Jump to content

San Borja District

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
San Borja
District
Headquarters of the Peruvian Army
Headquarters of the Peruvian Army
Flag of San Borja
Flag
Coat of arms of San Borja
Coat of arms
Location of San Borja in Peru
Location of San Borja in Peru
Coordinates: 12°06′S 77°01′W / 12.100°S 77.017°W / -12.100; -77.017
CountryPeru
DepartmentLima
ProvinceLima
FoundedJune 1, 1983
Subdivisions1 populated centre
Government
 • MayorMarco Álvarez
Area
 • Total
9.96 km2 (3.85 sq mi)
Elevation
170 m (560 ft)
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total
133,328
 • Density13,400/km2 (34,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (PET)
UBIGEO150130
Websitemunisanborja.gob.pe

San Borja (Spanish: [san ˈboɾ.xa]; lit. 'Saint Borgia') is a district of Lima, Peru. Created in 1983, it is a residential and middle to upper-class district, known for its large number of green spaces, its government institutions, and its close association with the Ministry of Culture, which operates the National Cultural Centre, a major cultural and performing arts hub located in the northwestern part of the district.

Etymology

[edit]

The district takes its name from San Francisco de Borja, an agricultural estate dating back to the Spanish period operated by the Jesuit novitiate of Saint Anthony the Abbot. The estate was itself named after Francis Borgia, a Catholic saint.[2][3]

History

[edit]

The district was originally a rural area owned by the Brescia family. In 1962, the terrain—then part of Surquillo—was sold by the children of businessman Fortunato Brescia Tassano and María Catalina Cafferata for the construction of a parish and a school. The first neighbourhood (urbanización) to be built was that of Primavera de Monterrico, built in 1966 by the same company that would later construct Monterrico Norte, another neighbourhood near the Headquarters of the Peruvian Army. In the 1970s, the neighbourhoods of Córpac (located between Gálvez Barrenechea and Mercator streets), San Borja Norte and San Borja Sur (located between Javier Prado and San Borja Sur avenues), Las Magnolias (located south of San Borja Sur) and Juan XXIII were developed. In the 1980s, housing projects such as the Torres de San Borja[4] and the Torres de Limatambo were also built.[5] In January 1983, student journalists and neighbours of what was then Surquillo's San Borja neighbourhood created the Prensa Chica de San Borja, a local newspaper, through which they promoted the creation of a new district, separate from Surquillo.[5]

The district was officially established on June 1, 1983, through Law No. 23604, incorporating areas originally belonging to Surquillo, Santiago de Surco and San Luis. It limits were set by a number of streets: to the north by Canada Avenue, to the east by the Southern Pan-American Highway, to the south by Primavera Avenue and to the west by Guardia Civil and José Gálvez Barrenechea avenues.[5]

In the aftermath of the establishment of the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces, a number of members of the Peruvian Armed Forces and supporters of Juan Velasco Alvarado established their residences in the area of Chacarilla del Estanque, which led to its nickname of "Cachaquería del Estanque" by detractors of the regime.[6][7][8]

The district hosted the 2014 United Nations Climate Change Conference.[9]

Politics

[edit]

San Borja is under the jurisdiction of its own district municipality, as well as that of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima.

List of mayors

[edit]

Since 2023, the incumbent mayor is Marco Álvarez Vargas.

№ Mayor[10] Party Term
Begin End
1 Hugo Sánchez Solari [es] Partido Popular Cristiano 1984 1989
Frente Democrático 1990 1992
2 Luisa María Cuculiza Torre Frente Renovador Independiente 1993 1998
Somos Perú 1999 1999
3 Jorge Lermo Rengifo[11] Somos Perú 1999 2002
4 Carlos Alberto Tejada Noriega Democracia con Valores 2003 2006
2007 2010
5 Marco Antonio Álvarez Vargas [es] Partido Popular Cristiano 2011 2014
2015 2018
6 Alberto Tejada Noriega Acción Popular 2019 2022
7 Marco Antonio Álvarez Vargas Renovación Popular 2023 Incumbent

Subdivisions

[edit]

San Borja is divided into several neighbourhoods, and is also the site of a lone populated centre that is coterminous with the district:[12]

Code Name Region Type Altitude (MSL) Population (total) Housing (total)
0001 San Francisco de Borja Chala 170 113,247 (2017) 40,121 (2017)

Twin cities

[edit]

San Borja District is twinned with:

Geography

[edit]
The Surco River in San Borja.

San Borja is approximately 150 metres (492 feet) above sea level. Its terrain is mostly flat, with a gentle downward east–west slope. The Surco River traverses the district in a north–south direction. This is not an actual river, it is a canal fed from the Rímac River and used to irrigate public parks.

Boundaries

[edit]

San Borja is bordered to the north by San Luis and La Victoria, to the east and south by Santiago de Surco, to the southwest by Surquillo and to the west by San Isidro. All of the aformentioned districts are part of the Cono Centro, an unofficial subdivision of the city.

Climate

[edit]

San Borja has a climate typical of the Peruvian coastal area. The weather is mild, with warm summers and cool winters, and humid all year round. It never rains but during the months from June to October its streets dampen due to a fine drizzle, called "garúa" in Spanish. During this period, the sky is constantly overcast. Average temperatures in San Borja range between 18 and 22 °C (64 and 72 °F). The summer season lasts from December to April. During this time temperatures can reach highs of 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F). Winter lasts from May to November with temperatures as low as 12 to 15 °C (54 to 59 °F).

Climate data for Lima
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F 79 79 79 75 72 68 66 64 66 68 72 75 72
Record high °C 26 26 26 24 22 20 19 18 19 20 22 24 22
Average precipitation days 1 1 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 2 2 0 16
Average rainy days 4 2 3 2 5 11 12 15 13 7 5 3 82
Average relative humidity (%) 85 80 80 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 85 84.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 179.1 169 139.2 184 116.4 50.6 28.6 32.3 37.3 65.3 89 139.2 1,284
Source: Weatherbase (Temperature, precipitation and humidity).[20] and Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Sunlight)

Geology

[edit]

San Borja, as most of the rest of Metropolitan Lima, is built on the alluvial fan formed by the Rimac river during the Quaternary Period. The river deposited up to 300 metres of rounded pebbles, coarse sand and small amounts of fine sand and silt in the valley. Geologists call this type of soil conglomerate. The probable earthquake intensity in the San Borja area is Grade VII in the Modified Mercalli scale. This compares favourably with Grade IX in some areas of La Molina, Callao and Chorrillos.

Ecology

[edit]

The district is known for its large number of green spaces.[21][22] One such park, known as the Parque de la Felicidad, features a water treatment plant designed by former Housing Minister Luis Felipe Bedoya Vélez.[23] In 2019, 550 trees were planted at a 3-hectare (7.4-acre) site within the boundaries of the Headquarters of the Peruvian Army. They included Tipuana trees, Brazilian pepper trees, and papelillo trees, among others.[24]

The Monarch butterfly, a vulnerable migratory species, may be found in the district due to the presence of milkweeds.[25] The Peregrine falcon, known for its speed, may also be seen.[26]

Demographics

[edit]

According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática, the age distribution of the population of San Borja is as follows:

Age GroupPopulation
0-1023,227
11-1426,163
15-2926,964
30-5946,720
60+10,412
Total133,486

As of 2017, the district's total population was numbered at 113,247 people, and the housing was numbered at 40,121 houses.[12]

Crime

[edit]

In 2024, the district was considered the third safest in the city, behind Magdalena del Mar and San Isidro.[27] It was made a member of the World Health Organization's International Safe Community programme in 2008 and declared a Low-Carbon Model Town by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2013.[28]

Education

[edit]

The district is part of Local Educational Management Unit 07 (UGEL 07).[29]

Notable people

[edit]

Culture

[edit]

San Borja is considered a cultural district, serving as the seat of the National Cultural Centre (Spanish: Centro Cultural de la Nación; CCN),[33] a government complex located at the district's northwestern sector, which hosts a number of buildings administered by the Ministry of Culture, including its headquarters.

Since 2003, the district's municipal government lights up a 200-metre (660 ft) Christmas tree at the district's Family Park (Parque de la Familia), where decorations and temporary structures are also constructed as part of the Christmas season.[34] As of 2008, it was the largest in the city.[35]

Landmarks

[edit]

San Borja is a residential district that hosts a number of landmarks, including several government institutions.[5]

Landmarks of San Borja
NameLocationNotesPhoto
Banco de la Nación Javier Prado Este 2499 The building serves as the headquarters of the bank of the same name. It is the tallest building in the country.
Coliseo Eduardo Dibós Avenida Angamos Este 2681 The building has a capacity for 4,600 people and functions as a multi-purpose indoor arena.
Grand National Theatre Javier Prado Este 2225 Located at the CCN, the building functions as a multi-purpose theatre and concert hall. It was inaugurated in 2011.
Headquarters of the Peruvian Army Paseo del Bosque 740 Often referred to as the "Little Pentagon" (Pentagonito), it is located in the southeastern part of the district. Its architecture is typical of that of the military government of the 1970s. The outer perimeter of 4.5 km is a very popular circuit for joggers and runners, and during weekends its adjacent streets are closed for jogging and other sports events.
Huaca San Borja [es] Avenida de la Arqueología The Pre-Columbian complex dates back to the Ichma period, which predated that of the Inca Empire.
Lima Convention Center Avenida de la Arqueología 160 Located at the CCN, the building functions as a convention centre, hosting high-profile summits hosted in the district.
Ministry of Culture Javier Prado Este 2465 Located at the CCN, it was designed as the headquarters of a now defunct ministry, after which it functioned as the Bank of the Nation's headquarters, and later as the country's largest museum from 1980 to 2014. Its brutalist architecture is typical of the military government at the time. Following the museum's closure, it was repurposed as the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Education Calle del Comercio 193 Since 2011, the building serves as the ministry's headquarters. Its design is that of a column made of books stacked on top of each other.[36]
Ministry of Energy and Mines Avenida de las Artes Sur 260 The building hosts the ministry of the same name, a government entity responsible for managing the country's energy and mining sectors. Additionally, it is charged with overseeing the equal distribution of energy nationwide.
National Institute of Child Health Javier Prado Este 3101 Inaugurated in 2013, the building functions as one of two branches of the pediatric institute. It functions as the country's most important pediatric centre, serving as the destination for patients transported from elsewhere in the country.
National Library of Peru Avenida De La Poesía 160 Located at the CCN, the building was completed in 2006. It serves as one of two buildings used by the institution in the city. It hosts a theatre, an ampitheatre, a cafeteria, exhibition halls, 12 reading rooms with internet access, a print archive (hemeroteca) storage areas and administrative offices. Security is provided by a CCTV network and a modern fire control system.
Peruvian Institute of Nuclear Energy Avenida Canadá 1480 Created in 1975, the institute's main goal is to promote and supervise the applications of nuclear energy in the country.
Torres de Limatambo Aviación & Angamos Housing project promoted by architect Fernando Belaúnde during his second presidency,[37] located south of the city's former airport.[38] Its facilities include a parish, public squares, businesses, sports facilities and the Huaca Limatambo.[39][40]

Transport

[edit]

The district is serviced by the Lima and Callao Metro's Line 1. Three stations (Angamos, San Borja Sur and La Cultura) are located alongside the path of Avenida Aviación.[41]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Estadística Poblacional". Ministerio de Salud.
  2. ↑ Espíritu, Mary Sue (2026-04-02). "San Borja: ¿de dónde proviene el nombre de este distrito limeño y qué significa?". La República.
  3. ↑ Villantoy Gómez, Abigail (2025-04-29). "San Borja: ¿qué significa su nombre y cómo se formó este distrito limeño?". Infobae.
  4. ↑ "Vecinos de "Las Torres de San Borja" enfrentados a la municipalidad por jardines de departamentos". Panamericana Televisión. 2025-06-06.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Creación de San Borja: el antes y el después del distrito". El Comercio. 2022-06-02.
  6. ↑ Chang-Rodríguez, Eugenio (1987). Opciones políticas peruanas (in Spanish). Editorial Normas Legales. p. 275. ISBN 9787895440012.
  7. ↑ Baella Tuesta, Alfonso (1978). Secuestro (in Spanish). Ediciones El Tiempo. p. 142.
  8. ↑ Ortecho Fernández, Juan Carlos (2022). La fe de ayer: Amor, fútbol y revolución (in Spanish). PLAZA & JANES. p. 69. ISBN 9786124269325.
  9. ↑ Fernández Calvo, Lourdes (2014-11-03). "Lima apresura el paso ante la llegada de unos 12 mil visitantes por la COP 20" (PDF). El Comercio – via Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental.
  10. ↑ "Relación de alcaldes de los distritos de Lima (1964-2014)" (PDF). Blog PUCP.
  11. ↑ "La Municipalidad de San Borja (...)". Facebook. Municipalidad de San Borja. 2021-06-10.
  12. 1 2 Directorio Nacional de Centros Poblados. Censos Nacionales 2017: XII de Población, VII de Vivienda y III de Comunidades Indígenas (in Spanish). Vol. 4. Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática. 2018. p. 1282.
  13. ↑ "Municipalidad de San Borja y la ciudad de Belén (Palestina) suscriben convenio de Hermanamiento Institucional". Municipalidad de San Borja. 2019-10-31. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06.
  14. ↑ "Municipalidades de San Borja y Jericó (Palestina) firmaron convenio de hermanamiento". Gob.pe. 2022-11-25.
  15. 1 2 "San Borja, Machu Picchu y Ollantaytambo suscriben compromiso para un convenio de hermanamiento". Municipalidad de San Borja. 2020-12-03. Archived from the original on 2021-01-19.
  16. ↑ "San Borja y Miraflores inician trabajo conjunto gracias a Convenio de Hermanamiento y Apoyo Mutuo". Municipalidad de San Borja. 2020-11-10. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30.
  17. ↑ "Convenio de hermanamiento e interrelación institucional entre la Municipalidad Distrital de San Borja y la ciudad de Orion Township Condado de Oakland, Michigan-Estados Unidos". Municipalidad de San Borja. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22.
  18. ↑ "Ramat Gan Sister Cities". Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
  19. ↑ "Municipalidades de San Borja y Veintiséis de Octubre (Piura) suscribieron convenio de hermanamiento". Municipalidad de San Borja. 2022-08-31. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30.
  20. ↑ Weatherbase, ed. (2013). "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Lima".
  21. ↑ Chicana, Arian (2025-01-23). "Este distrito de Lima es el más sostenible del Perú, según WWF: superó a Miraflores y San Isidro por su acción climática". La República.
  22. ↑ "Techos de más de 300 viviendas de San Borja se convertirán en jardines o huertos". Andina. 2013-02-21.
  23. ↑ Montoro, Rafael (2024-09-02). "Conoce el parque de Lima Metropolitana que alberga una planta de tratamiento de agua proveniente del río Rímac". Infobae.
  24. ↑ "Siembran 550 árboles en tres hectáreas cedidas por el Ejército del Perú en San Borja". Perú 21. 2019-08-24.
  25. ↑ "Mariposa Monarca, especie en peligro de extinción, es conservada en San Borja". Correo. 2016-05-10.
  26. ↑ Sáenz, José (2024-06-12). "Halcón peregrino es captado en San Borja: ave forma parte del ecosistema de los Pantanos de Villa". La República.
  27. ↑ Arce, Jordan (2024-07-15). "¿El más seguro?: Este distrito de Lima registra 0,0 % de ocurrencia de delitos en tres meses, según el INEI". Infobae.
  28. ↑ "San Borja celebra hoy el 34 aniversario de su creación política". Andina. 2017-06-01.
  29. ↑ "Información institucional". Gob.pe.
  30. ↑ Astonitas, Ernesto (2026-07-03). "Keiko Fujimori no acudirá a ceremonia de proclamación de resultados en el Jurado Nacional de Elecciones". RPP Noticias.
  31. ↑ Vera, Enrique (2017-09-10). "A 20 años de la caída de Abimael Guzmán: los momentos que hicieron posible su captura" (PDF). El Comercio. Comisión de la Verdad y Reconciliación.
  32. ↑ "Sánchez figura como aspirante a regidor en San Borja". El Comercio. 2026-05-13. p. 6 – via PressReader.
  33. ↑ "Debate presidencial: se inicia segunda fase de exposiciones con propuestas de candidatos". El Peruano. 2026-03-30.
  34. ↑ Ramírez Mendoza, Sebastián (2025-12-22). "La ruta navideña en Lima: historia de las zonas emblemáticas y actividades para disfrutar en familia". El Comercio.-
  35. ↑ "Iluminan árbol más alto de Lima en San Borja". Andina. 2008-12-06.
  36. ↑ "Nueva sede del Ministerio de Educación será inaugurada en la quincena de este mes". Andina. 2011-06-01.
  37. ↑ "Las Torres de Limatambo: ¿cómo se originó este emblemático complejo residencial de San Borja?". La República. 2022-08-03.
  38. ↑ Caretas: ilustración peruana (in Spanish). Empresa Editora Caretas S.A. 1996. p. 51.
  39. ↑ "Las Torres de Limatambo: ¿Cómo se originaron y por qué han dejado huella en cientos de familias peruanas?". RPP Noticias. 2022-08-01.
  40. ↑ "Disfruta un ciclotour por las huacas de Lima". TV Perú. 2018-05-05.
  41. ↑ Giraldo, Clara (2026-06-09). "Línea 1 del Metro de Lima: ¿Cuál es la estación con mayor demanda de usuarios?". Infobae.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=San_Borja_District&oldid=1364629088"