{{Infobox settlement <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ---------------->| official_name = Ranchuelo | other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Municipality | motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> | image_skyline = Ranchuelo Ayuntamiento.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Town hall | image_flag = Flag_of_Ranchuelo.png | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = Coat of arms of Ranchuelo.jpeg | shield_size = 120x90px | image_map = Ranchuelo (Cuban municipal map).png | map_caption = Ranchuelo municipality (red) within <br> Villa Clara Province (yellow) and Cuba <!-- Location ------------------>| subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Cuba | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Villa Clara | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = <!-- Politics -----------------> | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1734<ref name=guije/> | established_title2 = Established | established_date2 = 1879 (Municipality) | established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> | established_date3 = <!-- Area ---------------------> | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = <ref name=statoids/> | area_total_km2 = 556 | area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> | area_water_km2 = <!-- Population -----------------------> | population_as_of = 2022 | population_footnotes = <ref name=citypopulation/> | population_note = | population_total = 50,708 | population_density_km2 = auto <!-- General information --------------->| timezone = EST | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|22|22|35.2|N|80|09|03.6|W|region:CU|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags--> | elevation_m = 125 <!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = +53-422 | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Ranchuelo''' is a town and municipality in the Villa Clara Province of Cuba. It was founded in 1734<ref name=guije/> and has a municipal population of 50,708, of which about 15,000 in the town itself.
==History== Originally named Boca de Ranchuelo, the settlement was founded by Dionisio Consuegra on October 1, 1734. In 1856 it was linked to the national rail network, and in 1879 gained the municipal status.<ref name=guije/>
==Geography== [[File:Ranchuelo Parque Marti.jpg|thumb|left|José Martí Square]] alt=Jicotea City Limits Sign|thumb|Jicotea sign leading into the village on the Carretera Central del Cuba highway. The town is divided into the barrios of Norte, Poza de la China, Sitio Viejo and Sur.<ref name="guije">{{Cite web|url=http://www.guije.com/pueblo/municipios/vranchuelo/index.htm|title=Ranchuelo|author=Guije.com|accessdate=2007-10-09|language=es}}</ref>
Ranchuelo is 7 km from San Juan de los Yeras, 9 from Esperanza, 16 from Cruces, 28 from Santa Clara, 43 from Cienfuegos and 256 from Havana. It borders with the municipalities of Santo Domingo, Cifuentes, Santa Clara, Manicaragua, Cruces and Lajas.<ref>{{OSM|r|5884799|Ranchuelo}}</ref>
==Demographics== In 2022, the municipality of Ranchuelo had a population of 50,708.<ref name="citypopulation">{{Cite web |title=Cuba: Administrative Division (Provinces and Municipalities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/cuba/admin/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> With a total area of {{convert|556|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}},<ref name=statoids>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/ycu.html|title=Municipios of Cuba|author=Statoids|date=July 2003| accessdate=2007-10-09}}</ref> it has a population density of {{convert|106.2|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}.
==Transport== Ranchuelo is served by the A1 motorway at the homonym exit, also known as "Ranchuelo-Cienfuegos".<ref>{{OSM|n|1308266444|Ranchuelo (A1 exit)}}</ref> It counts a railway station on the Santa Clara-Cienfuegos line, that is also the western terminus of a freight line to Mataguá.<ref>{{OSM|n|2925075943|Ranchuelo railway station}}</ref>
Esperanza, the most populated municipal hamlet, is crossed in the middle by the "Carretera Central" state highway.
==Notable people== *Samuel Feijóo (1914-1992), singer, born in San Juan de los Yeras *María Dámasa Jova Baró (1890-1940), writer, educator and feminist
==See also== *Municipalities of Cuba *List of cities in Cuba
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{in lang|es}} [http://www.guije.com/pueblo/municipios/vranchuelo/index.htm (historical info on guije.com)]
{{Adjacent communities | Centre = Ranchuelo | N = Cifuentes | E = Santa Clara | SE = Manicaragua | S = Cruces (Cienfuegos) | W = Lajas (Cienfuegos) | NW = Santo Domingo }} {{Municipalities in Villa Clara}}
Category:Populated places in Villa Clara Province Category:1734 establishments in North America Category:Populated places established in 1734 Category:1734 establishments in the Spanish Empire