Cucaita Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Cucaita

Municipality and town

View of Cucaita

Flag

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Location of the municipality and town of Cucaita in the Boyacá Department of Colombia

Country

Colombia

Department

Boyacá Department

Province

Central Boyacá Province

Founded

12 August 1556

Founded by

Juan de Los Barrios

Area

• Municipality and town

43.58 km² (16.83 sq mi)

Elevation

2,650 m (8,690 ft)

Population

(2015)

• Municipality and town

4,687

• Density

107.549/km² (278.55/sq mi)

• Urban

1,905

Time zone

UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Website

Official website: http://www.cucaita-boyaca.gov.co/

Cucaita is a small town and municipality located in the Boyacá Department of Colombia. It is part of the Central Boyacá Province. The main part of the town sits on a high plateau called the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. This area is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from Tunja, which is the capital city of the Boyacá Department.

Cucaita shares its borders with other towns. To the north, it borders Sora. To the east and south, it borders Tunja. And to the south and west, it borders Samacá.

What Does the Name Cucaita Mean?
A Look Back: Cucaita's History
How People Make a Living in Cucaita
Famous People from Cucaita
Images for kids
See also

What Does the Name Cucaita Mean?

The name Cucaita comes from the ancient Chibcha language. The Chibcha people were the original inhabitants of this region. The name can mean two things: "Seminary enclosure" or "Shade of the farming fields."

A Look Back: Cucaita's History

Long before the Spanish arrived, the area where Cucaita is now was home to the Muisca people. The Muisca were a large group of indigenous people who lived in what is now central Colombia. They had a loose network of communities called the Muisca Confederation.

Cucaita was under the rule of the zaque (a Muisca ruler or chief) from a nearby important Muisca center called Hunza.

The modern town of Cucaita was officially founded on August 12, 1556. It was established by a friar named Juan de Los Barrios.

How People Make a Living in Cucaita

The main ways people earn money in Cucaita are through agriculture, livestock farming, and some carbon mining.

Agriculture: Farmers in Cucaita mostly grow onions and peas. These crops are very important for the local economy.
Livestock Farming: Raising animals like cattle is another key activity.
Mining: There is also some small-scale mining of carbon in the area.