Lima Province
Provincia de Lima
Capital
Lima
Area
2,672.28 km²
Population - Total - Density
7 112 744 (2002 estimate)2 615/km²
Subdivisions
43 districts
The Lima Province is a province in the central coast of Peru. It is unique in that it is the only province in the country that does not belong to any of the twenty-five regions. The city of Lima, which is the nation's capital, is located in the province. The province is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Callao Region on the west, and the Lima Region (provinces of Cañete, Canta, Huaral and Huarochirí) on the north, east, and south.
Although its area is small, this province is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Peruvian economy. This is where much of the nation's GDP is concentrated and almost one-third of the nation's population lives in the province. It is also the cultural and transport hub of the country.
Government
The Lima province is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima. Its current mayor is Luis Castañeda Lossio.
History
The Lima Province was created in 1821 as Peru's territory was divided into departments, provinces, districts and parishes. The province was part of the Lima Department, which was formed by the territories of present day Lima, Callao and Ica regions, and the provinces of Casma, Huarmey and Santa, which later would be part of the La Costa Department.
As time passed by, the department's territory kept being divided, although the Lima Province was always part of it. However, since the 1980s the need to separate the province from the rest of the department had already been forecasted, due to the immigration wave that started in the 1950s.
Finally, the decision to separate the province was taken in 2002, the year in which the new regionalization law was passed.
Political division
The Province of Lima is divided into 43 districts (Spanish: distritos; singular: distrito), each of which is headed by a mayor (alcalde). Together, these districts comprise the city of Lima.
External links
Metropolitan Municipality of Lima (http://www.munlima.gob.pe) (in Spanish)
Political division of Peru
Regions
Amazonas Ancash Apurímac Arequipa Ayacucho Cajamarca Callao Cusco Huancavelica Huánuco Ica Junín La Libertad Lambayeque Lima Loreto Madre de Dios Moquegua Pasco Piura Puno San Martín Tacna Tumbes Ucayali
The Lima Province, seat of government, is not part of any of the twenty-five regions.
