San Carlos, city, capital of Cojedes estado (state), northwestern Venezuela. The city lies along the Tirgua River, at the base of the central highlands and near the Llanos (plains) region.
Founded in 1678 by Capuchin missionaries, San Carlos served as capital of Falcón state prior to the separation of Cojedes and Portuguesa states. It is the commercial and marketing centre of an agricultural and pastoral region in which corn (maize), sorghum, tobacco, and rice are cultivated; cattle raising is also important. San Carlos is on the highway linking Acarigua, in Portuguesa state, 55 miles (90 km) to the west-southwest, and Valencia, capital of Carabobo state, 60 miles (95 km) to the northeast. Pop. (2001) 71,075; (2011) 91,889.