Laguna Salada

Laguna Salada (Spanish for Salty Lagoon) is a municipality ("municipio") of the Valverde province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there are three municipal districts ("distritos municipal"): Cruce de Guayacanes, Jaibón and La Caya. [cite web |url=http://www.one.gob.do/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=113|title=Listado de Codigos de Provincias, Municipio y Distritos Municipales, Actualizada a Junio 20 del 2006|author=Oficina Nacional de Estadistica, Departamento de Cartografia, Division de Limites y Linderos|language=Spanish|accessdate=2007-01-24] .

Geography

Laguna Salada borders the Septentrional mountain range to the north (which separates it from Puerto Plata), the Yaque del Norte River to the south (which separates it from Mao), the Maizal and Boca de Mao municipal districts to the east (which separate it from Esperanza) and Guayubín to the west (which separates it from the Monte Cristi province).

Demographics

As of the 2002 census the municipality had a total population of 21,630 inhabitants, 13,389 living in its urban settlements and 8,241 in its rural districts ("Secciones"). 14,724 did live in its seat ("cabecera" literally head), 7,561 in the town of Laguna Salada itself and 7,163 in its rural districts. The municipal districts had the following population: Jaibón 5,569 inhabitants (4,828 living in the town itself and 741 in its rural districts) and La Caya 1,337 inhabitants (1,000 urban and 337 rural). The municipal district Cruce de Guayacanes was created after the 2002 census. [cite web |url=http://one.gob.do/censo/volumen_I_pdf.zip
format = PDF|title=VIII Censo 2002 Poplación y Vivienda|author=Oficina Nacional de Estadística|language=Spanish|accessdate=2007-01-24] For comparison with other municipalities and municipal districts see the list of municipalities and municipal districts of the Dominican Republic.

Economy

Agriculture is the main economic activity in Laguna Salada, since its terrains are fit for growing a variety of crops such as rice, banana, yucca, peppers, onions, sweet potato, corn, coffee, cacao, among others. Tobacco and sorghum are also cultivated.

Other economic activities include cattle ranches, industry and commerce. There are various dairy product industries in the municipality, as well a coffee factory, bakeries, carpentry shops, cement block factories, gas stations, repair shops, hardware stores, warehouses, among others.

The municipality's economically active population (PEA) consists of 7,096 people, out of which 4,832 (or 68%) are currently employed. Of those that are employed, 270 (or 6%) work as public servants.

Notable residents

Birthplace of Major League Baseball player Wily Modesto ("Wily Mo") Peña.

References