Municipality of Balfate
The municipality of Balfate belongs to the Colón department.
It is believed that some fishermen from Belize founded this town in 1836.
By 1840, there was already a small hamlet governed by the oldest founder. On June 22, 1881, it became a municipality, and in 1885, it was elevated to the category of district headquarters, extending all the way to La Ceiba. However, in 1887, the district headquarters was relocated to La Ceiba.
General Information of Balfate
Origin of its name: It was given this name because it is located very close to the Bejucal River.
- Territorial area: 332.30 km2
- Population: 11,013 inhabitants (2012)
- Date of creation: June 22, 1881
- Patronal festival: June 18-22, the feast day of St. Louis Gonzaga
- Villages and hamlets: 7 villages and 51 hamlets
- Altitude: 13 meters above sea level
Principal economic activity
Cultivation of banana, plantain, chili, citrus fruits, coffee, basic grains, tomato, tubers, sweet potato, malanga, squash, onion, and cassava; breeding of cattle, pigs, and horses; poultry farming.
Infrastructure
- Health: 4 CESAR (Health Centers).
- Education: 12 community centers for pre-basic education, 34 centers for basic education, 47 primary education centers, and 2 centers for secondary education
Location
It is located in the coastal plain of the Caribbean and has access through the railway that comes from La Ceiba. It is the westernmost municipality in the department of Colón.
Limits
- North: Caribbean Sea
- South: Municipality of Sonaguera
- East: Municipalities of Trujillo and Santa Fe
- West: Municipality of Jutiapa (Atlántida)
