Cauca State

Cauca State was one of the states of Colombia, which existed from 1857 until 1886.
Today the area of the former state makes up most of modern-day west and southern Colombia, with some portion of its vast territories acquired by present-day Peru, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Naming

15 June 1857 created as Estado Federal del Cauca.
1858 recognized as Estado de la Federación in the 1858 constitution of the Granadine Confederation,
1863 named Estado Soberano del Cauca in the 1863 constitution of the United States of Colombia.

Known as "Gran Cauca", because it was the largest and richest of the Union.

Subdivisions

On 15 June 1857 law, the state was divided into the following provinces

Barbacoas Province.
Buenaventura Province.
Chocó Province.
Cauca Province.
Pasto Province.
Popayán Province.
Túquerres Province.
Caquetá Territory.

In 1858, the setup was changed, Barbacoas and Túquerres were added to Pasto:

Buenaventura Province.
Chocó Province.
Cauca Province.
Pasto Province.
Popayán Province.
Caquetá Territory.

In 1874, the provinces had been changed into municipalities and the number increased to 16:

Atrato.
Barbacoas.
Buenaventura.
Buga.
Caldas.
Cali.
Obando.
Palmira.
Pasto.
Popayán.
Quindío.
Santander.
San Juan.
Toro.
Tulúa.
Túquerres.