San Francisco El Alto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Francisco El Alto
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Municipality
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San Francisco El Alto within Totonicapán
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Totonicapán within Guatemala
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| Country |  Guatemala |
| Department |  Totonicapán |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal |
| Area | |
| • Total | 76.3 km2 (29.5 sq mi) |
| Population
(2018 census)
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| • Total | 57,894 |
| • Density | 758.8/km2 (1,965.2/sq mi) |
| • Ethnicities | Kʼicheʼ Ladino |
| • Religions | Catholicism Evangelicalism Maya |
San Francisco El Alto is a town and a municipality in Guatemala. It is located in the Totonicapán department. In 2018, about 38,995 people lived in the town itself.
The municipality is like a local government area. It includes the main town and several smaller villages. These villages are called aldeas in Spanish. Some of these villages are Chivarreto, Chirrenox, and Paxixil. There is also a community forest called Sacmixit in the municipality.
History of San Francisco El Alto
Before the Spanish arrived, the area was home to a Kʼicheʼ Mayan community. This community was called Chuisiguán. Chuisiguán means "place on the precipice" in Kʼicheʼ. This name fit well because the town is on top of a steep hill.
A historian named Francisco Antonio de Fuentes y Guzmán wrote about the town in 1689. His writings confirm that the town existed long before the Spanish conquest. He noted that there were many Mayan people living there.
In 1820, people from San Francisco El Alto joined a protest. They were upset about having to pay too many taxes. This protest started in a nearby town called Santa María Chiquimula.
Economy and Culture
Today, the local economy is very active. Many small family businesses make clothes. These clothing exports are now more important than traditional exports. Guatemala's traditional exports used to be coffee, sugar, and bananas.
During a past civil conflict, many Indigenous Maya people moved to the United States. They sent money back to their families in Guatemala. This money, called 'remesas', became a huge part of the country's economy. This shift has given more opportunities to the hardworking Maya people.
You can see this change in the busy textile markets. These markets fill the entire town of San Francisco El Alto on market days. This makes the town a popular place for tourists to visit.
Getting around the area has also become easier. There are many tricycle taxis, called tuk-tuks. Passenger vans, known as micros, also provide rides. These vehicles help people travel to different places in the area.
The Maya people are often careful around strangers. However, they are interested in meeting people from other countries. They sometimes invite travelers to their homes and local festivals.
Since 1900, the town has hosted the Chivarreto boxing tournament. This is a special event held in the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: San Francisco El Alto para niños
