# Santiago de Cuba

> city and capital of the province of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

**Wikidata**: [Q117040](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q117040)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Cuba)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/santiago-de-cuba

## Summary
Santiago de Cuba is a major city and municipality located in southeastern Cuba, serving as the capital of Santiago de Cuba Province. Founded in 1514 by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, it is the second-largest city in Cuba and is situated on the Caribbean Sea. It functions as a significant cultural and economic hub with a rich historical background.

## Key Facts
- **Founding**: Founded in **1514** by **Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar**.
- **Location**: Capital of **Santiago de Cuba Province**, situated on the **Caribbean Sea**. It was previously located in **Oriente Province** from 1879 to 1976.
- **Geography**:
    - **Coordinates**: Latitude 20.02166666666667, Longitude -75.82944444444445.
    - **Area**: 1,032.29 square kilometres.
    - **Elevation**: 82 metres above sea level.
- **Demographics**:
    - **Population (2011)**: 444,851.
    - **Population (2004)**: 509,143.
    - **Demonym**: Santiagueiro.
- **Governance & Administration**:
    - **Country**: Cuba (since December 10, 1898). Formerly part of the Spanish Empire (until 1895).
    - **Time Zone**: UTC−05:00.
    - **UN/LOCODE**: CUSCU.
    - **Local Dialing Code**: 22.
    - **Postal Codes**: Ranges from 90100 to 91400.
- **Identifiers & Classifications**:
    - **Instance of**: City, municipality of Cuba, big city.
    - **Wikidata ID**: Q270778 (FactGrid).
    - **GeoNames ID**: 3536726.
    - **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n79111458.
- **Patron Saint**: St. James the Elder.

## FAQs

**Where is Santiago de Cuba located?**
Santiago de Cuba is located in the southeast of the island of Cuba. It is the capital city of the Santiago de Cuba Province and lies along the coast of the Caribbean Sea. It sits at an elevation of 82 metres above sea level.

**When was the city founded and by whom?**
The city was founded in 1514 by the Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. It served as an early Spanish settlement and has a long history as a significant Cuban city.

**What is the population of Santiago de Cuba?**
According to data from 2011, the population of Santiago de Cuba is 444,851. An earlier census from 2004 recorded a population of 509,143.

**What are the administrative divisions and postal codes for the city?**
The city is a municipality of Cuba. It is assigned a range of postal codes from 90100 through to 91400. It became the capital of the Santiago de Cuba Province on July 3, 1976.

**Which other cities are twinned with Santiago de Cuba?**
Santiago de Cuba maintains sister-city relationships with several international cities, including Palermo (since 1996), Oakland (since 2000), Rosario (since 1993), Saint Petersburg (since 1974), and Toluca de Lerdo (since 2018). It is also twinned with Santiago de Compostela, Cartagena, Esmeraldas, Lisbon, Maracaibo, Montego Bay, Sabaneta, Santiago de los Caballeros, Naples, Diadema, and Maracay.

## Why It Matters
As one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in Cuba, Santiago de Cuba plays a critical role in the nation's heritage. Founded in the early 16th century, it was a pivotal location during the Spanish colonial period. Its historical importance is underscored by its status as a "big city" and municipality, serving as the provincial capital. The city's extensive network of international twin cities highlights its global cultural connections. Its location on the Caribbean Sea has historically made it a strategic port and settlement, contributing to its development as a major urban centre second only to Havana in size and importance.

## Notable For
- Being the **second-largest city** in Cuba (based on historical and municipal classifications).
- Its **founding in 1514**, making it one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Americas.
- Serving as the **capital** of the Santiago de Cuba Province since 1976.
- A vast network of **international sister city agreements**, including relationships with Saint Petersburg (dating back to 1974) and Palermo (1996).
- Its location on the **Caribbean Sea**, which has defined its historical and economic role.
- Being the subject of detailed entries in major encyclopedias including the 1911 *Encyclopædia Britannica*, *Larousse Encyclopedia*, and the *Great Russian Encyclopedia*.

## Body

### History and Foundation
Santiago de Cuba was established in **1514** by the Spanish explorer **Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar**. It functioned as a key settlement within the Spanish Empire until 1895. Following the Spanish-American War and the decline of Spanish influence, the city became part of the Republic of Cuba on **December 10, 1898**. Historically, the city was the site of the **Siege of Santiago**, a significant military event. Its history is documented extensively by sources such as *The Nuttall Encyclopædia* and the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*.

### Geography and Environment
The city covers a total area of **1,032.29 square kilometres**. It is geographically positioned at **20.02166666666667 latitude and -75.82944444444445 longitude**, with an average elevation of **82 metres** above sea level. It is situated directly on the **Caribbean Sea**, which influences its climate and ecology. The city shares a border with the municipality of **Guamá**. It falls within the **UTC−05:00** time zone.

### Administration and Demographics
Administratively, Santiago de Cuba is classified as a **city**, a **municipality of Cuba**, and a **big city**. It has served as the capital of the **Santiago de Cuba Province** since **July 3, 1976**. Prior to this, it was part of the **Oriente Province** from **1879 until July 2, 1976**.
Demographic records show a population of **509,143** in 2004 and a preferred count of **444,851** in 2011. Residents of the city are referred to as **Santiagueiro**. The city's patron saint is **St. James the Elder**.

### International Relations
Santiago de Cuba engages in extensive municipal cooperation and twinning agreements with cities across the globe. These relationships include:
- **Palermo, Italy** (Twinned since May 1996)
- **Oakland, USA** (Twinned since 2000)
- **Rosario, Argentina** (Twinned since 1993)
- **Saint Petersburg, Russia** (Twinned since 1974)
- **Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico** (Agreement started August 1, 2018)
Additional twin cities include **Santiago de Compostela** (Spain), **Cartagena** (Colombia), **Esmeraldas** (Ecuador), **Lisbon** (Portugal), **Maracaibo** (Venezuela), **Montego Bay** (Jamaica), **Sabaneta** (Dominican Republic), **Santiago de los Caballeros** (Dominican Republic), **Naples** (Italy), **Diadema** (Brazil), and **Maracay** (Venezuela).

### Infrastructure and Services
The city utilizes the **UN/LOCODE CUSCU** for logistics and shipping. The local dialing code is **22**. Postal services categorize the city into multiple zones with postal codes ranging sequentially from **90100 to 91400**. The city is well-documented in digital and physical infrastructure databases, including OpenStreetMap (Relation ID: 5919053) and iNaturalist (Place ID: 98262).

### Cultural and Academic Documentation
Santiago de Cuba is a subject of study in numerous academic and encyclopedic works. It is indexed in the *Encyclopædia Britannica* (11th edition and online), *Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia*, *Collier's New Encyclopedia* (1921), and the *Great Russian Encyclopedia* (2017). It holds authority records in major libraries worldwide, including the **Library of Congress** (ID: n79111458), the **Bibliothèque nationale de France** (ID: 11959431f), and the **National Library of Spain** (ID: XX453608). Its Wikipedia presence spans approximately 88 languages and dialects.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.comune.palermo.it/js/server/uploads/_20032019122906.pdf)
3. [Source](https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/international-trade-and-transportation#page-contact)
4. [Source](https://www.rosario.gob.ar/web/gobierno/internacionales/relaciones-bilaterales#hermanamientos)
5. [Source](https://kvs.gov.spb.ru/en/agreements/)
6. [Source](https://portales.sre.gob.mx/coordinacionpolitica/images/stories/acuerdos/Edomex44.pdf)
7. [Source](https://portales.sre.gob.mx/coordinacionpolitica/index.php/entidades/82-estado-de-mexico)
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](http://web.archive.org/web/20070927111826/http://www.atenas.inf.cu/todo/Estadisticas/TABLA+No_3balance.htm)
11. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. [Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (ed.dixital 2012)](https://academia.gal/dicionario/-/termo/santiagueiro)
14. GeoNames
15. BBC Things
16. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/cu.htm)
17. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
18. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)