Comitán
Encyclopedia
Comitán is the fourth-largest city in the Mexican state of Chiapas
. It is the seat of government of the municipality of the same name.
It is located in the east-central part of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala
at 16.25°N 92.13°W. In the 2005 census the population was 83,571 people. Its municipality total was 121,263. The municipality has an area of 1,043.30 km² (402.82 sq mi). Its largest other community is the town of Villahermosa Yalumá.
The original name given by the local Maya peoples
is Balún Canán ("Nine stars"). It was later changed to Comitán de las Flores and, in 1915, to Comitán de Domínguez, after Dr. Belisario Domínguez
, who gave a memorable speech in Congress against the dictator Victoriano Huerta
for which he was murdered.
Comitán is also a popular tourist destination, mostly for Mexican nationals, though some foreign visitors can also be seen. The town itself is one of the most pleasant and pretty in Mexico, with colonial architecture, narrow avenues, and clean streets. The climate is cool most of the year, and can get quite chilly from October to March. The town square is active almost every night, with live music, or some kind of presentation/play (though often they seem to be somewhat evangelical). The main road (currently under repairs) into and out of town is planted with flowers and monuments to many of the states of Mexico.
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
. It is the seat of government of the municipality of the same name.
It is located in the east-central part of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
at 16.25°N 92.13°W. In the 2005 census the population was 83,571 people. Its municipality total was 121,263. The municipality has an area of 1,043.30 km² (402.82 sq mi). Its largest other community is the town of Villahermosa Yalumá.
The original name given by the local Maya peoples
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
is Balún Canán ("Nine stars"). It was later changed to Comitán de las Flores and, in 1915, to Comitán de Domínguez, after Dr. Belisario Domínguez
Belisario Domínguez
Belisario Domínguez Palencia was a Mexican physician and liberal politician. He served as senator and gave a memorable speech in the Congress against the dictator Victoriano Huerta, for which he was murdered.Domínguez was born to Cleofas Domínguez and María del Pilar Palencia...
, who gave a memorable speech in Congress against the dictator Victoriano Huerta
Victoriano Huerta
José Victoriano Huerta Márquez was a Mexican military officer and president of Mexico. Huerta's supporters were known as Huertistas during the Mexican Revolution...
for which he was murdered.
Comitán is also a popular tourist destination, mostly for Mexican nationals, though some foreign visitors can also be seen. The town itself is one of the most pleasant and pretty in Mexico, with colonial architecture, narrow avenues, and clean streets. The climate is cool most of the year, and can get quite chilly from October to March. The town square is active almost every night, with live music, or some kind of presentation/play (though often they seem to be somewhat evangelical). The main road (currently under repairs) into and out of town is planted with flowers and monuments to many of the states of Mexico.
External links
- http://www.comitan.info
- http://www.hoyencomitan.blogspot.com
- http://www.comitan.gob.mx Ayuntamiento de Comitán official website
- http://web.archive.org/web/20091027064651/http://geocities.com/comitandelasflores
- http://www.comitan.com