Hecelchakán

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Coordinates: 20°10′N 90°7′W / 20.167, -90.117
Hecelchakán
Hecelchakán municipality within Campeche
Hecelchakán Location in Mexico
Country	Mexico
States	Campeche
Government
- Mayor
Area
- City	514.3 sq mi (1,331.99 km²)
Population (2005)
- City	26,973
- Metro	9,974

Hecelchakán (20°10′0″N 90°7′60″W / 20.16667, -90.13333) is a city in the Mexican state of Campeche. The city is located some 70 km to the north of the state capital Campeche. It is the seat of the municipality of the same name. The city had a 2005 census population of 9,974, while the municipality had a population of 26,973. The municipality has an area of 1,331.99 km² (514.284 sq mi) and includes numerous smaller outlying communities, the largest of which is the town of Pomuch.

The name comes from the Maya words helel (savanna) and chakan (rest).

1 Location
2 History
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Location

Hecelchakán borders to the north with the municipality of Calkiní, to the south with Tenabo, to the east with the state of Yucatán and the municipality of Hopelchén, and to the west with the Gulf of Mexico, with 24 km of shoreline.

It is located between 19°52′N, 89°48′W and 20°13′N, 90°28′W. It is at an average altitude of 10 m above sea level.

[edit] History

The city was founded close to a cenote 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, 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 the seat of the municipality was given city status by Governor of Campeche Alberto Trueba Urbina.

[edit] References

(Spanish) Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
(Spanish) Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México: Encyclopedia for Mexican Municipalities (in Spanish)