Subdivisions of Gran Colombia
# Subdivisions of Gran Colombia

The Republic of Gran Colombia was a former independent country in northern South America, a post-Spanish colonial country that existed from 1819 to 1831. Its initial subdivisions, created in 1820, were revised and expanded in 1824 to 12 departments.

## 1820 Departments

The initial country subdivision of Gran Colombia was into three departments, without larger districts or smaller provinces. They were:

* Cundinamarca Department
* Quito Department
* Venezuela Department

## 1824 Districts, departments, & provinces

### Distrito del Norte

The Distrito del Norte (northern district) was in present-day Venezuela and Brazil. Its departments and provinces were:

* Apure Department: 2 provinces — Barinas Province and Achaguas Province.
* Orinoco Department: 4 provinces — Cumaná Province, Barcelona Province, Guayana Province and Margarita Province.
* Venezuela Department: 2 provinces — Caracas Province and Carabobo Province.
* Zulia Department: 4 provinces — Maracaybo/Maracaibo, Coro Province, Mérida Province and Trujillo Province.

### Distrito del Centro

The Distrito del Centro (central district) was in present-day Colombia and Panamá. Its departments and provinces were:

* Boyacá Department: 4 provinces — Tunja Province, Casanare Province, Pamplona Province, and Socorro Province.
* Cauca Department: 4 provinces — Popayán Province, Buenaventura Province, Chocó Province, Pasto Province.
* Cundinamarca Department: 4 provinces — Bogotá Province, Antioquia Province, Mariquita Province, Neiva Province.
* Istmo Department: 2 provinces — Istmo Province and Veraguas Province.
* Magdalena Department: 3 provinces — Cartagena Province, Riohacha Province, Santa Marta Province.

### Distrito del Sur

The Distrito del Sur (southern district) was in present-day Ecuador, and north of Marañón River in present-day Perú. Its departments and provinces were:

* Azuay Department: 3 provinces — Cuenca Province, Loja Province, Jaén de Bracamoros y Maynas Province.
* Guayaquil Department: 2 provinces — Guayaquil Province and Manabi Province.
* Ecuador Department: 3 provinces — Pichincha Province, Chimborazo Province and Imbabura Province.

## Maps of subdivisions

* 3 departments in 1820: Quito, Cundinamarca, Venezuela
* 12 departments in 1824
* Gran Colombia in 1827
