Dominican Republic

Overwhelmed by tropical mountains and white sand beaches the Dominican Republic is a beautiful country making up the eastern two-thirds of the island Hispaniola. Haiti occupies the other third of this Caribbean island about 600 miles southeast of Florida.

During much of its history the Dominican Republic has been ruled by dictators and by other countries. However, the free elections of the last four decades have contributed to the recent economic growth of the country. Farming is the main industry on this mountainous island. Coffee and cacao (used to make chocolate) grow in the mountains while sugar cane, bananas, tobacco, and avocados grow on the plains.

Columbus landed on Hispaniola in 1492 and Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is not only the first European city founded in the Western Hemisphere, but it is also home to the oldest university, the University of Santo Domingo. Spanish culture still plays a large role in the Dominican Republic along with a strong African influence, provided chiefly from Haiti.

Country Statistics

Size	18,657 square miles - The Dominican Republic is about the size of New Hampshire and Vermont combined.
Population	8,833,634 (July 2004)
Pop. density	470 people per square mile
Life expectancy	67.6 years
Ethnic Groups	Mixed African and European descent 73%, European descent 16%, African descent 11%
Unemployment Rate	16.5 % (2004 est.)
Average Annual Income	$USD 2130.00
Distribution of Wealth	The poorest 50% of the population receives less than 20% of the GNP, while the richest 10% receive 40% of the national income.
Religion	Approximately 90% of the population consider themselves to be Roman Catholic. Many Dominicans practice a blend of Catholicism and witchcraft.
Minorities	Haitian (largest minority group in the D.R.)
Literacy	84.7 %

Jarabacoa

The town of Jarabacoa has a population of 52,000 and is situated in a lush valley 1732 ft. above sea level.

D.R. Fun Facts

• Dominicans call the typical Dominican meal “la bandera” (the flag). It consists of white rice, red beans, and chicken.
• In the D.R. you find the oldest cathedral, university, and city in the “New World” – all in the capital, Santo Domingo.
• Merengue, the Dominican national music, is a serious contender for the fastest music in the Caribbean.
• Pico Duarte, located in the northwestern D.R., is the highest point in the Caribbean reaching 10,416 ft
• Dominicans are notorious baseball lovers, and almost all U.S. major league baseball teams have at least one Dominican player. Dominican baseball stars playing in the major leagues include: Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, and Tony Peña.