About Ocotal
Located in the northwest of Nicaragua is Ocotal; a city of 30,000 people, on the Dipilto River, surrounded by mountains. Ocotal is a city within the department (state) of Nueva Segovia, situated near the Coco River and Cordillera Mountain Range.
Surrounded by mountains, Ocotal stands near the border of Honduras. Previously the mountains were forested, but were clear cut by companies fearing the Sandinista overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship in 1979. Agriculture plays a very important role in the community. Cattle ranching, and coffee growing are all very important for the local economy. However there has been a shift in the economy since the revolution in 1979, followed by further change after the 1990 elections.
The history of Nicaragua’s Nueva Segovia began in 1534 when the Spanish established a settlement some 25km from the present location of Ocotal. This city was moved to what is now known as Ciudad Antigua where it served as an important center for the timber industry. After attacks by Caribbean pirates, Ciudad Antigua was abandoned and its inhabitants moved to what is now Ocotal sometime in 1654. Today Ocotal is home to almost 30 000 individuals. In the city boasts a hospital, a health centers, a police station, a post office, churches, several educational institutions and schools, hotels, restaurantsand and a Catholic cathedral.