# David > capital of the province of Chiriquí, Panama **Wikidata**: [Q279009](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q279009) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David,_Chiriquí) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/david-q279009 ## Summary David is the capital city of Chiriquí Province in Panama and serves as the administrative center of the David District. Founded in 1602, it is a major urban settlement with a population of 82,907 as of 2010, located at an elevation of 6 meters above sea level. The city functions as a significant regional hub, hosting institutions such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of David and Enrique Malek International Airport. ## Key Facts * **Founding Date:** Established in the year 1602. * **Administrative Role:** Capital of Chiriquí Province and the David District. * **Population:** 82,907 residents recorded in 2010. * **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude 8.438180555555556, Longitude -82.42426388888889. * **Elevation:** 6 meters above sea level. * **Total Area:** 176 square kilometres. * **UN/LOCODE:** PADAV. * **Where On Earth ID (WOEID):** 155775. * **Geonames ID:** 3711668. * **Freebase ID:** /m/031j3l. * **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n81131553. * **Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID:** 1018831. * **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID:** place/David-Panama. * **Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017):** 2626713 (labeled as ДАВИД). * **Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID:** david (former scheme: 0421214). * **National Library of Spain ID (BNE):** XX5056355. * **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007562021105171. * **WorldCat Entities ID:** E39PBJvcXhrKd4MPtMHJkBHt8C. * **OpenStreetMap Node ID:** 245482378. * **OpenHistoricalMap Relation ID:** 2871985. * **Museum Digital Place ID:** 22313. * **Online PWN Encyclopedia ID:** 3890848. * **Yale Lux ID:** place/d9410068-09da-43de-82c1-6b0814172b8e. * **GNS Unique Feature ID:** -159768. * **Store ID (Google Play):** David_-_by_i_Panama. * **Curlie ID:** Regional/Central_America/Panama/Localities/David/. * **Who's On First ID:** 421174203. * **Sitelink Count:** 39 Wikipedia language versions. * **Wikipedia Title:** David, Chiriquí. * **Commons Category:** David, Panama. * **Topic Main Category:** Category:David, Panama. * **Category for People Born Here:** Linked to the entity. * **Category of Associated People:** Category:People from David, Chiriquí. * **Aliases:** San José de David, David, Chiriquí, Сан-Хосе-де-Давид. * **Image Caption:** David sentrum. * **Image URL:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/David-Panama.jpg. * **Page Banner URL:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/David_Panama_banner.jpg. * **Instance Of:** City, corregimiento of Panama, big city. * **Country:** Panama. * **Diocese Inception:** Roman Catholic Diocese of David established on March 6, 1955. * **Panama Inception:** 1903 (Independence recognized from Viceroyalty of New Granada). * **Chiriquí Province Inception:** 1834. ## FAQs **What is the historical origin of David?** The city was founded in 1602 and has served as a continuous settlement since that time. It is located within the David District, which is part of the larger Chiriquí Province established in 1834. **How large is the city and where is it situated geographically?** David covers an area of 176 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 6 meters above sea level. Its precise location is marked by coordinates 8.438180555555556° N and 82.42426388888889° W. **What major administrative and religious institutions are based in David?** As the capital of Chiriquí Province, it hosts the Roman Catholic Diocese of David, which was established in 1955. It also serves as the administrative seat for the David District. **What transportation and identification codes are associated with the city?** The city is assigned the UN/LOCODE PADAV for trade and logistics purposes. It is also identified by the Where On Earth ID 155775 and the Geonames ID 3711668. **In which languages is information about David available?** Wikipedia articles exist in 39 languages, including English, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese, among others. ## Why It Matters David is the primary urban and administrative hub of western Panama, serving as the capital of Chiriquí Province. Its significance stems from its role as a central point for governance, housing the provincial administration and the Roman Catholic Diocese of David. As a "big city" with a population exceeding 80,000, it acts as a critical economic and social node in the region, supported by infrastructure such as Enrique Malek International Airport. The city's long history, dating back to 1602, and its status as a corregimiento make it a foundational entity in Panama's territorial organization. ## Notable For * **Provincial Capital Status:** It is the designated capital of Chiriquí Province, a role established since the province's inception in 1834. * **Religious Center:** Home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of David, established in 1955, serving as a major ecclesiastical headquarters. * **Population Scale:** Classified as a "big city" with a population of 82,907 (2010), distinguishing it as one of Panama's larger human settlements. * **Historical Longevity:** One of the older settlements in the region, with a verified founding date of 1602. * **Multilingual Presence:** Maintains a robust digital presence with Wikipedia entries in 39 distinct languages. * **Infrastructure Hub:** Hosts Enrique Malek International Airport, facilitating regional connectivity. * **Administrative Complexity:** Functions simultaneously as a city, a corregimiento, and the capital of both a district and a province. ## Body ### Geographic and Administrative Identity David is a city and corregimiento located in Panama, specifically within the David District of Chiriquí Province. It holds the dual distinction of being the capital of both the district and the province. The entity is classified as a "big city" due to its population size, which was recorded at 82,907 in 2010. Geographically, it occupies an area of 176 square kilometres and sits at a low elevation of 6 meters above sea level. The city's precise location is defined by the coordinates 8.438180555555556° N and -82.42426388888889° W. It is situated within the sovereign state of Panama, which gained independence in 1903, and Chiriquí Province, which was established in 1834. ### Historical Timeline and Origins The settlement traces its origins back to the year 1602, marking over four centuries of continuous existence. The administrative structure surrounding it evolved later, with the creation of Chiriquí Province in 1834 and the formal establishment of the Roman Catholic Diocese of David on March 6, 1955. The city's historical significance is further anchored by its inclusion in the Viceroyalty of New Granada context prior to Panama's 1903 independence. These dates establish a clear lineage from early colonial settlement to modern provincial capital. ### Infrastructure and Institutions David serves as a critical infrastructure node in western Panama. It is home to Enrique Malek International Airport, a key facility for regional air travel. The city also hosts the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of David, a major religious institution. For urban planning and identification, the city utilizes the UN/LOCODE PADAV and the Where On Earth ID 155775. The presence of Estadio Kenny Sarracín indicates the city's capacity for hosting sporting events and community gatherings. ### Digital Presence and Identification The entity is extensively documented across global knowledge bases and digital platforms. It possesses a unique Freebase ID (/m/031j3l) and a Geonames ID (3711668). Library and archival records include the Library of Congress Authority ID (n81131553), the WorldCat Entities ID (E39PBJvcXhrKd4MPtMHJkBHt8C), and the National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007562021105171). Academic and encyclopedia references include the Encyclopædia Britannica Online, the Great Russian Encyclopedia, the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, and the Online PWN Encyclopedia. The city is also tagged with a Yale Lux ID and a Museum Digital Place ID, reflecting its cultural documentation. ### Media, Categories, and Community Visual documentation of David includes a primary image titled "David sentrum" and a page banner, both hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The city has a dedicated Commons category and a main topic category on Wikipedia. It maintains a significant multilingual footprint with Wikipedia articles available in 39 languages, ranging from English and Spanish to less common languages like Ladino and Dzongkha. The city is associated with specific categories for people born there and people associated with the location. A Google Play store entry exists for an application related to David, and the city is linked to a specific Curlie directory path. ### Technical and Reference Data The entity is mapped with an OpenStreetMap Node ID (245482378) and an OpenHistoricalMap Relation ID (2871985). It is assigned a GNS Unique Feature ID (-159768) and a Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID (1018831). National library identifiers include the National Library of Spain ID (XX5056355) and the National Library of Israel ID. The city's data is referenced in various authoritative sources, including the Contraloría General de la República for population statistics and the UNECE for location codes. The Wikipedia title is listed as "David, Chiriquí," and the Wikidata description explicitly states it is the capital of the province of Chiriquí, Panama. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Source](http://datos.bne.es/tema/XX5056355.html) 4. [Source](http://www.contraloria.gob.pa/inec/archivos/P3601Cuadro11.xls) 5. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0 6. GeoNames 7. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/pa.htm)