Arima, Trinidad and Tobago

Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
City-Borough
The Royal Chartered Borough of Arima
Aerial view of the Central Business District of Arima, Trinidad & Tobago
Coordinates: 10°37′N 61°16′W / 10.617°N 61.267°W / 10.617; -61.267Coordinates: 10°37′N 61°16′W / 10.617°N 61.267°W / 10.617; -61.267
Country	Trinidad and Tobago
Metro Area	East-West Corridor
County	Saint George County
Royal Borough	August, 1888
Government
• Mayor	Her Worship Councilor Lisa Morris-Julian
• Governing body	Arima Borough Corporation
Area
• Total	12 km2 (5 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	33,606
• Density	2,801/km2 (7,250/sq mi)
Time zone	Atlantic (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	664, 667
Website	www.arimaborough.gov.tt

Arima is the easternmost and second largest in area of the three boroughs of Trinidad and Tobago. It is geographically adjacent to Sangre Grande and Arouca at the southcentral foothills of the Northern Range. To the south is the Caroni-Arena Dam. Coterminous with Town of Arima since 1888, the borough of Arima is the fourth-largest municipality in population in the country (after Port of Spain, Chaguanas and San Fernando). The census estimated it had 33,606 residents in 2011.

In 1887, the town petitioned Queen Victoria for municipal status as part of her Golden Jubilee celebration. This was granted in the following year, and Arima became a Royal Borough on 1 August 1888. Historically the third-largest town of Trinidad and Tobago, Arima is fourth since Chaguanas became the largest town in the country.

The borough has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen Aw) climate characterized with little seasonal variations due to its close proximity to the Northern Range. Temperatures typically range from 19 to 33 degrees. The wet season lasts from June to November and the dry season lasts from December to May of the following year. Hail has occurred in the town but is rare.

Arima hosts an annual Borough Day anniversary celebration in August. The celebration incorporates Carnival-style street parades and usually coincides with the staging of the Santa Rosa Carib Community annual festival. The annual Arima Carnival includes street parades of masqueraders on Carnival Tuesday, J'ouvert bands on Carnival Monday, as well as a local calypso competition.

The major land transportation arteries are the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Eastern Main Road and the Priority Bus Route which all link Arima with major towns and cities along the East-West Corridor Metropolitan Area. Among other important routes are the Arima Bypass, Tumpuna Road and O'Meara Road which links neighborhoods around the town to the Town Center.