Municipality of Santa Elena
The municipality of Santa Elena belongs to the Department of La Paz.
According to the statistical yearbook by Vallejo in 1889, this town was founded in 1701 and was elevated to the status of municipality in 1870 during the administration of José María Medina. With the creation of the Department of La Paz, it became part of it in 1869.
General Data of Santa Elena
Origin of its name: In honor of its patron saint, Saint Helena.
- Territorial area: 185.80 km2
- Population: 9,662 inhabitants (2012)
- Date of creation: 1887
- Patronal festival: From March 22nd to 26th, day of the Virgin of Santa Elena; from July 22nd to 26th in honor of the patron saint Santiago; and on October 4th, the corn festival is celebrated.
- Villages and hamlets: 6 villages and 81 hamlets.
- Altitude: 1840 meters above sea level.
Main Economic Activity
Cultivation of basic grains, coffee, sugarcane, bananas, citrus fruits, avocados, grapes, and vegetables; cattle, horse, pig, and goat breeding; poultry farming.
Infrastructure
- Health: 1 CESAMO and 5 CESAR.
- Education: 94 primary education centers, 43 pre-primary education centers, and 4 secondary education centers.
- Communication network: Limited access road, especially during the rainy season; landline telephone services provided by Hon-dutel and mobile phone coverage.
Location
Located in a place called Malguara, sixteen kilometers from Marcala on the border with El Salvador.
Limits
- North: municipalities of Yarula and San Marcos de la Sierra (Intibucá);
- South: Republic of El Salvador;
- East: municipality of Yarula;
- West: municipality of Colomoncagua (Intibucá).
