San Rafael, Honduras facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Rafael
|
|
|---|---|
|
Municipality
|
|
Panoramic View of San Rafael
|
|
 San Rafael, Honduras
Location in Honduras
|
|
| Country | Honduras |
| Department | Lempira |
| Municipality since | 17 July 1900 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 101 km2 (39 sq mi) |
| Population
(2015)
|
|
| • Total | 13,764 |
| • Density | 136.3/km2 (353.0/sq mi) |
San Rafael is a town and a local government area called a municipality. It is located in the Lempira region of Honduras.
San Rafael is one of the towns farthest away in the Lempira department. The easiest way to reach the main town is by traveling through the Santa Bárbara department. You would pass through the towns of El Nispero and San Jeronimo on your way.
Contents
History of San Rafael
In 1887, San Rafael was known as "El Conal" village. It was part of the La Iguala municipality back then. On July 17, 1900, it officially became its own municipality. This happened during the time President Terencio Sierra was in charge.
Geography and Climate
Getting to San Rafael means traveling over many very steep mountains. The types of plants you see change as you go up and down these mountains. However, pine forests are the most common. You might also see small areas with different kinds of trees. These trees are often planted to give shade to coffee plants.
The weather in San Rafael is usually cool. It only gets warm during the summer. Because it's fairly close to the "Lago de Yojoa" (Lake Yojoa) area, San Rafael gets a bit more rain than other parts of the Lempira department.
Where San Rafael Is Located
San Rafael shares its borders with other areas:
- North: La Unión municipality and the Santa Bárbara department.
- South: La Iguala municipality.
- East: Santa Bárbara department.
- West: La Iguala municipality.
- Size of the Area: San Rafael covers about 101 square kilometers.
What San Rafael Produces
The most important activity in San Rafael is growing coffee. Farmers also grow beans and corn, but mostly for their own families to eat. Raising cattle (like cows) is another activity.
Some people in San Rafael make things by hand. They create items like hats and "petates" (which are like mats or carpets) from reeds. The town gets its water from wells and nearby streams. Like other parts of the department, San Rafael has electricity and mobile phone services. Bus services are more common for traveling to Santa Bárbara.
People of San Rafael
- Total Population: In 2001, about 10,468 people lived in San Rafael. By 2015, this number was estimated to be around 13,769 people.
- Villages: There are 9 villages within the municipality.
- Smaller Settlements: There are 53 smaller places where people live.
Who Lives in San Rafael
During the 2013 Honduras census, San Rafael had a population of 13,410 people. Here's a breakdown of their backgrounds:
- 55.97% were Mestizo (people of mixed European and Indigenous heritage).
- 34.99% were Indigenous (native people), with 34.76% being Lenca people.
- 6.17% were White.
- 2.88% were Black or Afro-Honduran.
Visiting San Rafael
It takes about 2.5 hours to drive to San Rafael from the city of Santa Bárbara. The road from Santa Bárbara is in much better condition. Another way to get there is from the city of Gracias, which is about 60 kilometers away. You would take the road that goes towards La Iguala and La Unión. First, you pass the "Puca" mountain, then other steep mountains. The problem with this second route is that the road needs to be fixed.
The views of the coffee farms are amazing! The landscapes from the big, steep mountains are also beautiful. You can even see parts of the Santa Bárbara department from here. The people in San Rafael are very welcoming. A sign there says, "En San Rafael, Nadie es Extraño," which means "In San Rafael, Nobody is a stranger." There are some grocery stores and one hostel, but it's not the best place to stay overnight.
- Local Celebrations: San Rafael celebrates its special day on September 29th.
See also
In Spanish: San Rafael (Honduras) para niños
