Municipality of San Antonio de Cortés
San Antonio de Cortés is a municipality in the department of Cortés in Honduras.
In the 1889 census conducted by the state of Honduras, the population of Talpetate appears, whose municipal foundation dates back to 1837, during the administration of José Justo Herrera. In December 1898, the Municipal Corporation decided to change the name of Talpetate to San Antonio de Cortés.
Origin of its name: Talpetate in the Nahuatl language means «earth mat».
General data of San Antonio de Cortés
- Date of creation: 1837
- Land area: 225.30 km2
- Altitude: 600 meters above sea level
- Patronal fair: June 13, Saint Anthony’s Day.
- Administrative Code (Geocode): 0507
- Villages: 30
- Hamlets: 10
History
In 1830 there was a village with the name of Talpetate, near the Ulúa River, annexed to the town of La Trinidad, Department of Santa Bárbara from where it was disaggregated to be erected into a Municipality in 1837. It was very short the time it could sustain itself in such a category. When the Municipality was extinguished, it became again Aldea Talpetate, but this time annexed to the Municipality of Yojoa.
The neighbors, eager to separate from the tutelage of other towns, made a new request, obtaining in 1841 the appointment in Municipality but always with the name of Talpetate. The first inhabitants came from different points. As of 1899, the name of Talpetate was changed, which is assumed was chosen because its locality is located on rocky terrain, completely hard earth or slab.
This municipality was created as such, starting from 1841 with the name of Talpetate. Since 1899 with the name of San Antonio de Cortés.
Location
The municipality of San Antonio de Cortes borders the Ulúa river to the northwest, its capital is located in the south-central part of it.
See on Google Maps
Boundaries
- North: municipality of San Antonio Cortés;
- South: municipality of Santa Cruz de Yojoa;
- East: municipality of Santa Cruz de Yojoa;
- West: municipality of Ilama (Santa Bárbara).
Hydrography
Rivers
- Ulúa River, Chamelecón River, Comayagua River, Motagua River, Choloma River
Lagoons
- Alvarado, Ticamaya, Jucutuma, El Carmen, Jicaral de Jaloa, Lama, Telita
Climate
The climate in the municipality is warm.
Orography
- El Caliche Hill, El Picacho Hill, La Leona Hill
Flora and Fauna
The flora in the municipality is very abundant with fruit trees such as mango, tamarind, orange, guava, there are oak, pine, guanacaste, laurel trees and there are also medicinal plants that people use as an alternative to cure diseases.
Similarly, wildlife is abundant, including birds, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, guatusas, garrobos, tacuazines, and others.
Population
It has a total population of 22,135 inhabitants; of which 11,280 are men, 10,855 are women, 7,109 live in the urban area and 15,025 live in the rural area and due to its population it ranks #10 in the department, with 1.4% of the population. And it ranks #75 in the country with 0.3% of the total population; 0.4% of the population belongs to an ethnic group. In the last 10 years, 251 people have left and live in another country.
In this municipality, there are 11,838 people aged 18 and over, of which 93% have their identity card; this municipality has an illiteracy rate of 20% and a primary coverage of 94%, with an average of 5.4 years of study, female heads of households represent 27% of households, the masculinity index is 104 men for every hundred women and the elderly population (65+ years) represents 5.8% of the population.
Economy
The main economic activity is agriculture with the cultivation of bananas, plantains, sugar cane, African palm, oranges, pineapples, cocoa, cassava, rice, and corn.
Also, the raising of cattle, bobino, pork, and horse, the textile industry, and food products, beverages, tobacco, paper, chemical products, petroleum derivatives, manufacturing industries, etc.
Tourism
- Pulhapanzak Waterfalls
- La Cieniga and La Pala.
Decree of Creation
By the year 1830, there existed a village named Talpetate, near the Ulúa River, annexed to the town of La Trinidad, Department of Santa Bárbara from where it was disaggregated to become a Municipality in 1837. The time it was able to maintain such status was very short. When the Municipality ceased, it once again became the village of Talpetate, but this time annexed to the Municipality of Yojoa.
The neighbors, eager to separate from the guardianship of other towns, made a new request, achieving in 1841 the erection into a Municipality but always with the name of Talpetate. The first settlers came from different points. From 1899 the name of Talpetate was changed, which is assumed was chosen because its locality is on rocky terrain, completely hard earth or slab, according to the minutes of the session raised in the Municipal hall: Talpetate December of eighteen ninety-eight. Today’s regular session. Mayor Barahona presided, with the attendance of councilmen Medina, Ulloa and Attorney Quiroz. The session was opened and the minutes of the previous session were put to discussion after being read previously, it was decided.
- Approved in all its parts.
- The Corporation, unanimously and attending to that a great majority of this neighborhood has shown on several occasions its desire to change the name of Talpetate, replacing it with that of San Antonio de Cortes and in consideration of the fair demand of the neighborhood, Agrees. 1. From the first day of January of the next year of eighteen ninety-nine onwards, this town and Municipality will be called San Antonio de Cortes, the use of the name of Talpetate that it carries to date is prohibited under responsibility.
- That through the Secretariat a copy of this agreement is sent to the H.C.D., for its approval or disapproval.
- That it is published by decree notices and by the press a notice in which it is recorded that the name has been changed to Talpetate and
- Once approved by the Council, the necessary expenditure to order to reinforce the labels that serve these offices is authorized, this treasury should make the corresponding expense. 3., 4., there being no other matter to deal with today, the session was adjourned signing for the record the Municipality before the Secretary who attests. Francisco S. Barahona. J. Pablo Medina. Macario Ulloa. Juan T. Quiroz. Juan Milla D. Secretary.
References
- National Institute of Statistics (INE)
- Institute of Access to Public Information
- National Electoral Council (CNE)
