Escárcega Municipality

Escárcega
—  Municipality  —
Country Mexico
State Campeche
Municipal seat Escárcega
Government
 • Municipal president Aureliano Quirarte Rodríguez (2006-09)
Area
 • Total 4,569.64 km2 (1,764.3 sq mi)
Elevation 60 m (197 ft)
Population (2005)
 • Total 50,106
 • Density 11/km2 (28.4/sq mi)
  municipality
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Created 1 January 1991
Website www.escarcega.gob.mx

Escárcega is one of the 11 municipalities in the Mexican state of Campeche. The municipal seat, and largest settlement, is the city of Escárcega.

Contents

History and geography

The municipality of Escárcega borders to the north with the municipality of Champotón, to the east with the municipality of Calakmul, to the south with the municipality of Candelaria, and to the west with the municipality of Carmen.

It covers 4,569.64 km², accounting for 8.0% of the state's total surface area.

The municipality was created on 1 January 1991. It took its name from its municipal seat, which was in turn named for Tlaxcalan railwayman Francisco Escárcega, who built the Ferrocarril del Sureste that runs from Coatzacoalcos, Ver., to Campeche, Camp.

Demographics

The municipality has a population of 50,106 inhabitants according to the results of the Census of Population and Housing 2005 by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Information, and of these 24,519 are men and 25,587 are women.[1]

Ethnic groups

The 2005 INEGI census also reported that of the 50,106 inhabitants, 2,910 spoke one of 21 indigenous languages, of which 49% spoke Ch'ol.

Populated areas

In the municipality there are a total of 223 localities, the population for the major ones are:

Location Population
Total Municipality 50,106
Escárcega 27,214
División del Norte 2,889
Matamoros 1,382
La Libertad 1,299
Altamira de Zináparo 1,019
Haro 1,011
Don Samuel 991
La Victoria 886
Luna 838
Centenario 830
Silvituc 802
Justicia Social 777

Transportation

Escárcega territory is a major hub of both roads and railways with these being the main driver of development in the region. Before their existence Escárcega was virtually depopulated.

Roads

The main roads connecting the municipality of Escárcega are Federal Highway 186 and Federal Highway 254. The Federal Highway 186 is the primary means of transportation and economic activity in the territory. The Federal Highway 254 is a small road that connects to 186.[2]

Railways

The introduction of the railroad in the mid-30's was the real engine of development in the state of Campeche where the present day municipality of Escárcega lies. The railway connected the Yucatán Peninsula with the rest of the country for the first time in the Mexico's history. The railway passes through the municipality of Escárcega southwest to northeast with the main station in the municipalities seat, Escárcega. To the north it connects with the city of Campeche and then Mérida, and southward with Tenosique, Tabasco. The total length of railways in the municipality is 6769 km.[2]

Airports

There are three airports within the municipality that serve the public which are located in Escárcega, Don Samuel, and Pancho Villa.[2]

References

External links