Castillo

**Castillo** (*English: "Castle"*) is a town in the Dominican Republic's Duarte Province, located in the northeast part of the country on the banks of the Nigua River. The town is named for General Manuel María Castillo, hero of the Dominican Restoration. The town is also known for producing some of the best organic cocoa in the world.

## Castillo

### Region

Cibao NE
Duarte Province

### Distance to:

SF de Macorís: 32 km (*20 mi.*)Santo Domingo: 145 km (*90 mi.*)

## Etymolygy

The name of the municipality honors the memory of General Manuel María Castillo, born in Santo Domingo in 1795. He moved to San Francisco de Macorís where he conspired against the Haitian occupation, being sent prisoner to Haiti in 1843. When the Dominican Republic was proclaimed in 1844, already He was back in San Francisco de Macorís and organized the accession to the new republic in the area. He died in 1856.

## History

The first settlers to this place began to arrive at the beginning of the 18th century from neighboring communities.

The town's organization began during the second half of the 19th century on the old road from San Francisco de Macorís to Villa Riva, on the banks of the Nigua River, for which reason the town was known by the name of *Nigua*; at that time it was part of the San Francisco de Macorís municipality, Espaillat Province. In 1895 it was erected as a Cantonal Post (similar to the current category of Municipal District), giving it the current name of *Castillo*, in honor of General Manuel María Castillo who conspired against the Haitian occupation and organized the accession of the area to the new Republic after National independence.

When the Peacekeeping District was created, it became part of that district. The 1907 Constitution eliminated the categories of District and Cantonal Post, then Castillo became a commune (municipality) of the Pacifying Province (later Duarte Province).

## Geography

Castillo is located at 19.2073° N, 70.0280° W. According to the ONE, the municipality has a total land area of 133.68 square kilometers (51.61 square miles). It is bordered on the northeast by the town of El Factor (María Trinidad Sánchez Province), on the east by the town of Villa Riva, on the south by the town of Eugenio Maria de Hostos, on the west by the town of Pimentel, and on the northwest by the city of San Fransisco de Macorís Castillo has one municipal district, **Castillo**, in the center of town.

The main river in the municipality is the Nigua, which has its headwaters in the Loma del Firme (Northern Mountain Range) and runs for about 14 kilometers (*9 miles*) before joining the Yuna River.

### Demographics

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the municipality has a total population of 15,709 people of which 8,199 were men and 7,510 women. The urban population of the municipality was 6,312 and the rural one of 9,397.

## Economy

The municipality is eminently rural because the greater potential and productive capacity of the region. It stands out in the production of food, rice, fruits and cocoa. Quality productive work sources are scarce, except for some small businesses, and the jobs offered by the government, which is why most of its young people migrate to other nearby towns to work.

48% of the national cocoa production is provided by the Duarte province, and Castillo harvests 60% of that production, which makes the municipality an important piece in the agro-industry and the export of “brown gold”, as it is known.

In 2010, it was determined that Castillo produced the best Organic Cocoa in the World.

Regarding livestock, modern techniques are applied through the introduction of genetic varieties with high milk and meat yield.

## Heritage

Although the patron saint of Castillo is San Isidro Labrador whose festivities take place from **May 7** to **15**, the inhabitants of this community celebrate the patron saint festivities in honor of Our Lady of Carmen from **July 8** to **16**. Religious, cultural, recreational and sports activities are carried out for these festivals.

From **September 1** to **9**, Castillo remembers the elevation to the category of municipality. The municipal authorities and the population carry out commemorative activities.

An interesting fact about the cultural life of Castillo is that in **El Rucio** there is an indigenous cemetery that began to be studied by specialists from the National Museum of Anthropology.

## Tourism

A beautiful and refreshing spa called **Charco de Arroyón**, in **El Rucio**, belongs to this municipality. Also in Castillo is the Cacaocultures Block No. 8, "where the best organic cocoa in the world is produced."

## References

Castilo [1] [2]

Castilo [3] [4]