Padilla, Bolivia
Encyclopedia
Padilla is a small town in the Chuquisaca Department
of Bolivia
, located southeast by road from Tomina Province
. It is the centre of the municipality of the same name. As of 2010, it had an estimated population of 3697, an increase on the 2001 census figure of 2714, and a decrease from ca. 1904 when its population was approximately 6,000.
against eastern Indian warriors, the Chiriguanos (Guaraní). Captain Don Miguel Martinez established the town in 1583 under the name of San Miguel de La Laguna. After it was destroyed by the Chiriguanos, the town was re-established by the Spanish Captain Melchor de Rodas who renamed it San Juan de Rodas. However, it soon reverted to La Laguna. It then played a strategic role containing invasions by the indigenous chiriguanas. The town eventually became the seat of the military, civil authority and ecclesiastical leadership, becoming the capital of the Tomina Province.
In 1809, it became the headquarters of the guerrilla chief
Manuel Ascencio Padilla
(died 1816, El Villar), husband of Juana Azurduy de Padilla
who shared his love of the Bolivian indigenous populations. By 1827, it was renamed Padilla in honor of the province's patriot. During the period of 1882 to 1888, Padilla's judicial archives contained 211 cases of cattle rustling and five armed attacks. By 1905, the crime rate had risen to 296 cases of cattle rustling and 28 armed attacks. Between 1910 and 1930, a steep rise in the crime rate occurred. The most common profession listed for those brought to trial was "laborer".
, the provincial capital and 187 kilometres from Sucre. To the east of the town lies the Rio Grande Mascicuri Forest Reserve. The municipality of Padilla has an area of 1617 square kilometres with a population of 12,562 people. The municipality contains 9 subdistricts and 59 settlements.
Padilla is located in the transition zone between the Andean mountain range
, the Cordillera Central
and the Bolivian lowlands at an altitude of 2086 metres. The mean average temperature of the region is around 18 ° C and varies only slightly between 14.5 ° C in June and July and nearly 20 ° C from November to January. The annual rainfall is about 650 mm, with a pronounced dry season from May to August.
s and annually enters into the International Red Chili Pepper Festival. The people of Padilla rear goats.
populations. It has local utility services of water, electricity, and sewage, as well as health centers, TV signal, internet service, cell phones, plus a radio station and tourist accommodation services.
In music, Padilla has its own composers and musical instrument performers who perform at a traditional carnival. A composer of note is Prof. Moses Avilés Palma who wrote the lyrics and music of Ode to Padilla and was the composer of Padillita.
Chuquisaca Department
Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia located in the center south. It borders on the departments of Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí, and Santa Cruz. The departmental capital is Sucre, which is also the constitutional capital of Bolivia.-Geography:...
of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, located southeast by road from Tomina Province
Tomina Province
Tomina is a province in the Chuquisaca Department in Bolivia. Its seat is Padilla.- Subdivision :Tomina Province is divided into five municipalities which are partly further subdivided into cantons.- The people :...
. It is the centre of the municipality of the same name. As of 2010, it had an estimated population of 3697, an increase on the 2001 census figure of 2714, and a decrease from ca. 1904 when its population was approximately 6,000.
History
Padilla was established on June 23, 1583. Along with Tomina, Padilla was originally established as a fortFortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
against eastern Indian warriors, the Chiriguanos (Guaraní). Captain Don Miguel Martinez established the town in 1583 under the name of San Miguel de La Laguna. After it was destroyed by the Chiriguanos, the town was re-established by the Spanish Captain Melchor de Rodas who renamed it San Juan de Rodas. However, it soon reverted to La Laguna. It then played a strategic role containing invasions by the indigenous chiriguanas. The town eventually became the seat of the military, civil authority and ecclesiastical leadership, becoming the capital of the Tomina Province.
In 1809, it became the headquarters of the guerrilla chief
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
Manuel Ascencio Padilla
Manuel Ascencio Padilla
Commandante Manuel Ascencio Padilla was an Upper Peruvian guerrilla chief who fought in the Bolivian War of Independence with his wife, Juana Azurduy de Padilla who shared his commitment towards Bolivian indigenous populations...
(died 1816, El Villar), husband of Juana Azurduy de Padilla
Juana Azurduy de Padilla
Doña Juana Azurduy de Padilla was born on July 12, 1780 or 1781 in the town of Chuquisaca, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata . She was Mestizo by ethnicity meaning she was half European and half indigenous. “Her mother married into a family of property” meaning she married into a more wealth family...
who shared his love of the Bolivian indigenous populations. By 1827, it was renamed Padilla in honor of the province's patriot. During the period of 1882 to 1888, Padilla's judicial archives contained 211 cases of cattle rustling and five armed attacks. By 1905, the crime rate had risen to 296 cases of cattle rustling and 28 armed attacks. Between 1910 and 1930, a steep rise in the crime rate occurred. The most common profession listed for those brought to trial was "laborer".
Geography and climate
The town is located along Highway 6, southeast by road from TominaTomina
Tomina is the seat of Tomina Municipality located in the Tomina Province in the Chuquisaca Department of Bolivia. At the time of census 2001 it had 983 inhabitants. .- External links :*...
, the provincial capital and 187 kilometres from Sucre. To the east of the town lies the Rio Grande Mascicuri Forest Reserve. The municipality of Padilla has an area of 1617 square kilometres with a population of 12,562 people. The municipality contains 9 subdistricts and 59 settlements.
Padilla is located in the transition zone between the Andean mountain range
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, the Cordillera Central
Cordillera Central
The Cordillera Central, meaning central range in Spanish, is used to refer to several mountain ranges around the world:* Cordillera Central, Andes , several mountain ranges in South America** Cordillera Central, Colombia...
and the Bolivian lowlands at an altitude of 2086 metres. The mean average temperature of the region is around 18 ° C and varies only slightly between 14.5 ° C in June and July and nearly 20 ° C from November to January. The annual rainfall is about 650 mm, with a pronounced dry season from May to August.
Economy
Padilla lies in one of the poorest regions of Bolivia, with few natural resources and lacking social and economic conditions. The municipality of Padilla has an economy which is based around traditional agriculture such as the production of corn, potatoes, beans, wheat, yuca, cassava, yams, peppers, and amaranth. It is especially noted for its quality red Chili pepperChili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
s and annually enters into the International Red Chili Pepper Festival. The people of Padilla rear goats.
Culture
The town of Padilla is located in the area of Guaraní, Quechua and MestizoMestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
populations. It has local utility services of water, electricity, and sewage, as well as health centers, TV signal, internet service, cell phones, plus a radio station and tourist accommodation services.
In music, Padilla has its own composers and musical instrument performers who perform at a traditional carnival. A composer of note is Prof. Moses Avilés Palma who wrote the lyrics and music of Ode to Padilla and was the composer of Padillita.