Yaguajay, Cuba

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Yaguajay
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settlement_type = Municipality
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pushpin_label_position = none
pushpin_map_caption = Location of Yaguajay in Cuba
pushpin_mapsize = 280
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Cuba
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Sancti Spíritus
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1847
established_title2 = Established
established_date2 = 1879 (Municipality)
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area_total_km2 = 1032
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population_as_of = 2004
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population_total = 58938
population_density_km2 = 57.1
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timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
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latd= 22|latm= 19|lats= 49|latNS=N
longd= 79|longm= 14|longs= 13|longEW=W
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elevation_m = 30
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area_code = +53-41
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footnotes = Yaguajay is a municipality and city in the Sancti Spíritus Province of Cuba. It is located in the northern part of the province, and borders the Bay of Buena Vista to the north.The Caguanes National Park (protecting swamp and coastal ecosystems, caves and mural art) is located in Yaguajay.Cite web|url=http://www.radiohc.cu/espanol/medioambiente/parques/caguanes.htm |title= Yaguajay y el Parque Nacional Caguanes |author=Radio Habana|accessdate=2007-10-09 Es icon]

History

It was founded in 1847 and established as a municipality in 1879, then part of the province of Las Villas.

The Battle of Yaguajay

Camilo Cienfuegos fought an important battle in this city one of the last battles of the Cuban Revolution in 1958 defeating a brave Batistian Captain ( Avon Ly). That is why he is also known as "El heroe de Yaguajay" ( _es. The hero of Yaguajay).In 1958, Fidel Castro ordered his revolutionary army to go on the offensive against the army of Fulgencio Batista. While Fidel led one force against Guisa, Masó and other towns, the other major offensive was directed at the capture of the city of Santa Clara, the capital of what was then Las Villas Province.

Three columns were sent against Santa Clara under the command of Che Guevara, Jaime Vega, and Camilo Cienfuegos. Vega's column was caught in an ambush and completely destroyed. Guevara's column took up positions around Santa Clara (near Fomento). Cienfuegos's column directly attacked a local army garrison at Yaguajay. Initially Cienfuegos's column was just 60 men, out of Castro's hardened core of 230. But as they moved through the lands towards Santa Clara, they gained many recruits. A best guess is that Cienfuegos had between 450 to 500 men fighting for him.The garrison was some 250 men under the command of a Cuban-born Chinese captain Abon Ly. The attack seems to have started around December 19. Convinced that reinforcements would be sent from Santa Clara, Ly put up a determined defense of his post. Repeatedly, the guerrillas attempted to overpower Ly and his men, but each time they failed. By December 26th, Cienfuegos had become quite frustrated; it seemed that Ly could not be overpowered, nor could he be convinced to surrender. In desperation, Cienfuegos began to use a homemade "tank" against Ly's position. The "tank" was actually a large tractor encased in iron plates with a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on top. It, too, proved unsuccessful. Finally, on December 30th, Ly, out of ammunition, surrendered his garrison. [1]

Aftermath of the battle

The surrender of the garrison was a major blow to the defenders of the provincial capital of Santa Clara. The next day, the combined forces of Cienfuegos, Guevara, and local revolutionaries under William Alexander Morgan captured Santa Clara in a fight of vast confusion. News of the loss of Santa Clara and other losses elsewhere panicked Batista and he fled Cuba the next day.

Demographics

In 2004, the municipality of Yaguajay had a population of 58,938.Cite web| url=http://www.atenas.inf.cu/todo/Estadisticas/TABLA%20No_3balance.htm| title=2004 Population trends, by Province and Municipality| author= Atenas.cu| year= 2004| accessdate=2007-10-07 Es icon] With a total area of km2 to mi2|1032|abbr=yes|wiki=yes,Cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/ycu.html|title=Municipios of Cuba|author=Statoids| year=2003| month=July| accessdate=2007-10-07 ] it has a population density of Pop density km2 to mi2|57.1|abbr=yes.

The municipality was divided into the barrios of Bamburanao, Cabecera, Centeno, Mayajigua, Meneses and Seibabo.Cite web|url=http://www.guije.com/pueblo/municipios/vyaguajay/index.htm|title=Yaguajay|author=Guije.com|accessdate=2007-10-07 Es icon]

Notable people

Taismary Aguero cuban-italian volleyball player

ee also

*Municipalities of Cuba
*List of cities in Cuba
*José Miller

References

Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Yaguajay
North = Caguanes National Park
Northeast = Cayo Coco
"Bay of Buena Vista"
East = Chambas
Southeast =

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