# San José de las Lajas

> municipality and the capital city of the newly formed Mayabeque Province of Cuba

**Wikidata**: [Q1001941](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1001941)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_José_de_las_Lajas)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/san-jose-de-las-lajas

## Summary
San José de las Lajas is a municipality and the capital city of Mayabeque Province in Cuba, established in 1778. As of 2021, it has a population of 80,960 and serves as the administrative center of the province formed in 2010. The city is situated in western Cuba, approximately 135 meters above sea level.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1778.  
- **Capital of**: Mayabeque Province (since 2010).  
- **Population**: 80,960 (as of 2021).  
- **Area**: 591 square kilometers.  
- **Coordinates**: 22.9678° N, 82.1558° W.  
- **Elevation**: 135 meters above sea level.  
- **Timezone**: UTC−05:00 (Eastern Time Zone).  
- **Country**: Cuba.  
- **Previously part of**: Havana Province (until 2010).  
- **Twinned with**: Coslada, Spain.  
- **VIAF ID**: 157257022.  
- **GeoNames ID**: 3539559.  
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: c2feae65-5c7f-4e39-93b9-bbf28e2f45b5.  
- **Dialing code**: 7.  
- **Borders**: Cotorro municipality.  

## FAQs
- **Where is San José de las Lajas located?**  
  It is in Mayabeque Province, western Cuba, at coordinates 22.9678° N, 82.1558° W.  

- **When did it become a provincial capital?**  
  In 2010, when Mayabeque Province was established from the former Havana Province.  

- **What is its population?**  
  80,960 residents as of the 2021 census.  

- **Is it twinned with any cities?**  
  Yes, it is twinned with Coslada, Spain.  

- **What are its key geographic features?**  
  The city spans 591 km², with an elevation of 135 meters, and borders Cotorro.  

## Why It Matters
San José de las Lajas is central to Cuba’s administrative restructuring, symbolizing the 2010 division of Havana Province into Artemisa and Mayabeque. As the capital of Mayabeque, it anchors regional governance, economic activity, and cultural identity. Its history since 1778 reflects colonial and modern Cuban development, while its population and geographic position make it a focal point for local infrastructure and services.

## Notable For
- First capital of Mayabeque Province (established 2010).  
- Founded during the Spanish colonial era (1778).  
- Elevation of 135 meters, distinct from Cuba’s coastal cities.  
- Twin city relationship with Coslada, Spain.  
- Documented in the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (ID: 1003337).  

## Body

### Geography & Climate
- **Area**: Covers 591 km² in western Cuba.  
- **Elevation**: 135 meters above sea level, situated inland.  
- **Coordinates**: 22.9678° N, 82.1558° W.  
- **Timezone**: Observes UTC−05:00 (Eastern Time Zone).  

### History
- **Founding**: Established in 1778 during Spanish colonial rule.  
- **Administrative Change**: Transitioned from Havana Province to Mayabeque Province in 2010 as part of Cuba’s provincial reorganization.  

### Demographics
- **Population**: 80,960 (2021 census), reflecting its role as a provincial hub.  
- **Dialing Code**: Uses the local code 7 for telecommunications.  

### Administration
- **Capital Status**: Serves as the administrative seat of Mayabeque Province.  
- **Municipality**: Functions as both a city and municipality under Cuban governance.  
- **Borders**: Shares boundaries with Cotorro municipality.  

### International Relations
- **Twin City**: Partnered with Coslada, Spain, fostering cultural and diplomatic ties.  

### Digital & Cultural Presence
- **Identifiers**:  
  - VIAF: 157257022.  
  - GeoNames: 3539559.  
  - MusicBrainz: c2feae65-5c7f-4e39-93b9-bbf28e2f45b5.  
  - Getty Thesaurus: 1003337.  
  - Encyclopaedia Britannica: "place/San-Jose-de-las-Lajas".  
- **Media**: Featured in Wikimedia Commons (category: San José de las Lajas) and a locator map (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/San_José_de_las_Lajas_(Cuban_municipal_map).png).  

### Infrastructure & Research
- **OpenStreetMap**: Mapped under relation ID 5539171.  
- **iNaturalist**: Recorded in biodiversity databases (ID: 98219).  

### Miscellaneous
- **Aliases**: Known as San José de Lajas and San Jose de las Lajas.  
- **SNARC ID**: Incorrectly listed as "Serdang Bedagai" (likely an error).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. MusicBrainz
4. [Source](http://www.onei.gob.cu/sites/default/files/03_poblacion_2021.pdf)
5. GeoNames
6. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)