Don Matías facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Matías
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Municipality and town
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Location of the municipality and town of Don Matías in the Antioquia Department of Colombia
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 Don Matías
Location in Colombia
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Department |  Antioquia Department |
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| Subregion | Northern | ||
| Population
(Census 2018)
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| • Total | 14,208 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) | ||
Don Matías is a municipality in the Antioquia Department of Colombia. It is part of the Northern Antioquia region. Don Matías is surrounded by other towns. To the north, it borders Santa Rosa de Osos. To the east, it borders Santa Rosa de Osos and Santo Domingo. To the south, it borders Barbosa, and to the west, it borders San Pedro de los Milagros.
Contents
History of Don Matías
Early Settlers and Mining History
People started settling in the Don Matías area as early as 1624. These first settlers came from the city of Santa Fe de Antioquia. By 1750, several small places like San Andrés and Las Ánimas began to grow. These areas eventually formed the main town we see today.
The Spanish government encouraged people to move here. They wanted to create new farming communities in the northern part of the province. Many of the early settlers were independent miners. They worked to find gold and other valuable minerals. They were given ownership of their land plots.
How Don Matías Got Its Name
The municipality of Don Matías has had three different names over time. It was first called Azuero, then San Antonio Infante. In 1787, it was finally named Don Matías. This name honors a man named Don Matías Jaramillo. He owned a very successful mining area where the town now stands.
Growth of the Clothing Industry
In the 1960s, the clothing industry started to grow in Don Matías. This happened because clothing factories in the big city of Medellín began to spread out. A large clothing company came to Don Matías, mainly making clothes for another company called Caribou. This brought many jobs to the town. Before this, most people in Don Matías worked in farming.
About ten years later, many workers from that first factory started their own small clothing businesses. They had learned all about making clothes. Today, Don Matías is well-known for its clothing industry both in Colombia and around the world. The Riogrande Dam is also a famous spot in the area.
Population and People
Who Lives in Don Matías?
In 2018, the population of Don Matías was 14,208 people. A few years earlier, in 2009, there were more people, with 12,663 living in the town and 6,795 living in the countryside. Most people in Don Matías can read and write. In 2005, about 91.3% of the people were literate.
Ethnic Backgrounds
According to a census from 2005, most people in Don Matías are of mixed European and Indigenous heritage (Mestizos) or are of European descent (Whites). They make up about 99.7% of the population. A small number of people are of African descent (0.2%), and an even smaller number are Indigenous (0.1%).
Economy and Jobs
Main Industries in Don Matías
The economy of Don Matías relies on a few main activities:
- Livestock: This includes raising dairy cattle for milk and pigs.
- Industry: The most important industry is making clothes and textiles.
- Timber: This involves cutting and processing wood.
So, Don Matías makes most of its money from its textile and clothing factories, raising pigs and dairy cows, and from the timber industry.
See also
In Spanish: Donmatías para niños
