HOMEPAGE

Extension: 4,493 square Kms

Temperature: 32 ° C

Altitude: 169 meters above sea level

Population: 350,000 inhabitants approx.

History of Valledupar, Cesar (Colombia)

The history of the population of Valledupar has its origin in the pre-Columbian era, with Amerindian tribes that settled and developed in societies, and that upon the arrival of the Spaniards was inhabited by the Chimilas, of Chibcha linguistic family. Then there was the conquest and colonization by Spaniards and other Europeans, who in addition to their culture introduced black slaves extracted from Africa in the early sixteenth century. Valledupar was founded by Spanish soldiers in the vicinity of Eupari, one of the villages of the nation of the Chimilas Indians in 1550. The natives were exterminated, decimated or displaced to the mountains, under the obligation of evangelization. The valley became land for livestock and agriculture.
Valledupar was one of the first regions in America, in which its inhabitants of Creole majority rose against the Spanish monarchist regime on February 4, 1813. After independence the region enters a lethargy due to the political dependence of Santa Marta , the geographical position and the different wars that Colombia suffered throughout the mid-nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century, when there was unprecedented economic growth due to cotton production, which boosted population growth and cultural boom of the current vallenato musical genre. At the same time the Colombian armed conflict affected many citizens of Valledupar with the modality of extortive kidnapping by guerrilla groups, of the highest in Colombia and later the actions of paramilitary groups that consequently left thousands dead, injured and displaced.