El Seibo Province
El Seibo, alternatively spelt El Seybo, is a province of the Dominican Republic. Before 1992 it included what is now Hato Mayor province.
History
El Seibo was founded in 1502 by Juan de Esquivel, a notable a Spanish conquistador. The name of Santa Cruz de El Seibo, is taken from the Spanish custom of placing the Cross of Christ at the cardinal points, as protection against evils. A cross called Asomante is still preserved, in the West Sector of the city of El Seibo.The name of Seibo comes from a tribal chief of the Taíno race, who was called Seebo. This Seebo was a regional leader, and subject to the provisions of the Chiefdom de Higuey: Cayacoha. By 1504, the Spaniards Juan Briceño and Francisco Almenara appear as residents of the area, paying the fifth to the Real Caja del Rey.
A relevant event for the achievement of Spanish interests occurred in Hidalga Villa de Santa Cruz de Hicayagua, at the time of the reconquest: the Battle of Palo Hincado. This battle took place in what is today kilometer 3.5 of the El Seibo-Hato Mayor highway, on November 7, 1808, the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte, French Emperor, and an army of Creoles under the command of General Juan Sánchez Ramírez.
Politics
In the 2020 elections, one senator and three deputies were elected for the province. The senator is Santiago José Zorrilla from the Modern Revolutionary Party. The deputies are Kenia Milagros Mejía Mercedes of the Dominican Liberation Party, Juan Maldonado Castro, and Juan Roberto Rodríguez Hernández.Municipalities and municipal districts
The province as of June 20, 2006 is divided into the following municipalities and municipal districts within them:- Santa Cruz de El Seibo, head municipality of the province
- #Pedro Sánchez
- #San Francisco-Vicentillo
- #Santa Lucía
- Miches
- #El Cedro
- #La Gina
For comparison with the municipalities and municipal districts of other provinces see the list of municipalities and municipal districts of the Dominican Republic.
| Name | Total population | Urban population | Rural population |
| Miches | 23141 | 2041 | 21100 |
| Santa Cruz de El Seibo | 87071 | 72551 | 14520 |
| El Seibo Province | 110212 | 74592 | 35620 |
For comparison with the municipalities and municipal districts of other provinces see the list of municipalities and municipal districts of the Dominican Republic.
Notable people
- Charytin singer and actress, born in the town of Santa Lucia
- Carlos Febles - baseball player and coach