Montecristi, Ecuador facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montecristi
Town
Montecristi Location in Ecuador
Country	Ecuador
Province	Manabí
Canton	Montecristi
Area
• Town	32.72 km2 (12.63 sq mi)
Population  (2022 census)
• Town	71,066
• Density	2,171.9/km2 (5,625.3/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (ECT)

Montecristi is a town located in the Manabí province of Ecuador. It is the main town of the Montecristi Canton.

History of Montecristi

How Montecristi Began

Montecristi was founded a long time ago, around 1536 or 1537. The first people to live here came from a nearby village called Manta. They moved to Montecristi to escape attacks from pirates.

The Name Montecristi

One of the first settlers was a man named "Criste." He built his home on top of a mountain. Because of this, people started calling the place "Montecriste." Over time, it became easier to say, and the name changed to Montecristi.

Montecristi Today

Population of the Town

According to a count in 2022, Montecristi has a population of 71,066 people. This makes it a lively and growing town in Ecuador.

Famous Panama Hats

Montecristi is very well-known for making special hats called Panama hats. Even though they are called "Panama hats," the best ones are actually made here in Ecuador. The very finest quality hats are even named montecristi superfino after the town.

Birthplace of a Leader

Montecristi is the hometown of Eloy Alfaro Delgado. He was born here on June 25, 1842. Eloy Alfaro later became the president of Ecuador two times. He was president from 1895 to 1901 and again from 1906 to 1911. He was also a very important leader in the Ecuadorian Liberal Revolution. This was a big movement that brought many changes to the country.

A Place for Important Decisions

Because Eloy Alfaro was born here, Montecristi was chosen for a very special event. In 2007, the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly met here. This group of people worked together to create the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador. This new constitution is like a rulebook for the country.