Municipality of Santiago de Puringla
The municipality of Santiago de Puringla belongs to the Department of La Paz.
It was founded in the year 1691. In the 1801 census conducted by Governor Anguiano, it appears as a town of indigenous people belonging to the parish of Chinada and the district of Comayagua. It was granted municipality status in 1859, during the presidency of Santos Guardiola.
General Data of Santiago de Puringla
Origin of its name: It is a combination of religious and indigenous elements. Its indigenous name Puringla means «abundance of polines» and Santiago refers to the apostle saint.
- Territorial area: 142.20 km2
- Population: 15,808 inhabitants (2012)
- Date of creation: 1859
- Patronal festival: July 25th, day of Santiago.
- Villages and hamlets: 9 villages and 72 hamlets.
- Altitude: 965 meters above sea level.
Main Economic Activity
Cultivation of basic grains, coffee, sugarcane, citrus fruits, cardamom, and vegetables; cattle, horse, goat, and pig breeding; poultry farming.
Infrastructure
- Health: 1 CESAMO, 2 CESAR.
- Education: 90 primary education centers, 29 pre-primary education centers, and 1 secondary education center.
Location
It is located in the foothills of the Montecillos mountain range and surrounded by the Puringla River.
Limits
- North: municipalities of Masaguara (Intibucá) and Comayagua (Comayagua);
- South: municipalities of San Pedro de Tutule and Santa María;
- East: municipality of La Paz;
- West: municipality of Masaguara (Intibucá).
Hydrography: Lepasale, Sazagua, and Puringla rivers.
