Santa Cruz das Flores

Santa Cruz das Flores
coat of arms map
Basic data
Autonomous Region :	Azores
Concelho :	Santa Cruz das Flores
Coordinates :	39 ° 27 ′  N , 31 ° 7 ′  W Coordinates: 39 ° 27 ′  N , 31 ° 7 ′  W
Residents:	1725 (as of June 30, 2011)
Surface:	39.68 km² (as of January 1, 2010)
Population density :	43 inhabitants per km²
Postal code :	9970-xxx
Santa Cruz das Flores county
flag map
Residents:	2289 (as of June 30, 2011)
Surface:	70.91 km² (as of January 1, 2010)
Population density :	32 inhabitants per km²
Number of municipalities :	4th
administration
Administration address:	Câmara Municipal de Santa Cruz das Flores Rua Senador André de Freitas 13 9970-337 Santa Cruz das Flores
President of the Câmara Municipal:	José Carlos Pimentel Mendes ( PS )
Website:	www.cmscflores.pt

Santa Cruz das Flores (  [ ˈsɐ̃tɐ ˈkɾuʒ ðɐʃ ˈfloɾɨʃ ] ) is the capital of the Azores island of Flores and the seat of a district ( concelho ). With 1725 inhabitants (as of June 30, 2011) it is the most populous municipality on the island and next to Lajes das Flores in the south the second place on the island with tourist facilities.

View of the main church ( Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora da Conceição )

geography

Santa Cruz das Flores is the furthest east of all places on the island.

history

Santa Cruz was founded around 1500, received city rights in 1548 and became the capital of the island of Flores at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1642 the Franciscans began building the monastery, which was completed around 1750. In 1693 Santa Cruz had 900 inhabitants. From 1966 to 1993 the French armed forces operated a military listening station in the city.

Facade of the main church Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora da Conceição

Culture and sights

The former Franciscan monastery now houses the island museum Museu das Flores . A permanent exhibition deals with whaling . Remarkable are the Scrimshaw -Exponate from sperm whale teeth . The decor of the monastery church Igreja de Sao Boaventura shows Latin American influences.

The three-aisled main church Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora da Conceição dates from the 16th century, but did not get its current form until 1859.

Economy and Infrastructure

economy

Old whale factory

The Empresa de Pesca de Baleia Esperança has been whaling from Santa Cruz since 1924 . The whale factory was built in 1941–1944 and made the city the center of this industry on Flores. In 1981 whaling was stopped. Today fishing is carried out on a smaller scale.

The dairy industry also plays a role. The Queijo Uniflores is made in the local cheese dairy . 4000 to 5000 liters of milk are processed every day.

Since the 1990s tourism has become more and more important. Santa Cruz das Flores places the majority of the guest beds on Flores.

traffic

Santa Cruz is connected to all important places on the east coast via the main road R 1-2. The fastest way to get to the west coast is via the R 2-2, which branches off the R 1-2 3 km southwest of the city. Santa Cruz has three ports, the cargo and passenger port of Porto das Poças , the fishing port of Porto Velho at the lighthouse and the Porto do Boqueirão at the former whale factory. The only airport on the island has been located in the immediate vicinity of the city since 1968 . There are direct flight connections to the Azores islands of São Miguel , Terceira , Faial and Corvo .

education

In Santa Cruz das Flores there is a primary school, a secondary school and a high school.

administration

Santa Cruz das Flores county

Santa Cruz das Flores County occupies the northern part of Flores. It borders on the Lajes das Flores district to the south, and on the Atlantic Ocean in the other directions . The district is divided into four freguesias (municipalities):

Santa Cruz das Flores county

local community	Population (2011)	Area km²	Density of population / km²	LAU code
Caveira	77	3.28	23	480201
Cedros	128	10.30	12	480202
Ponta Delgada	359	17.65	20th	480203
Santa Cruz das Flores	1,725	39.68	43	480204
Santa Cruz das Flores county	2,289	70.91	32	4802

Population development

Population in Santa Cruz das Flores County (1849–2011)
year	1849	1900	1930	1960	1981	1991	2001	2004	2011
Residents	4858	3629	3484	3207	2456	2628	2493	2500	2289

Municipal holiday

• June 24th

Web links

Commons : Santa Cruz das Flores  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website
• Santa Cruz das Flores - the capital of Flores in the Azores Online

Individual evidence

1. ↑ www.ine.pt - indicator resident population by place of residence and sex; Decennial in the database of the Instituto Nacional de Estatística
2. ↑ ^{a b} Overview of code assignments from Freguesias on epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu
3. ↑ www.ine.pt - indicator resident population by place of residence and sex; Decennial in the database of the Instituto Nacional de Estatística