Antiguo Cuscatlan
Encyclopedia
Antiguo Cuscatlán is a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...

 in the La Libertad department
Departments of El Salvador
||A list of the departments of El Salvador in alphabetical order.Department :# Ahuachapán # Cabañas # Chalatenango # Cuscatlán # La Libertad # La Paz...

 of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...

, southwest of San Salvador and to the east of Santa Tecla. Antiguo Cuscatlán is considered the richest and most urban municipality inside the "Metropolitan Area of San Salvador" as well as in the whole country.
It includes the residential area of Santa Elena, where the U.S. embassy is located, as well as the area of the malls that includes Multiplaza
Multiplaza
Multiplaza is a chain of shopping malls, owned by the Oak Group of El Salvador, in Central America.The first Multiplaza Mall opened in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in 1990 as part of the expansion plan Central Oak Group. After several years Central Oak Group decided to create another chain of department...

, La Gran Vía, Hiper Mall Las Cascadas, Temptation Plaza the newly built Plaza Santa Elena and Plaza Madero.
In 2002, males had a median income of $32,562 versus $21,001 for females, with a median income per family of $67,600. The per capita income for the city was $21,534.

It has a population of 50,578 according to the census of 2007. The city mayor is Milagro Navas from the political party of ARENA
Nationalist Republican Alliance
The Nationalist Republican Alliance is a conservative political party in El Salvador. It was founded on September 30, 1981, by Roberto D'Aubuisson, in order to oppose the reformist military junta that was ruling El Salvador at the time...

.

Origin

Cuscatlán was founded in 1054 by Topiltzin Atzil, last king of Tula of Anahuac. It was a city inhabited by ten thousand, with an additional twelve thousand people who lived in xacal, straw huts distributed at the edge of a maar (crater) which housed the sacred lake of Cuscatlan. In the contemporary Native language, Cuscatlán means Jewel City.

On Saturday June 17, 1524, led by Pedro de Alvarado, the Spanish conquistadors found the doors of Cuscatlan, capital of the Lordship of Cuscatlan. The company consisted of one hundred fifty units of infantry, cavalry and one hundred other slaves, prepared to attack the kingdom and take over the regional capital. Despite the resistance, the Spanish were victorious and incorporated the municipality into the domains of the Iberian metropolis.

The place was less relevant thereafter, as the town was caught in the dynamics of the rest of the country, which exploited its resources ending the colony. After the independence of Central America, San Salvador surpassed Antiguo Cuscatlan in importance, relegating it to a mere local capital.Antiguo Cuscatlan has gained an important edge, hosting major institutions.

Economy

According to the Report 262 "Municipal Human Development Indicators and Millennium Development Goals" of the United Nations Programme for Development (UNDP), Antiguo Cuscatlan is the municipality with the highest human development index of El Salvador (0.882) The municipality is composed mostly of urban area, but also includes rural areas. Its main crops are coffee, grains and vegetables. There are livestock, swine and poultry. It has three industrial zones: Santa Elena, Plan de La Laguna and Merliot. There are food, plastics, metal, textiles and chemicals factories. Tourist sites are the Basilica of Guadalupe and the Botanical Garden of Plan de la Laguna. One of the largest business centers in the country, and in Central America was opened during the mid 2010, this building reflects the boom of modern architecture in country, and the productive development of the country. The construction company of Edificio Avante came from Guatemala, this is their first investment in El Salvador. El Salvador has invested in Guatemala for years, building larges shopping malls, business centers, and homes.

This town is closest to San Salvador, and offers a variety of employment opportunities.

Plan de la Laguna Industrial Zone

South of the city is The Industrial Zone “Plan de La Laguna”, which is home to many industrial companies. Among these companies are: Confectionery (Central Dulcera), Plastic Industry (Salvaplastic), Maquila (Industry Merlet), made of flour for human consumption (Harissa), Concentrated Animal (ALIANSA), among many others, the last two (Harissa and ALIANSA) founded by the German landowner and businessman Walter Thilo Deinninger. The companies are united through the Association of Residents of the Zone and Industrial La Laguna (Asevilla). The Industrial Zone is also the most functional and organized one within any capital of Central America. In order to maintain the city, ecology safe the southern Side of the Industrial Zone is bordered by, Plan de La Laguna Botanical Garden. The Botanical garden also has a plant nursery, and it home to thousand of different plant species

Municipal Government

The mayor since 1991 is Milagro Navas, a member of the Nationalist Republican Alliance party. She has won seven consecutive elections, becoming the country's longest serving official(Salvadoran law states that a president can only be elected once, but there is not limit for mayors) In the case of Antiguo Cuscatlan people are more than satisfied with the work Milagro has done for the city. Various infrastructure improvement projects and institutional restructuring and renewal of the tax system were attributed to her government. The current council has broken promises such as the relocation of the municipal cemetery neighboring families, the construction of the new Government House and the construction of a handicrafts market that enhances tourism and trade.

Health

As far as health is concerned, they only have a health unit in the area of ​​Merliot, and eight health clinics, not counting hospitals within the municipality. The municipal government manages a health care clinic, serving low-income residents, on the other hand, the Salvadoran Social Security Institute operates a community clinic.

Most People living in Antiguo attend to Hospital Diagnostico in San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...

, just about 15 minutes from Antiguo Cuscatlan. Diagnostico is considered to be the top hospital in the country, and most priced.

Security

Within the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, and in the country, Antiguo Cuscatlan is perhaps the safest city. Low Criminal Rates, no gang traffic, barely any reports of homicides or even attempts of homicides.
Despite having low crime rates, there has been a slight rise in attacks on homes and, which has led to the privatization of many roads and areas, by closing an entrance to a neighborhood with a gate, and security to allow one to go in. The patrols of the National Civil Police are sporadic patrols in conjunction with municipal police body

Education

It is noteworthy that in education this town has three private universities in the country: Albert Einstein University, Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado "and Universidad Centroamericana " Jose Simeon Cañas ", besides having several private schools, six public elementary schools basic and a National Institute of Secondary Education. Also has the campus graduate of the University Don Bosco.
As for public schools there is only one located in the historic center of Antiguo, most children attend to bilingual private schools in San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...

.
On the Santa Elena Neighborhood the European Union opened an institute to learn the official European Union languages.

Santa Elena Neighborhood

Santa Elena is the main neighborhood of Antiguo Cuscatlan, the neighborhood spans thru 65% of the municipality. Santa Elena is home to the American Embassy, Malta Embassy, and many other offices, and businesses.

Eating

There is no better life than a good meal. And for that, and everyone alternatives are almost unlimited in Santa Elena.
In the chain of hotels operating in the municipality is the most immediate option, but if you do not reach the hotel's menu, a short distance away and expect a tempting offer. Elegant restaurants with tasty food from Argentina, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, Mexican. And there are at least two places in each specialty to choose.But for those of little places to eat are specialized in hamburgers, delicious pastries, ice cream, donuts and delicious Salvadoran coffee. The home service that almost all restaurants offer their customers, is another advantage for those who really do not want to leave your accommodation
High Priced Restaurants:
  • La Pamapa Argentina
  • La Panitiere
  • Inka Grill
  • Cafe Miraflores
  • Kreef
  • Style 68
  • El Zocalo

Middle Range:
  • Starbucks Coffee
  • Sports Bar
  • Buffalo Wings
  • Go Green
  • Crepe Lovers

Fast Food:
  • Pollo Campero
  • Mc Donald's
  • Subway

Hotels

For tourists who enjoy an atmosphere of tranquility and comfort, Antiguo Cuscatlan offers some excellent hotel choices quite close to each other.

In the upper part of Residencial Santa Elena, the country's most exclusive is the Beverly Hill Suites & Resort, typical for tourists who spend all day out for the night but want to have everything on hand in the room.

In the heart of the residential is located Holliday Inn Hotel, elegant image, excellent, elegant atmosphere and wide parking.

As part of the Gran Via shopping complex is located Marriott Courtyard Hotel, with the advantage for the tourist to be in a pedestrian area with cinemas, shops, restaurants.

In the center of the city and find Colonia La Sultana Hotel Alicante, small but a cozy family retreat.

Business

There are many businesses in the Santa Elena Neighborhood, the newest and most advanced business center is Edificio Avante, located next to the beverly hills hotel, and on Boulevard Orden de Malta. There are also other business centers like Edificio Comercial, Edificio Valencia.
Santa Elena Neighborhood is home of two embassies.
  • The United States of America Embassy, and military barracks
  • Mala Embassy

Shopping

The atmosphere of order, cleanliness and security in Antiguo Cuscatlan has become very attractive for local and international investors and tourists.

On the Pan-American highway that goes to the west of the country, is the La Gran Via. Built with a modern style with a great main hall, and an open air side, this mall holds anything you want, from a Starbucks Coffee to Irish, Japanese, Mexican, and other International Restaurants and to many local dessert shops. It also has a movie theatre and its connected to Hipermall Las Cascadas located on Calle El Pedregal, is a small mall, that has many fast food restaurants, and convenient stores, it also has the first Walmart in the country, and the country’s biggest office depot.

The enormous Multiplaza, a veritable fortress but still impressive on the inside, which takes the dynamics of a real city life. Currently very high degree and it builds a huge tower of apartments and hotel.

Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanico Plan de la Laguna)

The La Laguna Botanical Garden is south of the city of Antiguo Cuscatlan, with an area of 30 blocks. In this extension, 19.32 blocks form a primary forest reserve, 4.6 blocks are for public use in 32 areas that are home to over 3,500 species of plants from all over the world, a performance area, café and children's games, and 19 blocks make up the La Laguna forest, which is serves as a reforesting conservation area for the future can be visited for scientific, educational and recreational purposes.

This garden is a fairly recent development. The first German immigrants who came here established the dairy industry, cattle and coffee plantations. Here they settled in the mountains that now border the Plan de La Laguna and reproduced. The Deininger family brought trees and plants from around the world to the garden of his house, which grew enormously.

Over time, with changes in settlement patterns and the inevitable urbanization of the place, the Deininger family supported the idea of protecting and preserving the wooded area now known as the La Laguna Botanical Garden. It was opened on December 22, 1978 and since then annually receives an average of 24,000 students.

The Garden has a herbarium, a computerized database and a library specializing in plant taxonomy. Staff maintain constant exchanges with other foreign and different herbal specialists who collaborate in the identification of samples collected in El Salvador.

Geography

Antiguo Cuscatlan is in the municipality of the District of Nueva San Salvador, La Libertad department. It is bordered on the north by San Salvador, on the east by San Salvador and San Marcos, south of Nuevo Cuscatlan, and west by Nueva San Salvador. It is located in the geographic coordinates 13 ° 42'29 'LN (northern end) and 13 º 37'56' LN (southern end), 89 ° 13'29 LWG (eastern end) and 89 ° 16'46 LWG (west end) .

Soils

Soil types found in the municipality are: Andosols and Regosols, Inceptisols and Entisols (phases of rolling to ALOM) and Regosols, reddish clay and Anaosoles, Latosols, Entisols, Alfisols and Inceptisols (phases rolling to rugged mountain). There are volcanic detrital sediments with pyroclastic material and lava flows interspersed, pyroclastic material and andesitic and basaltic lavas.

Hydrography

The main river is the Chavez or Peche, rising to 2.5 miles south of the town of Antiguo Cuscatlan, the confluence of two small unnamed streams. Its length within the town is 2 kilometers.

Terrain

There are two mountains in the area: The Horse and El Rosario. The Cerro La Montaña is located 4.1 kilometers southwest of the town of Antiguo Cuscatlan, and has an elevation of 1005 meters above sea level. El Rosario is located 1.4 miles south from the city of Antiguo Cuscatlan, and has an elevation of 1025 meters above sea level. The Horse is located 3 miles southwest of the town of Antiguo Cuscatlan, and has an elevation of 1032/3385 ft meters above sea level.

Climate

The amount of annual rainfall varies between 1,800 and 2,200 millimeters. Due to the high altitude(3385 ft) Antiguo Cuscatlan has a cool climate compared to the rest of the AMSS.

The hottest months in Antiguo Cuscatlan are Match, April and May, with a mean high of 30C. The coolest months of the year are November, December, January and February with a mean high of 28C and a mean low of 16C. The lowest temperature recorded was 6C during a period of cold fronts were the temperature dropped several times in February, March 2010.

Culture

In the municipality of Antiguo Cuscatlan different festivals are celebrated, such as the Corn Festival held between July and August. On the other hand, the December 12 celebrations held in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The festivities of the municipality are celebrated in honor of the "Holy Innocents Children" on 28 December at the Parish Church at the Center for Antiguo Cuscatlan.

In the town there is a House of Culture which is mainly to give crafts classes but not crafts, Indian culture and promoting cultural heritage.

Festivities

Antiguo Cuscatlan celebrations are dedicated to the Holy Innocents Children and celebrated every year on 28 December. This festival dates from the fifteenth century, during the colonial era and was celebrated with great pomp by a brotherhood composed of captains, stewards and tenacious.

Are revered as martyrs died for not only by Christ. They are also called "Flower of the Martyrs." St. Augustine speaks of them as buds destroyed by the storms of persecution in the time of opening to life.

At present, the patron saint festivities Antiguo Cuscatlan are a set of religiosity, culture, art, beauty, traditional food, lights, parades, dances, popular entertainment, which are visited by many Salvadorans and foreigners.

Religion

In the town there are four Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...

 churches and ten Evangelic
Evangelic
Evangelic or evangelical means "to be rooted in the gospels" from the or . This is the core meaning in theology that can be found in terms like the Evangelical Counsels....

 (Protestant). The most important religious holiday occurs annually on December 28 in honor of the Holy Innocents Children.

The festival in the town dates from the colonial era, although the festival was celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 since the fifth century. Today's festivities include various religious, cultural, artistic and recreational activities organized by the city.

See also

  • San Salvador
    San Salvador
    The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...

  • Nueva San Salvador
  • La Libertad Department
  • Multiplaza Apartamentos
    Multiplaza Apartamentos
    Multiplaza El Pedregal is the tallest building in El Salvador by mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, located in Antiguo Cuscatlan. It was built by Grupo Roble...

  • Concepcion de Ataco
    Concepción de Ataco
    Concepcion de Ataco is a municipality and city within the department Ahuachapán, El Salvador. It has an area of 61.03 km ² and a population of 18,101 inhabitants ....

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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