José Miguel de Velasco Province

Province in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia

José Miguel de Velasco

Province

Mission church in Santa Ana de Velasco,
Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos

Location of the José Miguel de Velasco Province within Bolivia

Provinces of the Santa Cruz Department

Coordinates: 15°30′0″S 61°0′0″W﻿ / ﻿15.50000°S 61.00000°W﻿ / -15.50000; -61.00000
Country|  Bolivia
Department| Santa Cruz Department
Capital| San Ignacio de Velasco
Area

• Total

| 25,261 sq mi (65,425 km2)
Elevation

| 1,329 ft (405 m)
Population

(2024 census)[1]

• Total

| 91,573
• Density| 3.6/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Website| www.santacruz.gob.bo

José Miguel de Velasco or Velasco is a province in the Santa Cruz department of Bolivia. Its capital is San Ignacio de Velasco. The province is named after the Bolivian president José Miguel de Velasco Franco. It was created by law on October 12, 1880, during the presidency of Narciso Campero. Until its creation it was integrated into Chiquitos Province.[2]

## Geography

[edit]

Velasco is located between the major Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and the Brazilian border. An unpaved highway connects the province with the city of Santa Cruz to the west and Brazil to the east.[3]

## Subdivision

[edit]

José Miguel de Velasco Province is divided into three municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.

Section  | Municipality  | Inhabitants (2001)  [4] | Seat  | Inhabitants (2001)

|
|
|
|

1st | San Ignacio de Velasco Municipality | 41,412 | San Ignacio de Velasco | 19,401
2nd | San Miguel Municipality | 10,273 | San Miguel de Velasco | 4,484
3rd | San Rafael Municipality | 5,017 | San Rafael de Velasco | 2,057

Towns in the province include Santa Ana de Velasco.

## Culture

[edit]

Velasco features a mestizo culture, blending the culture of the Spanish conquistadors and missionaries with those of the indigenous peoples. Spanish is the most commonly used language in public, though indigenous languages, such as Chiquitano, are also used. Due to the proximity of the province to Brazil, Portuguese speakers can be found, particularly merchants in the city of San Ignacio. There is a small presence of Mennonites and descendants of post-World War II German immigrants.

## Places of interest

[edit]

* San Ignacio de Velasco
* San Miguel de Velasco
* San Rafael de Velasco
* Santa Ana de Velasco

## Gallery

[edit]

* San Rafael de Velasco mission church

* San Miguel de Velasco mission church

* Santa Ana de Velasco mission church

* St. Ignatius Cathedral, San Ignacio de Velasco

* View of San Ignacio de Velasco town

## See also

[edit]

* Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos
* Laguna Bellavista

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Bolivia: Administrative divisions". City Population. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
2. ^ Official site of José Miguel de Velasco Province (Spanish)
3. ^ Guia Turistica de la Provincia "Velasco", Gobierno Municipal de San Ignacio de Velasco, 1996
4. ^ National Institute of Statistics, Bolivia Archived 2011-09-24 at the Wayback Machine (Spanish)

## External links

[edit]

* Map of the José Miguel de Velasco Province

* v
* t
* e

Santa Cruz Department

* Andrés Ibáñez
* Ángel Sandoval
* Chiquitos
* Cordillera
* Florida
* Germán Busch
* Guarayos
* Ichilo
* Ignacio Warnes
* José Miguel de Velasco
* Manuel María Caballero
* Ñuflo de Chávez
* Obispo Santistevan
* Sara
* Vallegrande

* v
* t
* e

Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos

List

World Heritage Sites|

* San Xavier
* San Rafael de Velasco
* San José de Chiquitos
* Concepción
* San Miguel de Velasco
* Santa Ana de Velasco

Other sites|

* San Ignacio de Velasco
* Santiago de Chiquitos
* San Juan Bautista
* Santo Corazón
* San Ignacio de Zamucos

Cathedrals|

* Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Concepción
* St. Ignatius Cathedral, San Ignacio de Velasco

Peoples|

* Chiquitano
* Ayoreo

Languages|

* Chiquitano
* Migueleño Chiquitano
* Gorgotoqui
* Otuke
* Ayoreo
* Mamoré–Guaporé linguistic area

Geography|

* Chiquitania

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

15°30′00″S 61°00′00″W﻿ / ﻿15.500°S 61.000°W﻿ / -15.500; -61.000

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