# San Cristóbal

> city in Venezuela

**Wikidata**: [Q820235](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q820235)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Cristóbal,_Táchira)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/san-cristobal

## Summary
San Cristóbal is a major city and the capital of the Táchira state in Venezuela. Founded in 1561, it serves as a significant administrative center located in the Municipio San Cristóbal. The city, often referred to as the "Cordiality City," had a population of 285,872 as of 2017 and sits at an elevation of 860 meters above sea level.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: San Cristóbal is classified as a city and a big city (large human settlement).
- **Location**: It is located in Venezuela, specifically within the Municipio San Cristóbal, and serves as the capital of the state of Táchira.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 7.7681722222222, Longitude -72.232241666667.
- **Area**: The city covers an area of 247 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: It is situated 860 metres above sea level.
- **Population**: The population was recorded as 285,872 in 2017.
- **Founding**: The city was founded (inception) in 1561.
- **Patron Saint**: The patron saint of San Cristóbal is Saint Sebastian.
- **Demonym**: Residents are referred to as "sancristobalense" (applies to both masculine and feminine singular).
- **Postal Code**: 5001.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 0276.
- **UN/LOCODE**: VESCI.
- **Official Website**: http://sancristobal-tachira.gob.ve/

## FAQs
**What is the geographic location of San Cristóbal?**
San Cristóbal is located in the Andean region of Venezuela at coordinates 7.768°N 72.232°W. It is the capital of Táchira state and lies within the Municipio San Cristóbal.

**What are the demographic and physical statistics for the city?**
As of 2017, the city had a population of 285,872. It spans an area of 247 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 860 meters above sea level.

**What historical and cultural identifiers are associated with San Cristóbal?**
Founded in 1561, the city recognizes Saint Sebastian as its patron saint. It is affectionately known as the "Cordiality City" (San Cristobal City), and its inhabitants are known as sancristobalenses.

**How is the city connected internationally?**
San Cristóbal maintains a sister-city relationship (twinned administrative body) with La Ceiba. It also holds numerous international identifiers, including a Library of Congress Authority ID (n81085564) and a GeoNames ID (3628473).

## Why It Matters
San Cristóbal serves as the political and administrative heart of the Táchira state, acting as a crucial hub in western Venezuela. Its establishment in the 16th century marks it as a historical settlement of long standing in the region. The city's identity is reinforced by its specific cultural designations, such as its patron saint and demonym, distinguishing it from other cities named San Cristóbal globally. Its recognition across a vast array of international knowledge bases—from the Bibliothèque nationale de France to the U.S. National Archives—highlights its status as a documented and significant global locale.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Role**: Serves as the capital of Táchira state.
- **Historical Foundation**: Established in 1561, making it one of the older settlements in the region.
- **Cultural Identity**: Known as the "Cordiality City" and maintains a distinct demonym (sancristobalense).
- **Global Recognition**: Cataloged by major libraries and data repositories, including the Library of Congress, VIAF, and Encyclopædia Britannica.
- **Digital Presence**: possesses a verified UN/LOCODE (VESCI) and a dedicated government web portal.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
San Cristóbal is geographically positioned in the western part of Venezuela, serving as the capital of the state of Táchira. The city's coordinates are latitude 7.7681722222222 and longitude -72.232241666667. It occupies a land area of 247 square kilometres. The urban center is situated at an elevation of 860 metres above sea level.

In terms of population, the city recorded 285,872 inhabitants in 2017. The municipality (Municipio San Cristóbal) contains the city, and the local administrative context is defined by its status as a "big city" and a "large human settlement."

### History and Identity
The city's inception dates back to 1561. Its official native label and name are "San Cristóbal," though it is also known by the aliases "San Cristobal City," "Cordiality City," "Ciudad de San Cristóbal," and "San Cristóbal (Venezuela)." The city differentiates itself from other entities sharing the name San Cristóbal.

A key cultural aspect of the city is its patron saint, Saint Sebastian. The demonyms used for the people from San Cristóbal are "sancristobalense" or "Sancristobalense," which apply to both masculine and feminine singular forms.

### Administration and Infrastructure
San Cristóbal functions as the administrative center for the Táchira state. It is located within the Municipio San Cristóbal. The city operates under the UN/LOCODE "VESCI." For communications, the local dialing code is 0276, and the postal code is 5001. The official government website for the entity is http://sancristobal-tachina.gob.ve/.

### International and Cultural Relations
The city is twinned with the administrative body of La Ceiba. It has a significant digital footprint, with Wikipedia pages available in over 50 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, and Russian. The main category for the city on Wikimedia Commons is "San Cristóbal (Venezuela)," and its topic's main category is "Category:San Cristóbal, Táchira." There are also specific categories for maps, plans, and people associated with the city (born there, died there, or associated with it).

### Identifiers and Classifications
San Cristóbal is indexed in numerous international databases and library systems.
- **Library Identifiers**: Library of Congress Authority ID (n81085564), Bibliothèque nationale de France ID (12187329h), National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007550533205171), and Canadiana Name Authority ID (ncf12012408).
- **Knowledge Base IDs**: VIAF ID (310519991), FAST ID (1313139), GND ID (4278058-5), and GeoNames ID (3628473).
- **Digital & Media IDs**: MusicBrainz Area ID (83b03e5b-3c70-44e9-a5e5-5e126e869b70), Who's on First ID (421186951), and OpenStreetMap Node ID (373782315).
- **Encyclopedic References**: Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID (place/San-Cristobal-Venezuela) and Quora Topic (San-Cristobal-Venezuela).
- **Other Systems**: GNS Unique Feature ID (-957191), U.S. National Archives Identifier (10037925), and WorldCat Entities ID (E39PBJgxpH3Kg7rtpvqRT3V6Kd).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. MusicBrainz
4. GeoNames
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File