History of Arauca

At one point it was the capital of the New Granada Province of Casanare which was much larger than the current Department of Casanare. In addition, the Villa de Santa Bárbara de Arauca, has been:

Capital of the Republic, under the revolutionary government, constituted July 16, 1816;

Capital of the Police District (Comisaría especial) since 1911;

Capital of the Province (Intendencia Nacional) of Arauca, 1955–1991;

Oil capital of Colombia since1986;

Capital of the Department of Arauca since 1991