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Bonao is a city in the Cibao region of Dominican Republic. It is the capital of the Monseñor Nouel province. The city is located in the center of the country, to the northwest of the national capital Santo Domingo.
The city is known as "Villa de las Hortensias" - the town of hydrangeas. The Hortensia is the local flower of Bonao.
The first fort built on the site was called Bonao Abajo, which was later occupied by Francisco Roldán, a Spanish soldier who rebelled against the colonial authorities in the island. In 1497, Roldán and 70 rebels, fought in the territory of Bonao against the authority of the Columbus. The rebellion was ended in October 1498. The origins of the town of Bonao are associated precisely with this rebellion, to the extent that many who participated stayed in the area.
On December 7, 1508, Bonao was officially granted the category of town and was granted a coat of arms. The main economic activity of this town was the mining of gold. When gold mining by the Spaniards on the island declined, two sugar mills were installed in Bonao. Sugar production was not enough of an incentive to maintain the attraction of the Spaniards over the town of Bonao. Around 1528 it had declined along with nearby towns.
After the nation's Independence in the middle of the 1800s, it became a military post in the municipality of La Vega, and in 1936 it became a municipality in the province of La Vega, and by the year 1865 the town was elevated to common of that province with the name of San Antonio de Bonao. The town remained relatively isolated and by it only had 5,000 inhabitants.
The economic revival of Bonao began in the 1920's when the Duarte highway was inaugurated, linking Santo Domingo with the Cibao region. The highway crossed through the town and became a popular stop for people making the long trip between the capital and Santiago. At that stop, the cars or buses refueled and the passengers rested, to drink and eat. It was in those years that several restaurants were opened.
Bonao's agricultural production is 80% rice and the rest is divided into cocoa and coffee. There are also important companies that provide jobs such as: Bonao Industrial, Hanesbrands Dos Rios Textiles, Inc.
The first syngas plant in the country and the Caribbean, a plant that produces energy from vegetable materials such as rice straw, banana peels and other materials, was installed near the headquarters of the Dominican Agrarian Institute in Bonao. It was named in posthumous homage after Engineer Quilvio Cabrera, an outstanding promoter of technology in agriculture, and the main promoter of the installation of this plant in the country.
Bonao is historically the home of La Voz Dominicana, the official radio and television station of the Dominican Republic during the regime of Rafael Trujillo. At first the station was a local radio broadcast called La Voz del Yuna (1943) in Bonao until Jose Trujillo (Petan), the brother of President Trujillo, acquired the station. Petan Trujillo later convinced his brother to get the equipment to turn the station into a radio/TV station, and in the early 1950s, what is called Radio Television Dominicana (RTVD) was founded. At this time in Latin America only three countries, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Mexico had TV stations.
Major League Baseball former pitcher Carlos Mármol and Philadelphia Phillies catcher Deivy Grullón are from Bonao. Hansel Robles, relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, is also from Bonao. Free agent third basemen Juan Francisco, "Baby Huey", is from Bonao. Also, former big league pitcher Benito Baez is from there too, as well as Joel Peralta, relief pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers.
Entertainment
The singer and music composer, Hector Acosta 'El Torito', is one of the icons of the country. Luis Días, composer of the popular song "Baile en la Calle", was born in Bonao.
Politics
Aniana Vargas, a prominent female activist during the 1965 Civil War, was born and raised in Bonao.
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