Municipality of Gualcince
Gualcince is a municipality in the department of Lempira in Honduras.
Previously, it was called «Gualán». The exact founding date is unknown, but it has been found in registration books that the first Catholic church in the town was built in 1576. In the population census of 1791, it was the head of the Curato de Cerquin. In the political division of 1889, it is one of the municipalities in the district of Candelaria; its municipality status was granted in 1840.
Geography
The municipality of Gualcince has enormous mountains covered with pine trees, including the «Congolón» mountain. These mountains are suitable for coffee cultivation and provide several water sources.
Boundaries
Gualcince is bordered to the north by the municipalities of San Andrés and Erandique, to the south by the municipalities of Mapulaca and Candelaria, to the east by the municipality of Piraera, and to the west by the municipality of La Virtud.
Territorial extension: 163 km²
Gualcince is located 78 km away from the city of Gracias. It is necessary to pass through San Juan in Intibuca and the municipalities of Santa Cruz and San Andrés in Lempira. There are two access points that branch off from the same road that leads to other bordering municipalities.
Economic Activity
The geography makes coffee the ideal agriculture for this municipality, so it has become the main economic activity. The cultivation of corn and beans is also essential as they are part of the culinary culture of the country.
Legumes and vegetables are scarce and need to be brought from other municipalities and even other departments, with Intibuca being the most common source. There is also some small-scale livestock farming.
Population
The population consists of mestizos and indigenous descendants, with the latter being the second-largest group.
- Population: This municipality had a population of 9,537 in 2001. According to projections by the INE, it is estimated to reach approximately 10,681 in 2008.
- Villages: 12
- Hamlets: 103
Tourism
Gualcince offers ancient buildings such as the church and some baroque houses. The pine forests are very pleasant to the eye and seem never-ending. The Natural Viewpoint in the Municipal Center provides a comfortable and spiritual stay while observing the most spectacular sunsets in the region.
Mobile communication services are available. Like in the municipalities in the southern region of Lempira, there is significant influence from Salvadoran television and radio networks.
Patronal fair: December 8, the day of the Immaculate Conception.
Services
The locality has access to electricity. There is a hospital and a health center. Accommodation and grocery stores are available. Potable water is obtained from numerous tributaries that originate from different points in the surrounding mountains.
