Nacajuca facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Nacajuca Yäxtup (Yokot'an)
City
Nacajuca
San Antonio de Padua Church
Country	Mexico
State	Tabasco
Elevation (of seat)	10 m (30 ft)
Population (2010) Municipality
• Municipality	83,356
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (US Central))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central)
Postal code (of seat)	86220
Website	nacajuca.gob.mx/index.cfm

Nacajuca is a city in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. Its name in the Yokot'an language is Yäxtup. Nacajuca is in the Chontalapa region, in the north-central part of Tabasco. It is a very important center for the Chontal Maya population in the state.

The local economy mainly relies on farming and raising animals. However, oil production, making handicrafts, and some tourism are also important. The area is mostly flat and low, which means it can flood easily. There were big floods in 2007 and 2011 that affected the city.

The City of Nacajuca

The city of Nacajuca is in northern Tabasco, Mexico. It is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Villahermosa, the state capital. Nacajuca is the main city for the municipality (like a county) of the same name. This means most government offices and services are located here.

The city's main ways of making money are through trade and farming. About 8,200 people live in the city itself.

Miguel Hidalgo Central Park

The Parque Central Miguel Hidalgo, or Miguel Hidalgo Central Park, is the historic heart of Nacajuca. Many important city events, cultural activities, and fun gatherings happen here. In the middle of the park, there's a simple kiosk. There is also a statue honoring Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a hero of Mexico's independence. The park has nice paths and garden areas with fig and coconut trees.

San Antonio de Padua Church

The San Antonio de Padua Temple faces Hidalgo Park. The church you see today was built in 1965. It is mostly in the Gothic style. The front of the church has three levels and a triangular top. Two tall towers stand on either side of the front. These towers have four levels and a pointy top decorated with doves. They hold up a metal cross.

The front of the church has pointed arches and three entrances. There are windows on the second level of the main entrance area. The third and fourth levels of the towers also have windows. A round window, called a rose window, is on the third level of the main entrance and on the second level of the towers. The north tower has another rose window, while the south tower has a clock. Inside, the church has a basilica layout. This means the middle part of the church is taller than the sides, letting light in from windows high up.

History of Nacajuca

The name Nacajuca comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "place of pale or discolored faces." The Aztecs gave it this name because many people in the area had pale skin. This was often due to a sickness called malaria that was common back then.

The municipality's official seal was created in 1998. It shows pictures linked to the Chontal people, like their wetlands and a snail speaking in the middle. Below it, you can see "YIXTUP," which is the city's name in the Chontal language. There's also a saying: "People first, things after."

Early Settlements

The first main culture in the Nacajuca area was the Mayan. They came from what is now Chiapas and Guatemala. They eventually built a major city nearby called Comalcalco. The villages in this area have very old names, like Nacaxuxuca, Túcta, Mazateupa, and Tapaucingo.

Spanish Arrival

The first Spanish explorers arrived in 1518. They met the Chontal people in Tabasco. From 1524 to 1525, Hernán Cortés traveled through this area on his way to what is now Honduras. He wrote about the many cacao trees (where chocolate comes from) in his letters to the Spanish king. Another historian, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, also mentioned the local people's pale faces, often because of malaria.

In 1525, the Spanish king gave a painting to the village of Tucta. This was to thank them for helping the Spanish. Even though the Spanish arrived early, it was not easy to take control of the area. But by 1550, the Spanish had full control. After this, Spanish settlers started living in the villages. They set up farms called encomiendas and haciendas to grow cacao and fruit.

Growth and Development

In 1579, Melchor Alfaro from Nacajuca made a map and wrote a diary about Tabasco for the Spanish Crown.
The first church and the first royal treasury (money office) in Tabasco were built in Nacajuca in 1614.
By 1665, the community's name changed to Nacajuca. It was in charge of thirteen other communities.
In 1843, the town was known as San Pedro Nacajuca.
In 1863, Nacajuca was officially declared a town.
Telephone service started in 1896.
In 1906, a railroad was built, connecting Nacajuca with Cunduacán and Comalcalco.
In 1971, Nacajuca was officially declared a city.

Chontal Maya People

Nacajuca is a very important place for the Chontal Maya population in Tabasco. These people mostly live in the north-central part of the state. They call themselves "yoko yinikob" (true men) and "yoko ixikob" (true women). The name "Chontal" comes from Nahuatl and means "foreigner." This is what the Aztecs called them.

Chontal Maya Language

Their language is part of the Mayan language family. This family of languages comes from a language spoken in southeastern Mexico about four thousand years ago. The Chontal Maya language belongs to the Ch'ol group. Today, it has several dialects that people can understand each other with. There are three main dialects: North, South, and Tapotzingo. The North and Tapotzingo dialects are mostly spoken in the Nacajuca area.

The number of people who speak Chontal Maya has been growing since 1980. About 60% of the Chontal people can speak it at least a little. These speakers are almost always bilingual, meaning they also speak Spanish. One reason for this is that schools started offering bilingual education in the 1970s.

According to a 2010 government count, there are 13,809 people who speak an indigenous language in the area. Almost all of them (over 96%) speak Chontal Maya. However, this count only includes speakers over the age of five. So, it might not show the full size of the Chontal community. In 2000, it was thought that about 36.9% of the total population was Chontal Maya.

Many communities in the municipality have a strong Chontal Maya presence. These include Tucta, Tapotzingo, Mazateupa, and Oxiacaque.

Geography of Nacajuca

The land in Nacajuca is very flat, only about ten meters (33 feet) above sea level. There are no noticeable hills. Because the land is so low, it is very prone to flooding.

Flooding Challenges

During the 2007 floods, which affected 80% of Tabasco, Nacajuca and other higher communities were also impacted. Roads were washed out, and people had to use small boats to get around. This flood damaged or destroyed many homes. More flooding happened in October 2011 from the Samaria River. Residents believe this was caused by water released from the Peñitas Dam.

A large amount of Tabasco's fresh water, about 25%, flows through Nacajuca. The municipality has many rivers, streams, and lakes. Important rivers include the Carrizal, Samaria, and Nacajuca rivers. Key lakes are Cantemó, La Ramada, and Pucté.

Climate

Nacajuca has a hot and humid climate. It rains a lot throughout the year, especially in the summer. The average yearly temperature is 26.4°C (79.5°F). The hottest month is May, with an average of 30.8°C (87.4°F). January is usually the coolest, averaging 22.4°C (72.3°F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 44°C (111°F), and the lowest was 12°C (54°F).

The area gets about 1707.2 mm (67 inches) of rain each year. September is the wettest month, with an average of 735.8 mm (29 inches) of rain. April is the driest. The air is usually very humid, ranging from 78% in May and June to 85% in January and February. The windiest months are November and December, with winds up to 32 km/h (20 mph).

Flora and Fauna

The main natural environment in Nacajuca is wetlands. These areas have many different kinds of plants and animals. However, this ecosystem has been damaged by too much use. There are also some areas with lakes, grasslands, and forests. The small forest areas are also at risk because of too much logging and clearing land for animals.

Some of the animals found here include rabbits, opossums, armadillos, caiman crocodiles, pejelagarto (a type of fish), coral snakes, and iguanas. Many of these animals are considered threatened.

Culture of Nacajuca

The culture of Nacajuca is strongly shaped by the Chontal Maya people. This is especially true for their religious traditions. These traditions mix Catholic beliefs with indigenous rituals.

Festivals and Traditions

The village of Olcuatitlán is famous for its Candlemas celebration in early February. This event includes church services, dances, and fireworks. Another tradition involves using leafy tree branches as offerings to religious statues. People do this hoping for good crops and healthy animals in the coming year.

Traditional Dress

Traditional clothing for women includes a long, colorful skirt with flowers and a white cotton blouse. The blouse is embroidered around the neck. For men, traditional dress is white cotton pants and a shirt. They wear a red handkerchief around their neck and a hat called a "chontal." They also carry a bag and a machete.

Food and Drink

Traditional foods include a plant called guao (Comocladia dentate), turtle, pejelagarto, other river fish, and turkey. Sweet treats are made from coconut, papaya, lemons, mangos, prunes, and a type of yam called camote. The most traditional drink is pozol, made from chocolate and corn. Hot chocolate and fruit drinks are also popular. The community of Saloya is known for its palapa-style restaurants. These restaurants specialize in local dishes and seafood.

Socioeconomics

Nacajuca is considered to have a low level of economic hardship. In 2010, there were 29,029 homes in the municipality. Most of these homes were owned by the people living in them. Nearly 90% of homes have strong foundations, brick or block walls, and roofs made of asbestos or zinc. About 72% have running water, 83% have sewage systems, and 93% have electricity. Most homes have between two and seven people living in them, with an average of about five.

Farming and Livestock

The municipality covers an area of 48,837 hectares (about 120,679 acres). About 5% of this land is used for farming. 43% is for raising animals, and 48% is forest or wild areas. The rest is developed or not used for production. The main crops are corn and beans, which are mostly grown for families to eat themselves. Raising animals is common, especially cattle, but also pigs, horses, and chickens.

Since the 1970s, people have tried to create artificial land in lake areas for farming and fish farming. These artificial lands are called "camellones Chontales." They are similar to the ancient Aztec chinampas. One difference is that these "camellones" are largely made from cacao pods. Even with fish farming by many groups, most fishing is still done for families to eat themselves.

Oil and Industry

The main natural resource in Nacajuca is petroleum (oil). It is managed by PEMEX, Mexico's state-owned oil company. There are 23 oil wells in two fields, called Sen and Mecoacán. These two fields produce over 19 million barrels of oil and over 52 billion cubic feet of natural gas each year. When oil exploration started in the 1980s, it led to more construction and service jobs in the area. Many Chontal Maya people found work in construction. Many people started working outside of farming because it no longer provided enough income.

Most other industries are small family businesses and workshops. They make furniture, unrefined sugar (piloncillo), brooms, bread, and decorate clothing. Making crafts from reeds is also important, like mats, hats, and bags. Leatherwork mostly includes belts and saddles. Some people also make ceramics.

Commerce and Tourism

The growth of businesses in Nacajuca is slow because there isn't enough infrastructure. Most businesses sell basic goods like food. However, there are also banks, restaurants, gas stations, auto parts stores, and supermarkets.

The municipality has three traditional public markets: one in the main city, one in Limitas Ejido, and one in Bosques de Saloya. There is also one tianguis (open-air market). These markets serve about 94% of the municipality's population.

The main tourist attractions are the handicraft workshops in Olcuatitán, Mazateupa, and Tapotzingo. The colorful churches with Chontal influence are also popular. The Arroyo Ranch, about five kilometers (3 miles) from Nacajuca city, makes dresses, blouses, shirts, tablecloths, and napkins. These items have colorful embroidery, usually on the edges. This embroidery is especially common on traditional women's dresses. It uses colors like red, green, yellow, orange, blue, and brown on a black background. The embroidered borders often show flowers, animals, fruit, and even landscapes.