Coclé Province Provincia de Coclé | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: | |
 Location of Coclé in Panama | |
| Coordinates (Seat of Government):8°30′N80°30′W / 8.500°N 80.500°W /8.500; -80.500 | |
| Country | Panama |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Capital | Penonomé |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,946.6 km2 (1,909.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 census)[1] | |
• Total | 268,264 |
| • Density | 54.232/km2 (140.46/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total | $5.2 billion[2] |
| • Per capita | $20,500 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern Time) |
| ISO 3166 code | PA-2 |
| HDI (2019) | 0.787[3] high |
Coclé (Spanish pronunciation:[koˈkle]) is aprovince of centralPanama on the nation's southern coast. The administrative capital is the city ofPenonomé. This province was created by the Act of September 12, 1855 with the title of Department of Coclé during the presidency ofDr. Justo de Arosemena. It became a province, Decretory Number 190, on October 20, 1985. Coclé is primarily an agricultural area, with sugar and tomatoes as major crops. The province has a number of well-known beaches, such asSanta Clara, Farallon andRio Hato, and tourist activity has increased in recent years. It covers an area of 4,946.6 km2, and had a population of 268,264 in 2023.[4]
Duringpre-Columbian times, the area of Panama which today includes Coclé province had a number of identifiable native cultures.Archaeologists have loosely designated these cultures bypottery style. The poorly studied La Mula period ranged from 150 BC to AD 300. It was followed by the Tonosi period, from AD 300 to AD 550, and by the Cubita period, from AD 550 to AD 700. A unifiedIndigenous culture appears to have flourished in this area from approximately 1200 BC until the 16th century.
Coclé Province is divided into 6distritos (districts) and subdivided into 44corregimientos.[5]
| Distrito | Area (km2) | Population Estimate | Population Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aguadulce | 469 | 47,470 | 51,668 |
| Antón | 748 | 53,361 | 57,672 |
| La Pintada | 1,030 | 27,976 | 30,161 |
| Natá | 605 | 21,507 | 23,374 |
| Olá | 386 | 6,842 | 7,366 |
| Penonomé | 1,709 | 87,600 | 94,908 |
Parque Nacional General de División Omar Torrijos Herrera, established around the crash site of former Panamanian leaderOmar Torrijos, is located in the northeastern portion of Coclé. Parque Omar, as it is known, enjoys some legal protection as anational park.
Coclé is also home toAPROVACA orchid conservation center, which conducts orchid conservation activities, including orchid reintroduction into the wild and a sponsorship program for the Panamanian national flowerPeristeria elata.
FolkloristRosita Liao Gonzales was awarded theOrder of Manuel José Hurtado for her work categorizing the cultures of Coclé Province.[8]
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Corregimiento-level Comarcas indígenas | ||
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