Yaxcabá (; from ) is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

in the Mexican

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

Yucatán Yucatán, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, constitute the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 106 separate municipalities, and its capital city is Mérida. ...

containing (1079 km²) of land and located roughly 80 km southeast of the city of Mérida.

History

The town is believed to have been founded by the Cocom who survived the destruction of Mayapan, in 1441. After the

conquest Conquest involves the annexation or control of another entity's territory through war or Coercion (international relations), coercion. Historically, conquests occurred frequently in the international system, and there were limited normative or ...

the area became part of the

encomienda The ''encomienda'' () was a Spanish Labour (human activity), labour system that rewarded Conquistador, conquerors with the labour of conquered non-Christian peoples. In theory, the conquerors provided the labourers with benefits, including mil ...

system. The encomienda was established in 1549 for Martín de Luguízamo and was assigned in 1562 to Joaquín de Luguízamo. Juan Jiménez de Tejeda took over the encomienda in 1607 and in 1622, Gregorio de Cetina became encomendero, leaving the property in 1688 to Diego de Cetina. In 1693 the trust was the responsibility of Cristóbal Maldonado Jurado and a minor Fernando Maldonado. Andrés de Valdés later served as encomendero. Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821. On 8 September 1848, a group of Indians under the leadership of Cecilio Chí captured the town during the

Caste War of Yucatán The Caste War of Yucatán or ''ba'atabil kichkelem Yúum'' (1847–1915) began with the revolt of Indigenous peoples of Mexico, indigenous Maya peoples, Maya people of the Yucatán Peninsula against Hispanic populations, called ''Yucatecos''. Th ...

. Coronel Eulogio Rosado who was stationed in Mérida retook the village on the orders of the government. In 1923, Yaxcabá was designated as its own municipality.

Governance

The municipal president is elected for a three-year term. The town council has nine councilpersons, who serve as Secretary and councilors of education, security and roads, agriculture and policing, public lighting, legalities, cemeteries, health, and sports.

Communities

The head of the municipality is Yaxcabá, Yucatán. There are 66 different communities in the municipality, including Abán, Acapulco, Balam, Canakon, Cenote, Chanciteen, Chich, Chimay, Cholul, Chunchucmil, Cola Blanca, Huchin, Kankabzonot, Libre Unión, Miguel Hidalgo, Nicteil, Oxulá, Paraíso, Popola, Quintana Roo, Sacnité, Sahcabá, San Arturo, San Francisco, San Isidro, San José, San José I, San Juan de los Itzá, San Manuel, San Marcos, San Pedro, San Tomás, Santa Amelia, Santa Eugenia, Santa María, Santa Rita, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo, Sipché, Tahdzibichén, Teelhú, Tiholop, Tinucáh, Tixcacaltuyub, Tzupich, Tzutzuyub, Xabitita, Xanlá, Xíat, Xinchil, Xlapák, X-ochil, Xolobitancia, X-tosil, Xuul, Yokdzonot, Yoxunah. The significant populations are shown below:

Local festivals

Each year in April is a fiesta held for the Holy Cross. From 20 to 29 June the town hosts a celebration in honor St. Peter and St. Paul and from 1 to 5 October there is a festival in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

Landmarks

Architectural

* Church of St. Francis of Assisi from the colonial era * Chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe from the colonial era. * Church of Santa Cruz * Former convent and Church of St. Peter * Chapel of St. Nicholas

Archaeological

* Libre unión Yaxunáh, Ixpanioh, Xucul, Yokdzonot, Xcanyá, Tixcacaltuyub and Yanláh.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yaxcaba Municipality Municipalities of Yucatán