Ibagué

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ibagué
settlement_type = Municipality
nickname = Musical city of Colombia
motto =

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image_caption = Ibagué's city hall

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image_

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mapsize = 200px
map_caption = Location of the municipality and city of Ibagué in Tolima department.
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Colombia
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Andean Region
subdivision_type2 = Department
subdivision_name2 = Department of Tolima
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jesús María Botero Gutiérrez
established_title = Foundation
established_date = October 14, 1550
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1498
area_land =
area_water =
area_water_percent =
area_urban =
area_metro =
population_as_of = 2005
population_note =
population_total = 498,401
population_metro =
population_urban = 468,647
population_density =
population_density_mi2 =
timezone = Eastern Time Zone
utc_offset = -5
coor_type = city [cite web |url=http://www.earthtools.org/map/4.4388889/-75.2322222/12/5/Hybrid/ |title=EarthTools |accessdate=2008-03-24]
latd=4 |latm=26 |latNS = N
longd=75 |longm=14 |longEW= W
elevation_m = 1285
website = [http://www.alcaldiadeibague.gov.co/ www.alcaldiadeibague.gov.co]
footnotes =

Ibagué is the capital of the department of Tolima in Colombia. It is situated 1,235 m (4,149 ft) above sea level, on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central between the Chipalo and Combeima rivers, tributaries of the Coello River. It is on the road from Armenia to Bogotá, near the high mountain pass known as "La Línea" ("The Line") which connects the interandean valleys of Magdalena and Cauca rivers and, as a result, is an important commercial center and road transport hub. The fertile surrounding countryside produces coffee, cacao, tobacco, sugarcane, and rice. Ibagué is widely regarded as the "Musical City of Colombia" due to its commitment for the improvement of musical education in the country and its rich schedule of musical events during the year.

History

Ibagué was founded by Spaniard Andrés López de Galarza on October 14 1550 as "Villa de San Bonifacio de Ibagué del Valle de las Lanzas" ("Town of Saint Boniface of Ibagué of the Valley of the Spears") in the place where today is located the urban area of the neighbouring municipality of Cajamarca, which lies 42 km to the west of the modern city of Ibagué. Due to the frequent attacks by the indigenous Pijaos commanded by cacique Ibagué, the city was founded once more in its current location on February 7 1551. From April to December 1854 Ibagué was briefly the capital of the New Granada following a coup d'etat promoted by José María Melo, a general and politician coincidentally born in Chaparral, Tolima. In 1908, when the department of Tolima was created, Ibagué became its capital. Tolima University was founded in 1945, and was raised to state university status in 1954.

The city is also the home of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ibagué.

Demographics

The total population of the municipality of Ibagué (including urban and rural zones) is comprised by 498,401 inhabitants from which, 468,647 reside in the urban area.

Notable people

Ibagué is the birthplace of boxer Óscar Escandón and soprano Patricia Caicedo.

References