Comitán de Domínguez
Comitán de Domínguez | ||
---|---|---|
Coordinates: 16 ° 15 ′ N , 92 ° 8 ′ W Comitán de Domínguez on the map of Chiapas
|
||
Basic data | ||
Country | Mexico | |
State | Chiapas | |
Municipio | Comitán de Domínguez | |
City foundation | 1528 | |
Residents | 97,537 (2010) | |
City insignia | ||
Detailed data | ||
surface | 33.3 km 2 | |
Population density | 2.929 inhabitants / km 2 | |
height | 1635 m | |
Website | ||
Comitán de Domínguez - View of the town | ||
Comitán de Domínguez - Main Square (Parque Central) | ||
Comitán de Domínguez - Church of Santo Domingo |
Comitán de Domínguez is a large city with around 115,000 inhabitants and the capital of the municipality of the same name (municipio) with around 180,000 inhabitants in the Mexican state of Chiapas . Because of its historical center, the city has been classified as Pueblo Mágico since 2012 .
Location and climate
The town of Comitán de Domínguez is located in the mountains of Chiapas at an average altitude of approx. 1635 m . To the northwestern city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez , the capital of the state, it is approx. 145 km (driving distance); the border with Guatemala at La Mesia is approx. 85 km to the south. Despite the altitude, the climate is tropical and humid to hot; Rain (approx. 980 mm / year) falls mainly in the summer half-year.
Population development
year | 1950 | 1970 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
Residents | 23,054 | 39.006 | 70,311 | 83,571 | 97,537 |
The city's mostly Maya-born population has grown significantly in the last few decades due to immigration.
economy
The inhabitants lived for centuries as a self from the proceeds of their corn fields ( milpas ) , in which often pumpkins were grown; Beans, onions, and other vegetables grew in the small house gardens. Gradually, however, the food was brought in by the local villagers and sold in the street markets. With the increasing improvement of the infrastructure, the city lies on the Panamericana , administrative facilities as well as health and education systems were created in the 20th century.
history
In pre-Hispanic times only a few people lived in the area in the scattered settlements typical of the Maya ; around 1482 the region came under Aztec influence. A first Spanish settlement emerged from 1528 under the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Portocarrero, a comrade in arms of Pedro de Alvarado , on the site of an older Indian settlement. In 1556 the place was moved to its current location by Dominican monks ; At the end of the century, the first stone church was built, which quickly became the center of the town, which was named Santo Domingo de Comitán in 1625 . In 1813 the place received city rights and was renamed Ciudad de Santa María de Comitán .
Attractions
- Only the city center with its historical buildings bears witness to the former colonial flair.
- The church of Santo Domingo from the late 16th century still has a Capilla abierta oriented towards the main square (Parque Central) .
- The baroque facade of the Iglesia de San Caralampio is deceptive; the building comes from the second half of the 19th century and was built in honor of St. Caralampius , a martyr of the 2nd century , otherwise unknown in the Christian world .
- The two-towered church of San José , built in neo-Gothic style , dates from the early 20th century; the nave is spanned by a wooden beam ceiling.
- The Teatro Junchavin also dates from the beginning of the 20th century.
- The Museo Arqueológico was inaugurated in 1993; it shows regional finds from pre-Hispanic times.
Web links
- Comitán de Domínguez, history etc - information (INAFED, Spanish)
- Comitán de Domínguez, history and attractions - photos + brief information (Spanish)