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Bahoruco, sometimes also spelt Baoruco, is a province in the centre of the
Dominican Republic. It was created in 1943 after separation from the Barahona
province, and originally included the now separate province of Indipencia. Bahoruco’s
population is approximately 91,500 people, and the main economy of this 1,282-kilometre
squared province is agriculture, including banana, grape and coffee plantations.
The capital of Bahoruco, Neiba (sometimes, Neyba), today a city of 25,500 inhabitants,
has existed as a settlement since at least 1605. Neiba changed hands constantly
during the political upheavals, from the end of the 18th century to independence
of the Dominican Republic in July 1844. After independence, it became a Community
of the newly created Azua Department. When Bahoruco became a separate province
in 1943, Neiba was named as its capital city. The announcement was made on March
10th, and this date is still one of the major celebration days in the city.
Another of the province’s major towns is Tamayo, in the eastern part of
the Neiba Valley. Tamayo was settled by a mixture of people from other parts
of the island, but the fledgling town was destroyed in a flood caused by the
1908 hurricane that hit the area. The new population came from all over the
island, including many Haitians who worked in agriculture and duck raising.
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