Matagalpa Department, Nicaragua.svg
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Matagalpa () is a city in Nicaragua which is the capital of the department of Matagalpa. The city has a population of 111,258 (2021 estimate),Citypopulation.de
Population of the major cities in Nicaragua while the population of the department is 600,057. Matagalpa is Nicaragua's seventh largest city, the largest in the country's interior, and one of the most commercially active outside of Managua. Matagalpa is the 4th most important city in Nicaragua and is known as the "Pearl of the North" and "Land of Eternal Spring."


Origin of the name

According to Jeronimo Perez, a historian who visited this area in 1855–1856 the name Matagalpa means Cabeza Principal (Main Head) or Pueblo Grande (Big Town) from the Matagalpa indigenous language words: Maika=Head, Calpul* Town- But according to the Matagalpan linguist father Guillermo Kiene, a Catholic priest and missionary who lived from 1898 to 1959, the word Matagalpa comes from the Sumo language, and means "let's go where the rocks are." There have been other descriptions of the word Matagalpa: -Here next to the water, and -Among Mountains ( "Aquí junto al agua" y "Entre Montañas"). These descriptions are believed to be related to the geographic location of the city, which is next to the Grand River of Matagalpa, and also surrounded by mountains.


Precolonial history

Matagalpa was originally an indigenous village. The Cacaopera people, or Matagalpa had their own language, which has been extinct since 1875. A document from the year 1855 with 97 words and phrases from the Matagalpa language can be found in the Daniel G. Brinton section of the American Philosophical Library in Philadelphia. The Matagalpa made ceramics of a style known as "Ceramica Negra" and "Naranja Segovia", they also built stone statues representing their chieftain and warriors. They were feared by the Spanish because they were very brave and effective with their bows and other arms. It took 300 years for the Spanish to submit them, even at the time of Nicaragua Independence in 1821, there were many Cacaopera free in the central mountains of Nicaragua. In 1856 they were decisive to defeat William Walker's filibusters in the Battle of San Jacinto on 14 September 1856, where a column of 60 Cacaopera people with bow and arrows fought at the side of Nicaraguan Patriots winning that battle, which marked the end of Walker adventure in Nicaragua. That quest has been recognized by historians and archaeologists, and there is a popular movement to declare the Cacaopera as National Heroes by the Congress of the Republic next month of September 2011.


Post-colonial history

Matagalpa was an existing indigenous town when the first
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance peoples, Romance ethnic group native to Spain. Within Spain, there are a number of National and regional identity in Spain, national and regional ethnic identities that reflect the country's complex Hist ...
came to this region by 1528 during an attempt to find a water passage to the "Northern Sea", the
Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
. ( Nicaragua's Spanish colonization originated from the direction of the Pacific Ocean, which was called the Southern Sea by the Spaniards. Matagalpa is located in the continental divide between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Many stories are preserved from colonial times about the British-controlled Mosquito Coast, and the Spanish-colonized Pacific area. Gold was discovered around Matagalpa by 1840. Along with many Spaniards and Mestizos, it attracted German, American and British immigrants. Two of the better known immigrants of this period were Ludwig Elster (from Hannover) and his wife Katharina Braun (from Schwarzwald, Germany Black Forest) who planted the first coffee trees in the area, the beans from which quickly went to market in Germany. Coffee agriculture attracted more than 120 European immigrants, many of whom married Matagalpan women, and many of their descendants still live in the area. In 1923 some Danish immigrants also came to Matagalpa, and settled in the highlands as well. Most of the Danish families went back to Denmark. Three families stayed: the Gröns, the Möllers, and the Petersens. Matagalpa was also the city of refuge for many Nicaraguans escaping the invasion of Tennessean filibuster
William Walker William Walker may refer to: Arts * William Walker (engraver) (1791–1867), mezzotint engraver of portrait of Robert Burns * William Sidney Walker (1795–1846), English Shakespearean critic * William Walker (composer) (1809–1875), American Ba ...
who took over much of the country and government in 1856. In Matagalpa the patriots organized the '' Ejército del Septentrión'' ("Army of the North"), which fought in and won the Battle of San Jacinto, assisted by 60 Matagalpa, on 14 September 1856, helping to end Walker's rule. Matagalpa Department was also the birthplace of Ruben Dario, 1867-1916;
Nazario Vega Nazario may refer to * Ronaldo Nazario (born 1976), Brazilian former footballer * Nazario (given name) * Nazario (surname) *Nazário, a municipality in Brazil * Nazario Collection, a cache of carved stones at Guayanilla, Puerto Rico *San Nazario, Ve ...
, Governor and builder of the Cathedral; Bartolomé Martínez, President of Nicaragua, 1923–24; Matias Baldizon Morales, 1820-1886, and
Carlos Fonseca Amador Carlos Fonseca Amador (23 June 1936 – 8 November 1976) was a Nicaraguan teacher, librarian and revolutionary who founded the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). Fonseca was later killed in the mountains of the Zelaya Department, Nicar ...
, founder of the Sandinista Front in 1961. Currently the department of Matagalpa is the second most populous in Nicaragua after the national capital ( Managua), and the most diversified in production. Over the past few years Matagalpa has experienced a large influx of migrants (mainly peasants) from other departments, causing stress on infrastructure and the environment. Matagalpa has a panoramic highway that starts in the city of Matagalpa and extends to the city of
Jinotega Jinotega () (derived from Náhuatl: ''Xiotenko'' ‘place next to the jiñocuajo trees’) is the capital city of the Department of Jinotega in north-central Nicaragua. The city is located in a long valley surrounded by the cool climate and Da ...
. Scenic views extend up to away, to the volcanic range near the Pacific coast. Many historians, archeologists, botanists and ethnologists have arrived in recent years to do research in this region. American and European descendants of the first settlers are also returning to visit the historical homes of their ancestors. MATAGALPA, SIGNIFICADO ETIMOLÓGICO . El nombre Matagalpa en lengua indigena Ulúa-matagalpa es “Maika Calpul”, o "Pueblo Grande", pues Maika=Cabeza, Calpul=Poblado. Así aparece en los registros eclesiásticos de los años 1600s y 1700s, y 1800s, con el nombre de Pueblo Grande. Ese importante pueblo indígena ya existía antes de la llegada de los españoles, sin embargo este 14 de febrero cumple 159 años de ser elevada a ciudad, al estilo castizo.


Economy

Matagalpa produces and exports beef, cheese, coffee,
cacao Cacao is the seed from which cocoa and chocolate are made, from Spanish cacao, an adaptation of Nahuatl cacaua, the root form of cacahuatl ("bean of the cocoa-tree"). It may also refer to: Plants *''Theobroma cacao'', a tropical evergreen tree ** ...
, onions, tomatoes and mixed fruits and vegetables. For local consumption it produces flowers, wood, corn, beans, fruits (oranges, grapefruits, bananas, plantains) and many kinds of vegetables such as broccoli, and cauliflower. Matagalpa is known for its coffee, its cattle, milk products, vegetables, flowers and mountains popular with ecotourists. It is the location of such storied mountain tourist resorts as Aranjuez,
Santa Maria de Ostuma Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...
, and
Selva Negra Mountain Resort Selva Negra Mountain Resort and Coffee Estate is a historical coffee farm founded in 1891 by German immigrants. Since 1976 it has also been a tourist resort. It is located in the department of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, just from the city of Matagalp ...
. A large part of the economy in Matagalpa depends on eco-tourism. Nature hikes, walks, and excursions are very common throughout Matagalpa, and the northern region on Nicaragua. One of the most recognized eco-tourism sites is Selva Negra Wildlife Refuge, with over of land dedicated to the conservation of the area's diverse flora and fauna.


Climate

Matagalpa, along with nearby
Jinotega Jinotega () (derived from Náhuatl: ''Xiotenko'' ‘place next to the jiñocuajo trees’) is the capital city of the Department of Jinotega in north-central Nicaragua. The city is located in a long valley surrounded by the cool climate and Da ...
, enjoy "eternal spring" or all year, spring-like weather. Matagalpa lies more than
above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...
with the average temperature ranging from ., and relative humidity between 75% to 85%. Average rainfall is .


Gallery

File:Matagalpamainstreet.JPG, Main Street to Parque Morazan and Cathedral File:Matagalpaoverlook.jpg, Overlook of downtown from Matagalpa-Jinotega highway during the dry season File:Independencedayparade1.jpg, 2007 Independence Day parade File:Mataghome1.JPG, Home in Matagalpa


Notable people

*
Carlos Fonseca Carlos Fonseca Amador (23 June 1936 – 8 November 1976) was a Nicaraguan teacher, librarian and revolutionary who founded the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). Fonseca was later killed in the mountains of the Zelaya Department, Nicar ...
, FSLN FOUNDER * Bartolome Martinez, President of Nicaragua 1923-1924 *
Byron Rojas Byron Hasael Rojas Hernandez (born 23 June 1990) is a Nicaraguan professional boxer who held the WBA minimumweight title in 2016. Career Rojas took up boxing after being bullied in his teenage years. He was first trained by Roger Rivas. He be ...
, boxer *
Marina Jacoby Marina Eugenia Jacoby Santos (born August 3, 1995) is a Nicaraguan model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Nicaragua 2016. She represented her Nicaragua at the Miss Universe 2016 pageant. Personal life Jacoby works as a mode ...
, Miss Nicaragua 2016


International relations


Twin towns – Sister cities

Matagalpa is twinned with: * Wuppertal, Germany * Tilburg, Netherlands *
Sabadell Sabadell () is a city in Catalonia, Spain. It is in the south of the ''comarca'' of Vallès Occidental and its joint capital (co-capital), on the River Ripoll, north of Barcelona. Sabadell is located above sea level. Sabadell pioneered the Ind ...
, Spain * Gainesville, United States *
San Pedro Sula San Pedro Sula () is the capital of Cortés Department, Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country in the Sula Valley, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean Sea. With a population of 671,460 ...
, Honduras * Lewisham, United Kingdom * Valparaíso, Chile * San Francisco, United States * Retalhuleu, Guatemala * Heredia, Costa Rica *
Oulu Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after: ...
, Finland * Colón, Panama *
Antigua Guatemala Antigua Guatemala (), commonly known as Antigua or La Antigua, is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala. The city was the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala from 1543 through 1773, with much of its Baroque-influenced architec ...
, Guatemala * Cojutepeque, El Salvador * Saint Petersburg, Russia * Shanghai, China *
Jalisco Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal En ...
, Mexico


References


External links

* {{Authority control Municipalities of the Matagalpa Department Populated places established in 1554 1554 establishments in the Spanish Empire