Tarrafal (municipality)

Tarrafal
Municipality
Municipal hall of Tarrafal
Coordinates: 15°16′N 23°43′W / 15.26°N 23.71°W / 15.26; -23.71Coordinates: 15°16′N 23°43′W / 15.26°N 23.71°W / 15.26; -23.71
Country	Cape Verde
Island	Santiago
Area
• Total	120.8 km2 (46.6 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	18,561
• Density	150/km2 (400/sq mi)

Tarrafal is a concelho (municipality) of Cape Verde. It is situated in the northern part of the island of Santiago. Its seat is the town Tarrafal. Its population was 18,561 at the 2010 census.

Under Salazar the Tarrafal Concentration Camp was built on the plain south of town (Chão Bom) to contain opponents of the political regime.

The municipality consists of one freguesia (civil parish), Santo Amaro Abade. The freguesia is subdivided into the following settlements, its population data are of the 2010 census:

The economy includes businesses, agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

The municipality was created on May 4, 1912, when two northern parishes of the older Municipality of Santa Catarina were split off to become the Municipality of Tarrafal, the seat of Santa Catarina moved to Assomada and Tarrafal became the seat of a municipality with its own name.

In the mid-20th century, the areas in Serra da Malagueta in the south and the northern portion had a large Rabelados population.

In 1991, a southeastern parish of the Municipality was split off to become the Municipality of São Miguel.

Tarrafal has various sights to offer. There are an interesting town hall, a market hall, a comparatively large church, Saint Amaro Abade and Estádio de Mangue in the southern end next to the communal boundary with Chão Bom and newly constructed hotels east of it, in the market place. Every year Tarrafal invites everyone to celebrate the name festival (Festa de Santo Amaro). The date is January 15.