David, Chiriqui is a city located in the west of Panama in the province of Chiriqui. The Pan-American Highway is a popular route to the city. It is the capital of the province of Chiriquí and has an estimated population of 124,500 inhabitants as confirmed in 2005. It also is the least poor city and area in Panama with all family and houses having the basic life requirements, such as concrete houses, clean water and energy.
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History and foundation
The City of David was founded in 1602 by mandate of the governor Juan Lopez de Sequeiro. At that time three populations formed, a Spanish and two of natural to whom the names given where San Antonio de Padra, David and Our Lady of the Rosary. For 1609, there were in this place 6.900 inhabitants originating of the Villa de Los Santos which indicates the importance that begins to have for the other cities of the Isthmus. Even before the town of David, other places are based such as the town of Nuestra Señora de Remedios for 1589, San Pedro de Montijo for 1590 and Santiago de Alanje for 1591. Between 1630 and 1637 the City of Santiago de Veraguas is created. The name of David was given by the Indians, according to successfully obtained old documental information. In addition, in that place it passed the way that communicated to Central America with Panama City, this way was call "Passage of Saca or Real Camino" For 1726, David was not recognized like town although important personages of the judicial scope, of the town of Santiago de Alanje, maintained their residences in that place. Lopez de Sequeiro liked the intellectual actor of the site of David considers itself him to Juan and to Francisco de Gama like physical author of the place. Both were Jewish conversos, reason why it thinks that the reason that they did not recognize of the place must had been to religious differences with the Real Hearing of Panama. For 1736, David receives its recognition like town when denominating itself the Hermita San José de David.
Commerce and industrialization
San José de David (official name) is Panama's third largest urban area. It functions as a hub for the province's commercial activities, mainly agriculture and cattle raising and supplies the rest of the country. It also serves as port of exports and imports with neighboring Costa Rica. It is connected to the rest of the country by the Pan-American Highway, and the Enrique Malek International Airport. It is one of the highest industrialized cities in the country and is a hub for manufacturing, heavy industry and high technology standards and communications. It is also a hub for tourism thanks to its nightlife, entertainment, gastronomy, shopping and surfing.
Location
It is located centrally in Chiriqui province between the cities of Puerto Armuelles on the coast and Boquete in the mountains.
Notable residents
Carlos Ruiz is a baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies and citizen of David.
Salvador Contreras de Ycaza watercolor Arstist living now in Millbrook,NY website www.contrerasart.com
