San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

The City of San Fernando is one of the two cities which exist in the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is 18 km² in area. It is situated in the southwestern area of the island of Trinidad; bounded to the North by the Guaracara River, the south by the Oropouche River, the east by the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, and the West by the Gulf of Paria. The population was estimated to be 62,000 as of 2002, making it the largest city and second largest municipality in the country. The former Borough of San Fernando was elevated to the status of a city on November 18, 1988.

History

The Amerindians called present day San Fernando by the name 'Anaparima'. Translation of 'Anaparima' could mean either 'Single Hill' or 'Without Water'. A single hill, San Fernando Hill rises from the centre of the city.

Related Topics:
Amerindian - San Fernando Hill

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The town named San Fernando de Naparima by Spanish Governor Don José Maria Chacón in 1784, in honour of the heir to Spanish crown. With time, the de Naparima was dropped.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Governor - José Maria Chacón - Spanish crown

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Following the 1783 Cedula of Population, many sugar plantations were established in the Naparima Plains surrounding the town of San Fernando. The town grew as this part of the country came to dominate sugar production. This growth continued throughout the nineteenth century as consolidation in the sugar industry led to the construction of what was then the largest sugar refinery in the world, the Usine, Ste. Madeline factory a few miles east of the town. The development of cacao cultivation in the southern districts and the development of the petroleum industry helped San Fernando grow since the town served as the gateway to these areas.

Related Topics:
1783 - Cedula - Sugar - Plantation - Naparima Plains - Nineteenth century - Usine, Ste. Madeline - Cacao - Petroleum industry

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The growth of the town placed severe strains on the supply of water, especially during the dry season. Complaints by the Burgess of the town resulted in numerous reports by geologists and hydrologists throughout the later nineteenth and early twentieth century, but the problem was not solved until the Navet Dam was constructed in the 1930s.

Related Topics:
Burgess - Geologists - Hydrologists - Twentieth century - Navet Dam

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The nearby oil refinery at Pointe-à-Pierre played an important role in San Fernando's development between World War II and the 1980s. The refinery was constructed by Trinidad Leaseholds Limited during World War II, and constituted one of the largest contributions to the war effort by a private company. The 'oil boom' of the 1970s and 80s led to the growth the suburbs of San Fernando, especially Marabella (to the south) and Gasparillo (to the east) of the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery. In 1991 the boundaries of the city were extended, bringing the refinery (the largest in the Caribbean) immediately adjacent to the City's northern boundary.

Related Topics:
Oil refinery - Pointe-à-Pierre - World War II - Trinidad Leaseholds Limited - Oil boom - Marabella - Gasparillo

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The extended City now includes the suburbs of Marabella, Bel Air, Gulf View and Cocoyea.

Related Topics:
Bel Air - Gulf View - Cocoyea

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