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Ponta Delgada (São Miguel)

Ponta Delgada
Municipality (Concelho)
Ponta Delgada paços.jpg
The center of the Baixa (Downtown) of Ponta Delgada, as seen from the city hall
Coat of arms
Official name: Concelho de Ponta Delgada
Name origin: Portuguese for thin point
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Island São Miguel
Civil Parishes Ajuda da Bretanha, Arrifes, Candelária, Capelas, Covoada, Fajã de Baixo, Fajã de Cima, Fenais da Luz, Feteiras, Ginetes, Livramento, Mosteiros, Pilar da Bretanha, Relva, Remédios, Santa Bárbara, Santa Clara, Santo António, São José, São Pedro, São Roque, São Sebastião, São Vicente Ferreira, Sete Cidades (Ponta Delgada)
Center Lagoa Empadadas
 - elevation 761 m (2,497 ft)
 - coordinates 37°44′28″N 25°40′50″W / 37.74111°N 25.68056°W / 37.74111; -25.68056Coordinates: 37°44′28″N 25°40′50″W / 37.74111°N 25.68056°W / 37.74111; -25.68056
Highest point Éguas
 - location Sete Cidades Massif
 - elevation 873 m (2,864 ft)
 - coordinates 37°49′37″N 25°45′17″W / 37.82694°N 25.75472°W / 37.82694; -25.75472
Lowest point Sea level
 - location Atlantic Ocean
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Area 232.99 km2 (90 sq mi)
 - water 4.8 km2 (2 sq mi)
 - urban 22.0 km2 (8 sq mi)
 - metro 7.95 km2 (3 sq mi)
Population 68,809 (2011)
Density 295/km2 (764/sq mi)
Settlement c. 1450
 - Village 29 May 1507
 - Municipality 2 April 1546
LAU Câmara Municipal
 - location Praça do Município, São Sebastião
 - elevation 12 m (39 ft)
 - coordinates 37°44′20″N 25°40′9″W / 37.73889°N 25.66917°W / 37.73889; -25.66917
President José Manuel Bolieiro (PPD-PSD)
Municipal Chair Francisco Rêgo Costa (PPD-PSD)
Timezone Azores (UTC-1)
 - summer (DST) Azores (UTC0)
Postal Zone 9504-523
Area Code & Prefix (+351) 292 XX XX XX
Demonym Ponta-delgadense
Patron Saint Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres
Municipal Holidays Monday following the Sunday of festival of Senhor Santo Cristo
LocalPontaDelgada.png
Location of the municipality of Ponta Delgada in the archipelago of the Azores
Statistics: Instituto Nacional de Estatística
Geographic detail from CAOP (2010) produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP)

Ponta Delgada (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpõtɐ ˌðɛɫˈɣaðɐ]) is the largest municipality (concelho) and administrative capital of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in Portugal. It is located on São Miguel Island, the largest and most populous in the archipelago. The population in 2011 was 68,809, in an area of 232.99 square kilometres (89.96 square miles). There are 17,629 residents in the three central civil parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro, São Sebastião, and São José. Ponta Delgada became the region's administrative capital under the revised constitution of 1976; the judiciary and Catholic see remained in the historical capital of Angra do Heroísmo while the Legislative Assembly of the Azores was established in Horta.

The origin of the placename, was elaborated by the famous Portuguese chronicler, Father Gaspar Frutuoso, wrote:

In around 1450, Pêro de Teive, established a small fishing village that eventually grew into the urban agglomeration in Santa Clara.

Populated since 1444, the island of São Miguel was a vast territory, with small settlements scattered about, except for Vila Franca do Campo in the central-southern coast, and the smaller community of Ponta Delgada. Villa Franca had for many years been the center of the island economically and socially, and seat of the local government, but many nobles and landed gentry despised its subordinate status to the government in that town (originating many conflicts between these inhabitants and administrators in the southern coast). The nobles in Ponta Delgada sent a secret contingent, headed by Fernão Jorge Velho, to meet with King Manuel in Lisbon to petition that the community be emancipated. In Abrantes, King Manuel conferred a foral on 29 May 1507, elevating the settlement to the status of village (Portuguese: vila).


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