Lascahobas

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Lascahobas

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|native_name = Laskawobas

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|settlement_type = Commune

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|image_skyline = Place Publique de Lascahobas.jpg

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|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Haiti

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|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = 25px Haiti

|subdivision_type1 = Department

|subdivision_name1 = Centre

|subdivision_type2 = Arrondissement

|subdivision_name2 = Lascahobas

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|established_title = Settled

|established_date = 1763

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|area_total_km2 = 151.68

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|elevation_m = 250

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|population_as_of = 2015

|population_footnotes = {{cite web|title=Mars 2015 Population Totale, Population de 18 ans et Plus Menages et Densites Estimes en 2015 |url=http://www.ihsi.ht/pdf/projection/Estimat_PopTotal_18ans_Menag2015.pdf |publisher=Institut Haïtien de Statistique et d’Informatique (IHSI) |access-date=3 June 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106110552/http://www.ihsi.ht/pdf/projection/Estimat_PopTotal_18ans_Menag2015.pdf |archive-date=6 November 2015 }}

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|population_total = 45873

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|timezone = EST

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|utc_offset_DST = −04:00

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|coordinates = {{coord|18|49|46|N|71|56|11|W|region:HT|display=inline,title}}

|postal_code_type = Postal code

|postal_code = HT 5310

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Lascahobas ({{IPA|fr|laskaɔbas}}; {{langx|ht|Laskawobas}}; {{langx|es|Las Caobas}}) is a commune located in the Centre department of Haiti, roughly one hour east of Mirebalais, 10 minutes south of Lac de Peligre, and one hour west of the border with the Dominican Republic.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

The population is about 45,873 people, as of 2015.

History and character

Lascahobas is the market town of a rural, agricultural area. Outlying villages in the area include Cohoroes, Rantamoulie, LaHoye, and Pouly (also spelled Poulie or Poule), Flande, and Pareidon. The city and villages surrounding it have been the focus of missionary work by the Episcopal Church in the early 21st Century."Mission from the Cathedral: Mission Trip to Haiti: Two teams over Two Weeks: School Support: medical team," Swan & Elk (newsletter of the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York), Eastertide 2013, pp. 6-7.David J. Collum, "The Albany Mission Trip to Haiti", Newsletter, Episcopal Diocese of Albany, May 2013, p. 18."A Mission Team returns to Haiti", Albany Episcopalian, Vol. 14, No. 1, Lent 2017, p. 11.

It was founded as Las Caobas by Spanish colonists in 1763.{{cite web|title=La Huella Hispánica en la Sociedad Dominicana |url=http://www.historiadominicana.com.do/component/content/article/149-huella-hispanica-sociedad-dominicana.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622003740/http://clio.academiahistoria.org.do/trabajos/clio171/Clio_2006_No_171-06.pdf |archive-date=22 June 2013 |work=2013 |publisher=Historia Dominicana (The authors belong to the Dominican Academy of History) |url-status=dead |access-date=2 December 2016 |author1=Emilio Cordero Michel |author2=Roberto Cassá |author1-link=Emilio Cordero Michel |author2-link=Roberto Cassá |language=es |trans-title=The Spanish trace in the Dominican Society }}

Economy

Primarily agricultural, with a bustling local market and a large Roman Catholic church, the city sits on the significant Lascahobas River.

The wealthiest business in town are agriculture development and farming.{{cite web|url=http://blr.med.nyu.edu/content/archive/2005/lascahobas |website=Bellevue Literary Review|title=The Only Fat Man in Lascahobas|last=Lyon|first=Evan|date=Fall 2005 |access-date=December 2, 2016}}

Lascahobas has an Episcopal church, St. Esprit (Holy Spirit), which also has a school.{{cite web|url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/parish/st-esprit-lascahobas-haiti |work=Episcopal Church |title=St. Esprit, Lascahobas, Haiti|date=2013|access-date=April 15, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eswusa.org/chapters/rpi/projects/solar-classroom-lascahobas-haiti |work=Engineers for a Sustainable World |title=Solar Classroom in Lascahobas, Haiti |date=January 2010|access-date=April 15, 2013}} As of early 2013, the Rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit was The Rev. Jean Milor Medela; Fr. Medela also serves as priest at the Church of the Ascension in Poulie. {{As of|October 2016}} they were replaced by Fr. Jean Jacques Deravil.

The 2010 Haiti earthquake damaged some parts of Lascahobas, but didn't affect the ongoing installment of solar panels for electricity. In 2011, volunteers from the United States installed solar panels to allow for Internet connections.{{cite web|url=http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/01/solar-powered-internet-connectivity-in-lascahobas-haiti|work=Renewable Energy World|title=Solar-powered Internet Connectivity in Lascahobas, Haiti|last=Horsman|first=Laura|date=January 10, 2012|access-date=April 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214004415/http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/01/solar-powered-internet-connectivity-in-lascahobas-haiti|archive-date=February 14, 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.internetsociety.org/final-report-connecting-community-lascahobas-haiti-internet |work=Internet Society |title=Final Report: Connecting the Community of Lascahobas, Haiti to the Internet (abstract) |date=January 2, 2012|access-date=April 15, 2013}} Installation was completed in early 2013.

Tourism

Vodou festivals occur regularly throughout much of the year in the surrounding hills.

Mon Fo, located on the west edge of town is the highest elevation in the area, that at some point was used as a military fort. All that remains of the fort are crumbling ruins of walls and a large cannon with a Fleur de Lis.

Carnevale is celebrated annually in the whole town.

Transportation

Lascahobas is bisected by Route 305.{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&gs_rn=9&gs_ri=psy-ab&cp=10&gs_id=2&xhr=t&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45175338,d.dmQ&biw=1280&bih=822&wrapid=tljp136606603358000&q=lascahobas&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x8eb0ad38e6b7e279:0x7626de10eaf627f0,Lascahobas,+Haiti&gl=us&sa=X&ei=eYNsUeDdC8Ha0QHH54CQCw&sqi=2&ved=0CIMBELYD|work=Google Maps|title=Lascahobas: Haiti |access-date=April 16, 2013}}

Education

There are two primary schools, one Roman Catholic and one Episcopal, in Lascahobas. Each of the four outlying villages also has a primary school operated by the Episcopal church. The newest schools are in Poulie and Flande. There are no secondary schools nor public schools in the area.

References

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