# Guantánamo > Cuban City **Wikidata**: [Q185156](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q185156) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantánamo) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/guantanamo ## Summary Guantánamo is a city located in eastern Cuba, serving as the capital of Guantánamo Province. Founded in 1510, it is a significant urban center with a population of 228,436 residents (as of 2012) and is notable for being part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizing the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba. ## Key Facts - **Type**: City, municipality of Cuba, big city (population ≥100,000) - **Location**: Guantánamo Province, Cuba; coordinates 20.138333°N, -75.206111°W - **Area**: 741.4 square kilometres - **Population**: 228,436 (2012) - **Elevation**: 46 metres above sea level - **Founded**: 1510 - **Capital of**: Guantánamo Province - **Official Language**: Spanish - **Postal Code**: 95100 - **Local Dialing Code**: 21 - **Demonym**: guantanamero, guantanamera - **UNESCO Heritage Status**: Part of the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba (inscribed 2000) - **Nearby Body of Water**: Guantánamo Bay ## FAQs **What is Guantánamo known for historically?** Guantánamo was founded in 1510 and grew as part of Cuba's colonial coffee plantation economy. The city is now recognized for its historical connection to the first coffee plantations in southeastern Cuba, which earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000. **Is Guantánamo the same as the US military base?** No. The city of Guantánamo is distinct from the US Naval Base Guantánamo Bay, which is located on Guantánamo Bay but operates under a separate legal framework. The city itself is a Cuban municipality. **What is the religious significance of Guantánamo?** Guantánamo is home to the St. Catherine of Ricci Cathedral and serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa, which was established in 1998. **What sports and cultural institutions are located in Guantánamo?** FC Guantánamo is a Cuban football club based in the city. The city also has historical religious architecture and maintains cultural connections through various categories on Wikimedia Commons. **What languages are spoken in Guantánamo?** Spanish is the official language. The city has Wikipedia articles in 84 different language versions, reflecting its international recognition. ## Why It Matters Guantánamo holds significance for several reasons beyond its status as a provincial capital. Its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizing the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba acknowledges its role in the development of coffee cultivation in the Caribbean during the colonial period. This recognition preserves the city's historical importance in global agricultural trade. The city's strategic location near Guantánamo Bay has also placed it in international discussions, though the US military installation operates independently from the Cuban municipality. For visitors and researchers, Guantánamo offers access to colonial-era architecture, religious sites including the St. Catherine of Ricci Cathedral, and the administrative center of one of Cuba's eastern provinces. As a big city with a population exceeding 100,000, Guantánamo serves as a regional hub for commerce, administration, and culture in eastern Cuba. Its 741.4 km² municipal area makes it one of the larger municipalities in the region, supporting agricultural activities and serving as a population center for the surrounding province. ## Notable For - Capital of Guantánamo Province, one of Cuba's 15 provinces - Part of UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 (Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba) - Founded in 1510, making it one of the older continuously inhabited settlements in Cuba - Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa (established 1998) - Home to FC Guantánamo football club - Location of St. Catherine of Ricci Cathedral - Elevation of 46 metres provides relatively flat terrain - Postal code 95100 and local dialing code 21 for telecommunications ## Body ### History and Foundation Guantánamo was founded in 1510, placing its origins in the early colonial period of Spanish rule in Cuba. The city's founding coincided with the establishment of settlements throughout Cuba's eastern region, which would later become important agricultural centers. The municipality's historical development is closely tied to the coffee plantation economy that flourished in southeastern Cuba during the colonial era. ### Geography and Location The city is situated in Guantánamo Province, the easternmost province of Cuba. Its coordinates place it at 20.138333°N latitude and -75.206111°W longitude. The municipality covers an area of 741.4 square kilometres, making it a substantial territorial unit within the province. The elevation of 46 metres above sea level characterizes the relatively flat terrain of the surrounding region. Guantánamo is located in proximity to Guantánamo Bay, a significant geographical feature that has influenced the region's history and international recognition. ### Demographics and Administration As of the 2012 census, Guantánamo had a population of 228,436 residents, qualifying it as a "big city" under the classification of cities with populations of at least 100,000 people. The city serves as the administrative capital of Guantánamo Province, functioning as the provincial seat of government. The official language is Spanish, and residents are referred to using the demonyms "guantanamero" (masculine) and "guantanamera" (feminine). ### Cultural and Religious Institutions Guantánamo is home to the St. Catherine of Ricci Cathedral, a significant religious structure in the city. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa, which was officially established in 1998. This diocese covers the Catholic community in the eastern region of Cuba and has its headquarters in Guantánamo. ### Sports and Recreation FC Guantánamo represents the city in Cuban football competitions. The club is based in Guantánamo and participates in the national football league system, contributing to the city's sporting identity and cultural life. ### International Recognition and Heritage Status Guantánamo's international significance is underscored by its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba. This World Heritage designation, granted in 2000, recognizes the region's pioneering role in coffee cultivation during the colonial period. The site encompasses the historical remnants of early coffee plantations that shaped the economic and social development of southeastern Cuba. ### Infrastructure and Communications The city uses postal code 95100 for mail services and has local dialing code 21 for telecommunications within Cuba's phone system. These identifiers facilitate domestic communication and postal services throughout the municipality. ### Linguistic and Digital Presence Guantánamo has a substantial international digital presence, with Wikipedia articles available in 84 different language versions, reflecting global interest in the city. The Wikimedia Commons platform hosts images and media related to Guantánamo, organized under both a gallery and category. The city has been referenced in various encyclopedic sources, including the Encyclopædia Britannica (notably the 11th edition and online version), the Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia, and numerous national encyclopedias. ### Related Administrative and Cultural Entities The municipality exists within a network of administrative and cultural connections. It is part of Guantánamo Province and contains within its territory elements of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city serves as the provincial capital and maintains relationships with various cultural and administrative organizations throughout Cuba and internationally. ## References 1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap) 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. Virtual International Authority File 4. MusicBrainz 5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927111826/http://www.atenas.inf.cu/todo/Estadisticas/TABLA%20No_3balance.htm) 6. GeoNames 7. BBC Things 8. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip) 9. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/9a97d496-0813-4431-8f8d-3e1edfafb9de)