Santa Elena, Yucatán
Encyclopedia
The Municipality of Santa Elena is one of the 106 municipalities
in Yucatán
state
, Mexico
. Its municipal seat is located in the City of Santa Elena.
The municipality borders to the north the municipality of Muna, to the south Oxkutzcab and east Ticul
, and to the west Halacho.
used this small community as a base from which he and his companions departed to explore the Puuc area: thanks to this fact we still have detailed accounts about the people of Nohcacab and their culture, as well as drawings showing how these visitors perceived the village at that time.
Nohcacab was attacked, and even burned down, several times: the second one in 1849, during the so-called Caste War; after this, the village was devastated and most of the Spanish and criollo population emigrated into Merida. It is very likely that around that time the village was officially renamed as Santa Elena.
It wasn't until 1865, with the arrival of approximately 300 German colonists, who settled there to form the Villa Carlota farming colony under the initiative of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, that the village started to see some improvements. Although this farming colony collapsed in 1867, several German families remained in the village
, Kabah
, Nohpat, Xcoh and Mul chic (Puuc
Region).
May 17 the festival in honor of Santos Reyes of San Mateo.
Municipalities of Yucatán
The Mexican state of Yucatán is made up of 106 municipios , organized into 9 administrative regions. Most of the names of the municipalities come from the Yucatec Maya language, which is still spoken by more of 30% of the population, according to INEGI ....
in Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
state
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Its municipal seat is located in the City of Santa Elena.
The municipality borders to the north the municipality of Muna, to the south Oxkutzcab and east Ticul
Ticul
Ticul is one of 106 municipalities in Yucatán state, Mexico. It is located in the western part of the state at 100 km south of the state capital city of Mérida. The municipality, which has an area of 355.12 km² , in the 2005 census reported 25,621 inhabitants...
, and to the west Halacho.
Communities
The municipality has primarily two communities. Their populations is as follows:| Community | Population |
|---|---|
| Entire Municipality | 3,617 |
| Santa Elena | 3,252 |
| San Simón | 357 |
| Other | 8 |
History
Already inhabited during the Classic Maya period (600-1000 A.C.), the originally named Nohcacab was during the Colony an encomienda, that is a tribute-paying small community with an ethnically mixed population which included Spanish people, criollos, mestizos and mulattos. In the early 1840s the explorer John Lloyd StephensJohn Lloyd Stephens
John Lloyd Stephens was an American explorer, writer, and diplomat. Stephens was a pivotal figure in the rediscovery of Maya civilization throughout Middle America and in the planning of the Panama railroad....
used this small community as a base from which he and his companions departed to explore the Puuc area: thanks to this fact we still have detailed accounts about the people of Nohcacab and their culture, as well as drawings showing how these visitors perceived the village at that time.
Nohcacab was attacked, and even burned down, several times: the second one in 1849, during the so-called Caste War; after this, the village was devastated and most of the Spanish and criollo population emigrated into Merida. It is very likely that around that time the village was officially renamed as Santa Elena.
It wasn't until 1865, with the arrival of approximately 300 German colonists, who settled there to form the Villa Carlota farming colony under the initiative of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, that the village started to see some improvements. Although this farming colony collapsed in 1867, several German families remained in the village
Archaeological
A number of archaeological sites including: UxmalUxmal
Uxmal was dominant from 875 to 900 CE. The site appears to have been the capital of a regional state in the Puuc region from 850-950 CE. The Maya dynasty expanded their dominion over their neighbors. This prominence didn't last long...
, Kabah
Kabah
Kabah may refer to:in Geography:* Kabah , a Maya civilization city in Yucatán, Mexico* Kaaba, the holy building in Mecca, Saudi Arabiain Music:* Kabah , a Mexican pop music group...
, Nohpat, Xcoh and Mul chic (Puuc
Puuc
Puuc is the name of either a region in the Mexican state of Yucatán or a Maya architectural style prevalent in that region. The word "puuc" is derived from the Maya term for "hill". Since the Yucatán is relatively flat, this term was extended to encompass the large karstic range of hills in the...
Region).
Local Festivals
January 10 to 24 the feast in honor of Santo Cristo del Amor.May 17 the festival in honor of Santos Reyes of San Mateo.