The province has a population of slightly over one million people. Its territory exceeds 9,300 km2 (3,600 sq mi), 25 percent of which is covered by forest.
Christopher Columbus landed in what is believed to have been today's Holguín province on October 27, 1492. He declared that it was "the most beautiful land human eyes had ever seen".
The Holguín province was established in 1978, when it was split from the Oriente region.
Economy
Like much of Cuba, Holguín's economy is based around sugarcane, though other crops such as corn and coffee, as well as mining, are also large earners for the province.
A large nickel plus cobalt processing plant with shipping facilities was built in Moa, using foreign investment, much of it from Canada. Chromium, iron and steel plants dot the province as well.
Source: Population from 2004[3]and 2012[4] Census.Area from 1976 municipal re-distribution.[5]
Demographics
In 2004, the province of Holguin had a population of 1,029,083.[3] With a total area of 9,292.83 km2 (3,587.98 sq mi),[6] the province had a population density of 110.7/km2 (287/sq mi).
Per the 2012 census,[4] the population was 1,035,072, and a similar population density of 111.38/km2 (288.5/sq mi).
Notable people
Fulgencio Batista, last president and military dictator of the Republican era (1902-1959)
Ángel Castro y Argiz, farmer and businessman, father of Fidel, Juanita, Ramón and Raúl Castro
