Santa Cruz, Honduras facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santa Cruz
Guaticaitique
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Municipality
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Panoramic View of Santa Cruz
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 Santa Cruz, Honduras
Location in Honduras
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| Country | Honduras |
| Department | Lempira |
| Municipality since | 26 October 1926 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 150 km2 (60 sq mi) |
| Population
(2015)
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| • Total | 7,089 |
| • Density | 47.3/km2 (122/sq mi) |
Santa Cruz is a town in the Lempira department of Honduras. It is a municipality, which is like a local government area.
Santa Cruz is one of the less known municipalities in the Lempira department. It is about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the city of Gracias. To get there, you need to pass through San Juan del Caite in Intibuca.
Contents
A Look at Santa Cruz's Past
Its first name was "Guaticaitique." Later, it was called "Santa Cruz de Guasabosque." In 1887, it was just a small village that belonged to Erandique. On October 26, 1926, Santa Cruz became its own municipality. This happened when Miguel Paz Barahona was the president of Honduras.
Exploring the Geography of Santa Cruz
Just like other parts of the Lempira department, Santa Cruz has many tall, steep mountains. As you travel towards the main town, you will see places where rocks are dug up. These rocks are used to help fix and maintain the roads. You can find rocks of many different colors and hardnesses here.
The area around Santa Cruz has a lot of forests. However, closer to the main town, there are fewer trees. Pine forests are the most common type of forest you will see. There are also many Liquidambar trees, which are known for their beautiful leaves.
Where is Santa Cruz Located?
Santa Cruz shares its borders with several other places:
- North: La Campa municipality.
- South: Erandique and San Andrés municipalities.
- East: Intibuca department.
- West: San Andrés municipality.
- Size: The total area of Santa Cruz is 150 square kilometers (about 58 square miles).
How People Make a Living in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is one of the poorer municipalities in the department. The main way people earn money here is by growing coffee. People also raise cattle and grow corn and beans. Most of these crops are used by the local people themselves.
The town has electricity and mobile phone services. Water comes from wells. There is a story among older residents that a large amount of valuable metals is buried near the main town. However, the owner of the land does not want to dig them up. They have even turned down very large offers from big companies.
Who Lives in Santa Cruz?
Population Numbers
In 2001, there were 4,929 people living in Santa Cruz. Based on this, it was estimated that about 7,089 people lived there in 2015.
- Villages: Santa Cruz has 6 main villages.
- Settlements: There are 61 smaller settlements or communities.
Understanding the People of Santa Cruz
During the 2013 census in Honduras, Santa Cruz municipality had a population of 6,770 people. Most of the people living there, about 69%, were Indigenous. This means they are descendants of the original people who lived in the area.
About 30% of the people were Mestizo, which means they have a mix of Indigenous and European backgrounds. A small number, less than 1%, were Black or Afro-Honduran or White.
Visiting Santa Cruz: What to See
Finding the turn-off for Santa Cruz can be a bit tricky. It's about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from San Juan del Caite, right across from a football field. The road from the turn-off to the main town is not always in the best condition.
The main town itself might not have many big attractions. But if you like old buildings, you should definitely see its church. It is an example of colonial architecture.
The most beautiful part of Santa Cruz is probably its Liquidambar forest. The leaves of these trees change colors depending on the time of year, making the forest look amazing. It can also be interesting to see the descendants of the original Indigenous people. They still keep many traditions and features from their ancestors.
- Local Holidays: People in Santa Cruz celebrate "Santa Cruz" day on May 3rd and "San Francisco" day on October 4th.
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Images for kids
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Panoramic View of Santa Cruz
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Lenca Women with their offspring
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Spring Season in Santa Cruz forests
See also
In Spanish: Santa Cruz (Honduras) para niños
