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Department of North Santander

North of Santander
Norte de Santander
Department
Flag of North of Santander
Flag
Coat of arms of North of Santander
Coat of arms
Anthem:
Norte de Santander shown in red
Norte de Santander shown in red
Topography of the department
Topography of the department
Coordinates: 7°54′N 72°30′W / 7.900°N 72.500°W / 7.900; -72.500Coordinates: 7°54′N 72°30′W / 7.900°N 72.500°W / 7.900; -72.500
Country Colombia
Region Andes Region
Established 25 July 1910
Capital Cúcuta
Government
 • Governor William Villamizar Laguado (2016-2019)
Area
 • Total 21,658 km2 (8,362 sq mi)
Area rank 24th
Population (2013)
 • Total 1,332,335
 • Rank 12th
 • Density 62/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-05
ISO 3166 code CO-NSA
Provinces 6
Municipalities 40
Website www.nortedesantander.gov.co/

Norte de Santander is a department of the nation of Colombia. It is in the north of the country, bordering Venezuela. Its capital is Cúcuta, one of the country's major cities.

North Santander Department is bordered by Venezuela to the east and north, by Santander Department and Boyacá Department to the south, and by Santander Department and Cesar Department to the west.

The official Department name is "Departamento de Norte de Santander" (North Santander Department) in honor of Colombian military and political leader Francisco de Paula Santander. North Santander Department is located in the northwestern zone of the Colombian Andean Region.

The area of present-day Norte de Santander played an important role in the history of Colombia, during the War of Independence from Spain when Congress gave origin to the Greater Colombia in Villa del Rosario.

In April 1850, when the Republic of New Granada was born with 5 departments and 19 provinces. Santander was formed as a province with San José de Cúcuta its capital. In 1857 the sovereign Department of Santander was created and its capital was Pamplona. As of December of that year, the capital was transferred to Bucaramanga.

In May 1858, the Republic of Colombia was denominated Granadina Confederation, including eight Departments, including the one of Santander. In 1863 it was decided in the National Convention of Rio Negro, to change the name of the country to the United States of Colombia.

The Political Constitution of 1886, at the time known as "Regeneration", changed the name of the country and again it was known as the Republic of Colombia.

The area was still known as Santander and was part of the provinces of Cúcuta, Ocaña, Pamplona, Charalá, García Rovira, Guanentá, Soto, Socorro and Vélez. In 1905, the Department was divided in two and for a time, Santander had Cúcuta, Ocaña, River of Gold, Pamplona, García Rovira, Santos and Fortúl provinces.


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