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Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago de los Caballeros is the second most important city in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola.
History
The original colony was in Jacagua, but when this was destroyed by an earthquake it was moved to its present location in 1506. It was devastated by another earthquake in 1562. Santiago de los Caballeros has sometimes been the capital of the country, and was an important strategic city in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844.
Present Day
Today the city has a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants. Its most important economic activity is in the service sector, having one of the largest tax-free zone parks in the country. There is also an international airport (Aeropuerto Internacional del Cibao), and the city is the home of the Aguilas Cibaeñas baseball team and several universities.
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