Chiclayo is a city on the northern coastal plain in Peru and sits 95 feet above sea level. The city's population is approximately 634,600 while the metropolitan area is approximately 910,255. Chiclayo was founded in 1560 as a rural Indian village by a Spanish priest. Until the 19th century, Chiclayo remained a small town in comparison to the nearby city of Lambayeque. However, the city of Chiclayo has since grown to become Peru's fourth largest city.
Since the city is located in a productive valley, there is strong agriculture growing rice, sugar cane and cotton. Until Peru's economic decline, the port of Pimentel served as Chiclayo's main export line; sugar refined in Pomalca passed through Chiclayo by train and was exported to various destinations along the Pacific Rim. However, with the socialization of agriculture and subsequent demise of the Peruvian economy, Chiclayo ceased to export by sea.
Fortunately, economic prosperity did not completely cease. With the construction of the Panamerican Highway, the city became a center for commerce. |