City history
Explore the deep roots and temporal journey of Santa Cruz, the vibrant economic heart of Bolivia's eastern lowlands.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Holy Cross of the Mountain Range"
No specific indigenous name for the city is reliably documented. The earliest recorded name is the Spanish foundation name given in 1561.
Holy Cross of the Mountain Range
Named by Spanish explorers to honor the Holy Cross and the nearby mountains.
Chapter two
Bolivia standardized its time to the UTC-4 offset, which remains the current standard for the region.
Santa Cruz maintains a consistent time throughout the year and does not observe daylight saving time.
Chapter three
The city was established on February 26, 1561, as a key Spanish settlement in the eastern tropical lowlands.
Santa Cruz became a foundational part of the newly independent Republic of Bolivia following the wars of independence.
The mid-20th century saw a significant period characterized by rapid demographic shifts and massive urban expansion.