Holguín

Holguín: San José Church

Holguín, city, southeastern Cuba. Founded in the early 16th century, it became a centre of insurgency movements and suffered intensely the effects of the Ten Years’ War (1868–78) and the 1895–98 struggle for independence.

Holguín, located on fertile rolling plains, is now an important communications and trading centre in eastern Cuba. Sugar refining, cigar making, meat processing, ceramic making, and shoe and furniture making are centred in the city, which lies on the country’s Central Highway and is served by railroads and airlines. Its port, Gibara, lies 19 miles (31 km) to the north on the Atlantic Ocean coast. Pop. (2002) 269,618; (2011 est.) 277,050.