Jocotenango facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jocotenango
Municipality
Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Jocotenango
Jocotenango Location in Guatemala
Country	Guatemala
Department	Sacatepéquez
Area
• Municipality	10.4 km2 (4.0 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Municipality	21,657
• Density	2,100/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
• Urban	19,280
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
Climate	Cwb

Jocotenango (also called Xocotenango) is a town and small area in Guatemala. Its name means "place of many plums" in the Kaqchikel language. It is located north of Antigua Guatemala in the Sacatepéquez Department.

Jocotenango has seven main areas, two villages, and one hamlet. In 2018, about 21,657 people lived there. Most people live in the town itself, while others live in smaller villages. Jocotenango is also the birthplace of Ricardo Arjona, a famous singer and songwriter who has won many Grammy Awards.

History of Jocotenango

Jocotenango started as a farming area after the Spanish arrived. Pedro de Alvarado, a Spanish leader, set it up. He gathered families from a town called Utatlán to create a new settlement. This first settlement was named Santiago Utateca.

Moving the Capital City

In 1541, the old capital city, Ciudad Vieja, was destroyed. The capital then moved to the Panchoy valley. People from the K'achik'eles group followed the Spanish and settled next to Santiago Utateca. They founded Jocotenango, and eventually, the two towns joined together.

In the 1540s, a bishop named Francisco Marroquín divided the religious control of the central valley. The Order of Preachers was given charge of Jocotenango.

A Second Jocotenango

Later, in 1773, a big earthquake called the Santa Marta earthquake destroyed the capital city again. The city moved once more, this time to the La Ermita valley. Many old neighborhoods, including Jocotenango, moved with it.

This led to a second Jocotenango settlement near the new Guatemala City. Over time, this new Jocotenango became part of modern Guatemala City, specifically Zone 2. The original Jocotenango, which was once a suburb, became its own municipality in the mid-1800s.

Geography and Nature

Jocotenango covers about 10.4 square kilometers (4 square miles). It is located about 1,540 meters (5,052 feet) above sea level. A nearby mountain, Cerro El Narizón, is part of the El Rejon range and reaches 2,247 meters (7,372 feet) high.

Water and Land Features

The area has the Rio Guacalate river, along with several streams and a creek. Jocotenango is in a mountainous rainforest, which means it gets a lot of rain. About 93 hectares (230 acres) of land are used for farming, and 75 hectares (185 acres) are covered by forest. A type of rock called Placedrín Andesite can be found here.

Natural Challenges

Jocotenango faces some challenges from nature. The Rio Guacalate basin has severe erosion, which means the soil is washing away. There are also forest fires and a lot of trees are being cut down. Flooding is a yearly problem during the rainy season. This erosion can cause landslides and mudslides.

The average rainfall is 1,344 millimeters (53 inches) per year. The temperature usually stays between 16 and 23 degrees Celsius (61 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit).

Plants and Animals

The forests in Jocotenango are very important for the town's economy and environment. Most of the wooded areas are on a hill called Panza de Burro and near the town's municipal yard.

Local Plant Life

The plants found here include different types of oak trees, cypress trees, and palo de jiote (Bursera simaruba).

Wildlife in the Area

The animals in Jocotenango are often found near the farms. Some of the animals you might see are agouti (a type of rodent), coyotes, mouse opossums, rabbits, squirrels, white-tailed deer, and gophers. Birds include hummingbirds, quails, hawks, and doves.

Culture and Traditions

The town is home to the red brick Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, a beautiful church.

La Azotea Cultural Center

The La Azotea ("roof") Cultural Center is built on an old coffee farm. It has three interesting museums:

• Casa K’ojom ("House of K'ojom"): This is a music museum. It shows traditional Maya musical instruments like harps, drums, flutes, marimbas, and whistles. You can also see masks, paintings, traditional clothes, and crafts.
• Museo del Café ("Museum of Coffee"): This museum tells the story of how coffee has been grown over time. You can see coffee beans at different stages of production and old equipment. Since it's on a real coffee farm, you can even take tours to see how coffee is made.
• There is also a small museum dedicated to traditional costumes.

The main festival in Jocotenango is celebrated every year during the week of August 8.

Getting Around

If you are traveling by bus from Antigua's bus station to Chimaltenango, the buses will stop in Jocotenango.

Climate

Jocotenango has a subtropical highland climate. This type of climate is known for having mild temperatures all year round.

Where is Jocotenango?

Jocotenango is surrounded by other towns in the Sacatepéquez Department.

		Santo Domingo Xenacoj	Antigua Guatemala
	Pastores		Antigua Guatemala
		Jocotenango
		Antigua Guatemala

See also

In Spanish: Jocotenango para niños