Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with Haiti, making Hispaniola one of only two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, that are shared by two sovereign states.
The native Taíno (pronounced /tīnō/) people had inhabited Hispaniola before the arrival of the Europeans, dividing it into five chiefdoms. The Taíno people had eventually moved north over many years, and lived around the Caribbean islands.
The Taíno natives had done quite well for themselves and were on their way to being an organized civilization. Christopher Columbus explored and claimed the island, landing here on his first voyage in 1492.
The colony of Santo Domingo became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, the oldest continuously inhabited city, and the first seat of the Spanish colonial rule in the New World.
Meanwhile, France occupied the western third of Hispaniola, naming their colony Saint-Domingue, which became the independent state of Haiti in 1804.
After more than three hundred years of Spanish rule the Dominican people declared independence in November 1821.
The Capital is Santo Domingo. Spanish is the official language.
President Leonel Fernández's term ended 8.16.12. The current president is Danilo Medina.
Vice President Rafael Alburquerque's term ended 8.16.12 as well. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández is the current VP.
The Country profile , the CIA Factbook, and the history.
7.12.10 President Obama & President Fernandez meet on Trade, Drug-Trafficking, and Haiti.
