Municipality of Olanchito

Olanchito is a municipality in the Department of Yoro, known as the civic city of the Republic of Honduras, named so by the memorable Professor Max Sorto Batres (R.I.P.), as it is the birthplace of writers, playwrights, and painters.

The city owes its name to one of the historical versions: settlers from the locality of San Jorge de Olancho, who, affected by the collapse of the El Boquerón hill, were forced to migrate to another territory and founded a small locality known as San Jorge de Olanchito. Over time, the population increased and grew both economically and politically, and the city took shape and acquired the name Olanchito.

Today, the city of Olanchito is the second most important city in the department of Yoro, thanks to its achievements in education, industry, livestock, and agriculture.

The economic development of the city was influenced by the presence of the Standard Fruit Company, an American company that established itself firmly in the Aguán Valley.

Olanchito is also the birthplace of the renowned and famous Honduran writer Ramón Amaya Amador.

Location

The municipality of Olanchito is located in the northwest of the department of Yoro.

Boundaries

North: municipalities of Sonaguera, Jutiapa, La Ceiba, El Porvenir, San Francisco, and La Másica
South: municipalities of Gualaco, Guata, Esquipulas del Norte, La Unión, and Mangulile
East: municipality of Sabá
West: municipalities of Yoro and Arenal.

Foundation

According to the statistical yearbook by Antonio Vallejo, this settlement was founded by Captain Diego de Alvarado in 1530, under the name of San Jorge de Olanchito. In the ecclesiastical census of 1791, it appears as a curacy. In the first territorial division of the State of Honduras in 1825, it is listed as part of the Olancho department. In the 1887 population census, it already appears as a municipality in the district of the same name.