Santa Cruz de El Seibo

**El Seibo,** officially named **Santa Cruz de El Seibo,** is a city in the eastern Dominican Republic. It is the seat of government of the El Seibo Province. The population was 87,071 at the 2010 census.

### Region

Yuma
El Seibo Province

### Distance to:

Higüey: 43 km (*27 mi.*)Santo Domingo: 136 km (*85 mi.*)

## About

This is one of the oldest cities in the country; at its founding, it was called *Santa Cruz de Icayagua*.

## History

El Seibo is one of the oldest cities in the Dominican Republic; it is one of the initial provinces of the country. It was created by the Constitution of November 6, 1844 although it already existed as a territorial division since colonial times. The name of Seibo, is due to a tribal chief of the Taino race, who was called *Seebo*. This Seebo was a kind of sub-chieftain, subject to the provisions of the Chief of Higuey, *Cayacoha*.

### Early History

The village was founded on the right bank of the Seibe ​​River and near its confluence with that of the Soco whose waters together form the beautiful port of Soco. Formerly, there was a town under the name of Seibe, founded in 1502 by Juan de Esquivel, a spanish conqueror; but the current city is not the same establishment: it was founded about 2 centuries later (around 1690) by the ranchers of this canton who met there to hear mass; Since then, a beautiful masonry church was built in the Gothic-style.

The port where the productions of the municipality are embarked is formed by the Romans river and by an arm of the sea which enters it, opposite Saint Catherine Island. Of the Silver, iron, and tin mines only the latter resumed operation; that of silver located to the east near the limits of Higüey, 30 leagues from Santo Domingo, was exploited by the Indians. The landscape was marked by guava, icaques, and cattle. A good cheese produced here, known as Palo Hincado, named after the place where General Ferrand perished on November 7, 1808, when the inhabitants of the East rose up to drive out the French. Palo Hincado is five kilometers west of Santa Cruz del Seibo. This courageous insurrection took birth mainly in this commune.

Patronal feast at the Holy Cross. Its inhabitants are handsome men and formed a cavalry which handled the spear very well. The Haitians had founded the Masonic lodge in El Seibo: the Fidelite des Freres Reunis No 9. General Dupuy was in command at Seibe ​​in 1822. Colonel Prezeau succeeded him in this command.

The law of April 19, 1822 brought this commune to the 6th class. In 1830, when Spain sent to claim from Haiti the restitution of the Eastern Part, General Riche was dispatched to Seibe ​​with sufficient force, with an order to extend his surveillance to Higuey.

The name of Santa Cruz de El Seibo, is taken from the Spanish custom of placing the Cross of Christ at the cardinal points, as protection against evils. There is still a cross called Asomante, in the West sector of the city of El Seibo.

Outside the city is a shanty town with approximately 8000 inhabitants. The neighborhood originated when in 1998 the peasants lost all their properties to Hurricane George. The government has given them a piece of land in a safer place among the mountains. There are now corrugated metal shacks there. In 2004 the Government started a project for the social construction of rooms, the Villa Guerrero neighborhood.

## Geography

Santa Cruz de El Seibo is located at 18.7653° N, 69.0389° W. According to the ONE, the municipality has a total land area of 1,344.33 square kilometers (519.05 square miles), spread across four municipal districts; **El Seibo, Pedro Sánchez, San Francisco-Vincentillo, and Santa Lucia.** It is bordered by the town of Miches on the north, the city of Higüey (La Altagracia Province) on the east, the town of Guaymate (La Romana Province) on the southeast, the towns of Ramón Santana and Consuelo (San Pedro Province) on the southwest, the city of Hato Mayor del Rey on the west, and the towns of El Valle and Sabana del la Mar (Hato Mayor Province) on the northwest. The municipality is located inland of the northeast coast of the country.

The main lagoons are the Laguna de Rincón and the Laguna Salada. Among the main rivers in this area are the Soco River, one of the most important in the eastern region of the island.

 2015

Municipal district

Pedro Sánchez is a municipal district of the El Seibo municipality , Dominican Republic. Located north of the city of Santa Cruz de El Seybo and south of the City of Miches, on the southern slope of the Eastern Cordillera, and south of the Municipality of Miches. Its main products are cattle, pigs, poultry, and minor fruits such as bananas and yucca. Its main water source is the Seybo River, which is born in the heights of the Eastern mountain range.

## Economy

In the municipality there has been a factory for more than 100 years that produces a refreshing drink called mabí, made from the stem of a plant called Indian behuco and cane sugar, which is left to ferment naturally without adding yeast or other chemical components. Its alcohol content is negligible.

Currently, El Seibo is the second largest cocoa producing province; it is estimated that it produces about 132,000 quintals of cocoa per year, which contributes significantly to the economy of its municipalities. Another agricultural line of great impact is the dual-purpose cattle ranch (meat and milk).

### Tourism

This destination is ideal for those who love adventures in nature and ecotourism. In general, Santa Cruz del Seibo has a beautiful landscape, a lot has to do with its location, which is located in the eastern mountain range.

Its patron saint festivities are held during the first 10 days of May in honor of the Holy Cross, and they present bullfights in the "La Barrera" square.

## Heritage

Its patron saint festivities begin on **May 3** and it is the only province in the country that presents bullfights in its patrons. Bullfights are held in La Barrera Square.

## References

Santa Cruz de El Seibo [1]

Santa Cruz de El Seibo [2]