Alquízar

Alquízar is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba. The town is located in the south-west corner of the province, south-west of San Antonio de los Baños and west of Güira de Melena. The settlement was first mentioned in 1616, as a coffee plantation owned by Don Sancho de Alquízar, who gives the name of the community. In 1826, a garrison was established here, and it was incorporated in 1879. In 2004, the municipality of Alquízar had a population of 29,616. With a total area of 193 km (75 sq mi), it has a population density of 153.5 /km (398 /sq mi). The municipality is divided into the barrios of Guanímar, La Paz, Pueblo (capital), San Andrés and Tumbadero.