Municipality of Las Lajas
Las Lajas is a municipality in the department of Comayagua in Honduras.
Origin of its name: It comes from its geological character, referring to the texture of its terrain.
It has a territorial extension of 95.08 km² and an estimated population of 7,766 inhabitants as of the year 2010. It was founded in 1902 and achieved municipality status in 1986.
Initially, Las Lajas belonged to the municipality of Ojos de Agua. In 1964, it was given the title of «Aldea» (Village). It gradually became populated by families with surnames such as Flores, Ponce, Bueso, and Romero, who came from the village of La Candelaria, El Robledal, and the municipality of Ojos de Agua. Later, the population expanded with the arrival of sawmills and families with surnames like Bonilla, Orellana, Enamorado, and Caballero, who came from different parts of the country. This demographic and economic development in Las Lajas was so notable in the 70s-80s that it surpassed the municipal seat in various aspects, leading to an increase in administrative, fiscal, and legal procedures. In response to this situation, the residents advocated for Las Lajas to be granted municipality status.
Initially, it was said that Las Lajas did not meet all the legal requirements to become a municipality. On September 1, 1986, during an ordinary session where this determination would be made, the municipal councilors and residents of the urban area, fearing the consequences of this decision and protective of their own interests, took control of the municipal palace of Ojos de Agua, where the council members were meeting. In order to be released from confinement, the council members had to sign their resignations from their positions.
This situation was seized upon by the influential forces in Las Lajas to undertake the fight for the creation of the municipality. On September 2 of the same year, the committee for the creation of the municipality of Las Lajas was organized.
Las Lajas became a municipality during the government of Engineer José Simón Azcona, under decree No. 1015-86 dated November 24, 1986.
Climate
Las Lajas has a temperate biseasonal climate, with a dry season from approximately January to May, while the rest of the year is rainy. There is intense rainfall between July and October, with almost constant showers mixed with cold winds from the north, making the end of the year quite cold. The hills are often shrouded in mist, which hampers coffee harvesting but contributes to an extremely pleasant climate in the area.
