Municipality of Siguatepeque
Siguatepeque is a municipality in the department of Comayagua in Honduras.
The name Siguatepeque comes from the Nahuatl word «cihualtepec,» which means «women’s hill,» combining «cihuatl» (woman) and «tepec» (hill).
History
The current location of Siguatepeque was inhabited by indigenous people of the Lenca ethnic group, who lived in straw houses along the rivers and streams. Various artifacts, such as grinding stones, pottery, jars, pots, and decorative objects representing deities of different shapes and sizes, have been found from this human group.
On December 7, 1537, the adelantado Alonso de Cáceres explored the village with his Spanish troops and found indigenous people living on the slopes and savannahs near Calanterique Hill, as well as along the banks of the Guique and Guaratoro streams.
According to Father Vallejo, Siguatepeque is believed to have been initially founded by Lenca Indians around the year 1689. By 1788, Siguatepeque was part of a curate with six brotherhoods and included the following villages: Jaitique, Meambar, and Taulabé. There are two censuses of the curate of Siguatepeque in the Ecclesiastical Archive of Comayagua, dated 1796.
The oldest existing registration book from that time dates back to 1850, which is now part of the municipality’s archive. On April 14, 1861, Siguatepeque was officially recognized as a municipality in the Comayagua department. Initially, it was named San José de Siguatepeque.
In 1889, the municipality lost the village of Meambar, which became an independent municipality. In the same year (1889), Siguatepeque became the religious capital of the country when Bishop Manuel Francisco Vélez settled in the town. He had acquired the former building of the Genaro Muñoz Hernández Institute, which served as a retreat for priests in his parish.
In 1847, the population already had its first Municipal Government, presided over by Juan Francisco Martínez. This was during the time when Dr. Juan Lindo was the President of Honduras, and the city of Comayagua was the capital.
On April 9, 1926, the National Congress granted Siguatepeque the title of City, during the presidency of Dr. Miguel Paz Barahona and with Darío Velásquez Castellanos serving as the mayor of the city, while Domingo Meza Discua acted as the Syndic.
Location
Siguatepeque is located north of the Montecillos Biological Reserve, in the central plateau of Honduras, in the central region between the two main cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. It is approximately 114 km from the former and 139 km from the latter.
Situated on a high plateau, surrounded by green pine forests that still provide oxygen to the city, Siguatepeque is part of the Comayagua department. It is located at a latitude of 14°36′ north and a longitude of 87°50′ west, with a total area of 606.5 square kilometers.
Limits
Siguatepeque is bordered by the municipalities of Meámbar, Santa Cruz de Yojoa, and Taulabé to the north, which is also a tourist destination known for its caves and natural beauty. It is bordered by the municipalities of Jesús de Otoro and Comayagua to the south, the municipality of El Rosario to the east, and the municipalities of Jesús de Otoro and San José de Comayagua to the west.
Coordinates
- Elevation: 1,170 meters above sea level
- Latitude: 14°35’08» N
- Longitude: 87°49’27» W
Climate
- The municipality’s climate is characterized by a zone of subtropical montane rainforest, with precipitation ranging from 1200 to 1300 mm.
- The climate is cool due to the influence of the surrounding forested areas.
- The temperature ranges between 20°C and 25°C.
Geographic Context
Siguatepeque has a privileged location as it is situated between the two main cities of Honduras: Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
Population
The estimated population in 2015 was 99,164 inhabitants, with 47% being male and 53% female. The majority (69.2%) live in the urban area, while the rest reside in rural areas.
The population density is 249.28 inhabitants per square kilometer, with an average of 5.5 inhabitants per household. The interannual population growth rate is 3.5% (1999-2000), which is higher than the departmental average of 3.3%.
The municipality currently has around 90,000 residents. Most of the villages that make up this municipality have a Lenca origin, belonging to the Mayan tradition.
Economy
Siguatepeque is an important regional agricultural center, where the commercialization and processing of typical agricultural products from the area, such as maize, beans, coffee, sugarcane, and fruits (horticulture), take place. The livestock sector has also experienced significant development, especially in the cattle industry.
There are few specialized industries, including maquilas, tanneries, forest industries, and concentrated product manufacturing. Other industries are semi-industrial or artisanal, such as fruit packaging, food products, confectioneries, pottery, and more.
The commercial sector is growing rapidly, and old buildings are being transformed into modern shopping centers.
Water Supply
The city is supplied with water from various wells and small dams located in several streams. Surface water is treated in two treatment plants called Guaratoro and Rosental Oliva. The degradation of vegetation cover, livestock, and human settlements in the micro-watersheds upstream of the surface water intakes affect the quality and availability of water, especially during the summer.
As in many parts of Honduras, water service is only available to users for a few hours each day, and there are no meters in household connections.
Until October 2008, the water system in Siguatepeque was managed by the National Water and Sewerage Company (SANAA). After the transfer of the system to Aguas de Siguatepeque, a decentralized administrative unit of the municipality, operating costs, particularly the electricity bill, have been significantly reduced. The NGO «Geólogos del Mundo» from Spain has assisted in analyzing the factors contributing to high electricity consumption by the well pumps. With funding from the World Bank, one pump has been replaced, resulting in a reduction in electricity consumption.
A Municipal Water and Sanitation Commission (COMAS), composed of representatives from civil society and the Municipal Corporation, has accompanied the water system transfer process, supervising and advising the work of Aguas de Siguatepeque and promoting measures to protect micro-watersheds and encourage water conservation in the community.
Tourism
Due to its climate, warm people, central location in the country, and the facilities it offers, Siguatepeque has become an attractive area for tourism and investments.
