Cortés Department facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cortés Department
Departamento de Cortés
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Department
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Location of Cortés in Honduras
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| Country |  Honduras |
| Municipalities | 12 |
| Villages | 284 |
| Founded | 4 July 1893 |
| Capital city | San Pedro Sula |
| Government | |
| • Type | Departmental |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,911 km2 (1,510 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 2,242 m (7,356 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population
(2015)
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| • Total | 1,621,762 |
| • Density | 414.67/km2 (1,073.98/sq mi) |
| • Ethnicities | Ladino Garifuna |
| • Religions | Catholicism Evangelicalism |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CDT) |
| Postal code |
San Pedro Sula: 21101, 21102, 21103, 21104, Puerto Cortés 21301
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| ISO 3166 code | HN-CR |
| HDI (2017) | 0.658 medium · 2nd |
| Statistics derived from Consult INE online database: Population and Housing Census 2013 | |
Cortés is one of the 18 departments of Honduras. A department is like a state or province in other countries. It covers an area of about 3,954 square kilometers. In 2015, around 1.6 million people lived there. This makes it the most populated department in all of Honduras.
The Merendón Mountains are in the western part of Cortés. However, most of the department is a flat, tropical area called the Sula Valley. Two important rivers, the Ulúa and Chamelecon, flow through this valley.
Contents
History of Cortés Department
Cortés Department was created in 1893. It was formed using parts of two other departments: Santa Bárbara and Yoro.
Capital City and Other Important Towns
The capital city of Cortés is San Pedro Sula. Other major cities include Choloma, La Lima, and Villanueva. The department also has important sea ports like Puerto Cortés and Omoa. The Atlantic coast of Cortés is famous for its many beautiful beaches.
Economy and Industry in Cortés
Cortés is known as the economic heart of Honduras. The Sula Valley is the country's main area for farming and industry.
How Banana Companies Shaped the Economy
In the late 1800s, banana companies from the United States came to this area. They set up huge banana farms. They also built roads and other things needed to ship the fruit to the U.S.
Growth of Industry and Population
San Pedro Sula attracted many new people. Immigrants came from Europe, Central America, and the Middle East (like Palestinians and Lebanese). Today, many factories are in Cortés. These factories are often called maquilas. They assemble products for export.
Cities and Towns in Cortés
Cortés Department is divided into several smaller areas called municipalities. Here are the 12 municipalities:
- Choloma
- La Lima
- Omoa
- Pimienta
- Potrerillos
- Puerto Cortés
- San Antonio de Cortés
- San Francisco de Yojoa
- San Manuel
- San Pedro Sula
- Santa Cruz de Yojoa
- Villanueva
See also
In Spanish: Departamento de Cortés para niños
