Ixchiguán facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ixchiguán
View of Ixchiguán.
Ixchiguán Location in Guatemala
Country	Guatemala
Department	San Marcos
Climate	Cwb

Ixchiguán is a town and area in the San Marcos region of Guatemala. Many people from Ixchiguán work on coffee farms. Some men also travel to Mexico for work.

People in Ixchiguán mostly speak Mam. This is one of the ancient Mayan languages of Guatemala. In a few nearby villages, people also speak Kʼicheʼ, another Mayan language.

A Look Back: History of Ixchiguán

When Spain Ruled: The Colonial Era

Bishop Pedro Cortés y Larraz portrait. He visited Tejutla in 1770.

Long ago, around 1690, the area of Tejutla was very large. It included what is now Ixchiguán and many other towns. Old writings describe Tejutla as a "prosperous land" with good weather and plenty of water.

Tejutla was an important place for trade and religion. In 1767, a writer named Joseph Domingo Hidalgo called it "El Curato." This meant it was the main trading spot for all the towns around it. Later, in 1770, a bishop named Dr. Pedro Cortés y Larraz visited Tejutla. He said that "sixty-four families lived very well" there.

After Guatemala Became Independent

After Guatemala became free from Spain, a new constitution was made in 1821. This document showed Tejutla as part of the San Marcos region for the first time.

By 1870, Tejutla had grown into a "Villa" (a type of town). Its leaders even asked the Guatemalan government to make it a department capital. This new department would have included many towns, even some that are now in Mexico. Tejutla also had its own representatives in the government back then.

However, things changed when a new group of leaders, called the liberals, took power. Generals Miguel Garcia Granados and Justo Rufino Barrios led this change. They removed the religious leaders from power and took away their land. This made Tejutla less important as a center. The government gave this land to their friends, who became big landowners.

Ixchiguán officially became its own town, or municipality, on August 9, 1933. Later in the 1900s, many people from Ixchiguán moved to Worthington, Minnesota, in the United States. This city is now a big center for people who speak Mam.

Climate and Weather in Ixchiguán

Ixchiguán has a special kind of weather called a subtropical highland climate. This means it's usually cool, like a mountain climate. Sometimes, it can even feel like a Tundra climate, which is very cold. The high temperatures stay about the same all year. But the low temperatures are colder during the dry season and warmer during the wet season.

Where is Ixchiguán?

Ixchiguán is surrounded by other towns in the San Marcos Department. Here's a look at its neighbors:

		Tacaná, San José Ojetenam and Tejutla	Tejutla
	Sibinal		Tejutla
		Ixchiguán
		Tajumulco	Tejutla

See also

• In Spanish: Ixchiguán para niños