Clarines

Clarines is a town in Venezuela's Anzoátegui State, located 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Puerto La Cruz, and 22 kilometres (14 mi). from Puerto Piritu. It serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual Municipality. The estimated population is 15,000 (2007).

History

When the Franciscan monks arrived in 1650 there was already an Indian community at Clarines. It was officially founded on 7 April 1594 by Francisco de Vides, a Spanish adventurer who came from the Province of Huelva. Clarines did not change much until the oil boom of the 1960s. In 1852, the population of Clarines was 4,289, including 72 people identified as white and 3,321 people identified as indigenous. Alfredo Armas Alfonzo, Venezuelan historian and critic, was born in Clarines in 1921. Jaime Lusinchi, former president of Venezuela, was born in Clarines in 1924.

Attractions

The Museo de Clarines (museum) has items of historical interest including a collection of armaments.

Economy

The local population practices subsistence farming growing plantains, yuca, beans, china, cotton, cassava, and corn. Until the exploitation of oil, the only exports were cattle and mules. Nowadays, many small companies that service the oil fields operate out of Clarines.

External links

• Mayor of Clarines official page

References

• Memoria de la Direccion General de Estadistica al Presidente de los Estados Unidos de Venezuela en 1873 [the first national census of Venezuela].
• Morse, Kimberly J. (2003) "When the Priest Does Not Sympathize with El Pueblo: Clergy And Society In El Oriente Venezolano, 1843-1873" The Americas - Volume 59, Number 4, April 2003, pp. 511-535.

Coordinates: 9°56′N 65°10′W / 9.933°N 65.167°W / 9.933; -65.167