Ranchuelo

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Ranchuelo

| other_name =

| native_name =

| nickname =

| settlement_type = Municipality

| motto =

| image_skyline = Ranchuelo Ayuntamiento.jpg

| imagesize =

| image_caption = Town hall

| image_flag = Flag_of_Ranchuelo.png

| flag_size =

| image_seal =

| seal_size =

| image_shield = Coat of arms of Ranchuelo.jpeg

| shield_size = 120x90px

| image_map = Ranchuelo (Cuban municipal map).png

| map_caption = Ranchuelo municipality (red) within
Villa Clara Province (yellow) and Cuba

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Cuba

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = Villa Clara

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| established_title = Founded

| established_date = 1734

| established_title2 = Established

| established_date2 = 1879 (Municipality)

| established_title3 =

| established_date3 =

| area_magnitude =

| unit_pref =

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 556

| area_land_km2 =

| area_water_km2 =

| population_as_of = 2022

| population_footnotes =

| population_note =

| population_total = 50,708

| population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone = EST

| utc_offset = -5

| timezone_DST =

| utc_offset_DST =

| coordinates = {{coord|22|22|35.2|N|80|09|03.6|W|region:CU|display=inline,title}}

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 125

| postal_code_type =

| postal_code =

| area_code = +53-422

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Ranchuelo is a town and municipality in the Villa Clara Province of Cuba. It was founded in 1734 and has a municipal population of 50,708, of which about 15,000 in the town itself.

History

Originally named Boca de Ranchuelo, the settlement was founded by Dionisio Consuegra on October 1, 1734. In 1856 it was linked to the national rail network, and in 1879 gained the municipal status.

Geography

File:Ranchuelo Parque Marti.jpg Square]]

File:Jicotea City Limits Sign.jpg

The town is divided into the barrios of Norte, Poza de la China, Sitio Viejo and Sur.{{Cite web|url=http://www.guije.com/pueblo/municipios/vranchuelo/index.htm|title=Ranchuelo|author=Guije.com|accessdate=2007-10-09|language=es}}

Ranchuelo is 7 km from San Juan de los Yeras, 9 from Esperanza, 16 from Cruces, 28 from Santa Clara, 43 from Cienfuegos and 256 from Havana. It borders with the municipalities of Santo Domingo, Cifuentes, Santa Clara, Manicaragua, Cruces and Lajas.{{OSM|r|5884799|Ranchuelo}}

Demographics

In 2022, the municipality of Ranchuelo had a population of 50,708.{{Cite web |title=Cuba: Administrative Division (Provinces and Municipalities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/cuba/admin/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.citypopulation.de}} With a total area of {{convert|556|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}},{{Cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/ycu.html|title=Municipios of Cuba|author=Statoids|date=July 2003| accessdate=2007-10-09}} it has a population density of {{convert|106.2|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}.

Transport

Ranchuelo is served by the A1 motorway at the homonym exit, also known as "Ranchuelo-Cienfuegos".{{OSM|n|1308266444|Ranchuelo (A1 exit)}} It counts a railway station on the Santa Clara-Cienfuegos line, that is also the western terminus of a freight line to Mataguá.{{OSM|n|2925075943|Ranchuelo railway station}}

Esperanza, the most populated municipal hamlet, is crossed in the middle by the "Carretera Central" state highway.