Hecelchakán () is a city in the
Mexican state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
* ''Our S ...
of
Campeche. The city is located some 70 km to the north of the state capital
Campeche. It is the seat of the
Hecelchakán Municipality. As of 2010, the city of Hecelchakán had a population of 10,285.
The name comes from the
Maya
Maya may refer to:
Civilizations
* Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America
** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples
** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples
* Maya (Ethiopia), a popul ...
words ''helel'' (savanna) and ''chakan'' (rest).
It is at an altitude of 10 m above sea level.
Climate
History
The city was founded close to a
cenote
A cenote ( or ; ) is a natural pit cave, pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. The regional term is specifically associated with the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where cenotes were commonly ...
by inhabitants of the former city of Xkalumkin, between the years 1500 and 1600. In this city some important historic events took place, such as the battle between Don Francisco de Paula Toro and the federalists, led by Don Felipe Montero, who was defeated.
In 1840, the district of Hecelchakán included the towns of Pomuch, Pocboc, Tenabo, Tepakán, San Antonio Sahcabchén,
Dzitbalché
Dzitbalché () is a large town in the extreme northern part of the Mexican state of Campeche. It is located at 20.32°N 90.05°W and serves as the municipal seat for the municipality of the same name. As of 2010, Dzitbalché had a population of 11 ...
,
Bécal,
Nunkiní, and Calkiní.
Around 1846, the district of Hecelchakán included three parishes: Hecelchakán, Calkiní and Bécal.
On December 7, 1915, when decree no. 51 approved a new law of interior administration, Hecelchakán became one of the eight free municipalities of the new state of Campeche. That law came into effect on January 1, 1916.
In 1957 Hecelchakán was given city status by
Governor of Campeche
The governor of Campeche, officially Constitutional Governor of the Free and Sovereign State of Campeche ( es, Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Campeche), is in charge the Executive branch of the State Government.
Term
Governors are elect ...
Alberto Trueba Urbina.
References
Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
Encyclopedia for Mexican Municipalities (in Spanish)
External links
Ayuntamiento de HecelchakánOfficial website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hecelchakan
Populated places in Campeche
Municipality seats in Campeche