Since its development in the late 20th century, the La Ceiba Sea Port has played an ever increasing role in the economy of the city. Currently, this port represents a vital economic artery to La Ceiba's growing tourist industry. Additionally, the La Ceiba sea port is home to one of the finest boatyards in the north west Caribbean (According to "Western Caribbean Cruising Guidebook"). Known as the La Ceiba Shipyard, this company offers a complete group of marine services for all types of sea going vessels.

There is a bread making connection with Bulgaria due to immigrants bakers from there. Bread rolls are known as Bolulos[3].

Education in La Ceiba

La Ceiba is home to many public schools, among the largest is Escuela Francisco Morazán along Avenida San Isidro, which is considered the main street of the city. Instituto Manuel Bonilla is the largest public High School in the City with over 5,000 registered students.

There are also many private schools in La Ceiba. It is also home to many other private bilingual education schools, which offer education in both Spanish and English. Most of these offer both a Honduran Bachillerato Diploma (equivalent of High School diploma) and a U.S. accredited High School diploma. These schools usually offer grades 1 - 11/12 with some offering pre-school education.

The first university in the city was the Centro Universitario Regional del Litoral Atlántico (often called CURLA), which is a public University run by the larger Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras (UNAH). The first private university to open in the city was Univerisidad Tecnologica de Honduras(UTH), which opened in 1995. At the time the college only offered night classes, using the classrooms in a local private high school. In 2002 the college built their own campus. 2002 also marked the opening of the Universidad Catolica de Honduras, run by the catholic church. Additionally, development of a new campus in La Ceiba for the Universidad Tecnologica Centroamericana - UNITEC is currently under way as of 2008.

Tourism

La Ceiba has long been known as the tourism capital of Honduras, due to its proximity to the beach, active night life, and a variety of parks and recreational areas in and around the city. Another factor contributing to the city's tourism is the city port which provides ferry services to the Bay Islands/Islas de la Bahia in the Caribbean. Ferries from this port offer daily service to the main islands of Utila and Roatan.

The area around La Ceiba has many parks and natural reserves. Its most recognized natural area is the Pico Bonito (Beautiful Peak) National Park. This park's most recognized feature, Pico Bonito on the "Nombre de Dios" mountain range, is 2435 meters high and provides a back drop for the city. The Cangrejal River, popular for its Class III-IV river rafting, borders the eastern edge of the city and the Cuero and Salado Wildlife Refuge with its wild manatees is located a few miles to the west of the city.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is one of the cities busiest tourist seasons. During this week tourists from all over the country flock to the city to enjoy its sun, beach, and very active night life during that week.

The busiest tourist season by far is the week leading up to the internationally renowned "Gran Carnaval Internacional de La Ceiba" which is a city-wide celebration in honor of the city's patron saint St. Isidore (San Isidro). During this week (the week leading up to the third Saturday in May), many neighborhoods will have their smaller celebrations in one or a couple of their streets. On Saturday afternoon is when the big parade with elaborate floats takes place along Avenida San Isidro, the city's main thoroughfare. After the parade the locals and tourists all have a celebration along that same road, where there are stands that sell food, beer, drinks, and souvenirs.

Transportation in La Ceiba

Buses and taxis make up most of the public transportation in the city, with numerous buses serving almost every available route in the city. Taxi-cabs are numerous in the city, costing as little as L.20.00 (just over $1.00 as of 2010) for destinations within the city limits.

The pier to the east of the city offers transportation via ferry to 2 of the 3 major islands that make up Islas de la Bahia; Roatan and Utila. The Golosón International Airport to the west of town offers flights to the other major cities in the country as well as other towns in the Mosquitia Region of Honduras in the east. This airport is hub to Islena Airlines (a local air carrier which is part of the TACA Airlines).

Distinguished natives of La Ceiba

References

  1. ^ "Honduras: metropolitan areas". World Gazeteer. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. ^ La Ceiba, Honduran Capital of Eco Tourism
  3. ^ Bulgarian founds bread-making industry in Honduras: Spas Tashev
  4. ^ "Second Honduran journalist killed in two weeks". International Press Institute. 2010-03-15. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
Danto Bridge on the western approach to the city

15°46′N 86°50′W / 15.767°N 86.833°W / 15.767; -86.833

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