  maracay () is a city in north-central venezuela, near the caribbean coast, and is the capital and most important city of the state of aragua. most of it falls under the jurisdiction of the girardot municipality. the population of maracay and its surroundings as per the 2011 census was 955,362. in venezuela, maracay is known as "ciudad jardÃ­n", or "garden city". == history == thumb|left|200px|the jaguar, symbol of the maracaya indians thumb|right|venus de tacarigua, another symbol of maracay officially established on march 5, 1701 by bishop diego de baÃ±os y sotomayor in the valleys of tocopio and tapatapa (what is known today as the central valley of aragua) in northern venezuela. according to the most accepted explanation, it was named after a local indigenous chief, and refers to the "maracayo" (felis mitis), a small tiger. alternative etymologies cite a local aromatic tree called mara. maracay experienced rapid growth during juan vicente gÃ³mez's dictatorship (1908â1935). gÃ³mez saw maracay as a suitable place to make his residence during his rule, and ord
Cities_in_Aragua Populated_places_established_in_1701