Progreso Municipality (In the
Spanish language
Spanish ( or , Castilian) is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European language family that evolved from colloquial Latin spoken on the Iberian peninsula. Today, it is a world language, global language with more than 500 millio ...
: “progress”) is one of the 106
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in the
Mexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
state of
Yucatán
Yucatán (, also , , ; yua, Yúukatan ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán,; yua, link=no, Xóot' Noj Lu'umil Yúukatan. is one of the 31 states which comprise the political divisions of Mexico, federal entities of Mexico. I ...
containing (270.10 km
2) of land and located roughly 25 km north of the city of
Mérida.
History
Progreso is one of the youngest towns in the Yucatán.
Martín, owner of several sisal haciendas, including an estate called
Hacienda San Pedro Chimay was the founder of the Port of Progreso.
He began urging development of a new port in 1840 to further the
henequen
Henequen (''Agave fourcroydes'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to southern Mexico and Guatemala. It is reportedly naturalized in Italy, the Canary Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Hispaniola, the Cayman Islands and ...
trade.
The town was authorized under President
Ignacio Comonfort
Ignacio Gregorio Comonfort de los Ríos (; 12 March 1812 – 13 November 1863), known as Ignacio Comonfort, was a Mexican politician and soldier who was also president during one of the most eventful periods in 19th century Mexican history: La R ...
on 25 February 1856 and was officially founded on 1 July 1871 as the
Port of Progreso.
On 8 January 1875, the first City Council was formed and the town was elevated to a villa, soon after decreed a city by the state government, and construction of the city hall commenced. In 1881, freight and passenger rail service began and in 1893, the lighthouse opened.
In 1936, the Danish company "Christiane & Nielsen" began construction of malecón (sea wall), which was completed in 1947. It was upgraded in 1968
In 2011, work began to rebuild the malecón and upgrade the entrance of the port.
Governance
The municipal president is elected for a term of three years. The president appoints nine Councilpersons to serve on the board for three year terms, as the Secretary and councilors who oversee police and police stations; health and public works; transportation and education; special events; disability regulations; recruitment; and parks and public gardens.
The Municipal Council administers the business of the municipality. It is responsible for budgeting and expenditures and producing all required reports for all branches of the municipal administration. Annually it determines educational standards for schools.
The Police Commissioners ensure public order and safety. They are tasked with enforcing regulations, distributing materials and administering rulings of general compliance issued by the council.
Communities
The head of the municipality is Progreso, Yucatán. The populated communities include Campestre Flamboyanes, Chelem, Chen Huayún, Chicxulub Puerto, Chuburná, El Divino Redentor, El Paraíso, Estopas Peninsulares, Ha Uay, Jesús Nazareno, La Gracia de Dios, La Perseverancia, Montesino, Progreso, Rancho San Pedro, San Antonio, San Ignacio, San Juan, and Yucmich.
The major population areas are shown below:
Local festivals
Every year a
carnival
Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...
is celebrated from 15 to 30 April and 1 June is a fiesta for the Navy. On 7 August, the feast of San Telmo, patron of fishermen, is recognized.
Notable citizens
*
Juan Miguel Castro Martín
Tourist attractions
*19th Century Maritime Customs Building
* Municipal Palace
* Progreso lighthouse
* Customs Pier considered the longest in the country
* Chapel of San Antonio Yaxactún
* Hacienda Cuyo de Ancona
*
Hacienda San Ignacio
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Progreso
Municipalities of Yucatán