Tekantó Municipality facts for kids

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Tekantó

Municipality

Municipal Building of Tekantó

Coat of arms

Motto(s):

Siyan Kán Tekantó (Illustrious Tekantó)

Location of the Tekantó Municipality in Yucatán

Tekantó Municipality

Location in Mexico

Country

Mexico

State

Yucatán

Mexico Ind.

1821

Yucatan Est.

1824

Municipality Est.

1900

Named for

Place of the yellow flint

Government

• Type

2007-2010

Area

• Total

47.25 km² (18.24 sq mi)

Elevation

10 m (30 ft)

Population

(2009)

• Total

4,079

• Density

86.328/km² (223.59/sq mi)

• Demonym

Tekantence

Time zone

UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)

Postal Codes

Tekanto 97520, Tixkochoh 97522

Area code(s)

991

Population History

by Year

INEGI Code

078

Major Airport

Merida (Manuel Crescencio Rejón) International Airport

Municipalities of Yucatán

Tekantó Municipality is a small area in the Mexican state of Yucatán. Its name comes from the Yucatec Maya language and means "Place where there is yellow flint." The municipality was created in 1900. Its main town, also called Tekantó, is located about 54 kilometers (33 miles) east of Merida.

A typical shop in Tekantó, these buildings date back to the 1920s

Exploring Tekantó's Past

Tekantó has a long and interesting history. Before the Spanish arrived, this area was part of a powerful Mayan region called Ah Kin Chel.

Key Dates in Tekantó's History

Before 1546: The region was part of the Mayan chieftainship of Ah Kin Chel.
1546: The Spanish completed their conquest of Yucatán.
1567: A Franciscan Mission was started in Tekantó.
1581: Cristobal Sanchez took over Tekantó and Tepakan under the encomienda system. This system allowed Spanish settlers to control land and the people living on it.
1688: The San Augustin Tekantó convent and mission were finished.
1700: Antonia Pacheco and Juan N. Calderón were in charge of Tekantó under the encomienda system.
1720: The encomienda system ended. It was replaced by the Hacienda system, where workers were directly employed by hacienda owners. Sanlatah is an example of a hacienda in Tekantó.
1821: Yucatán declared its independence from Spain.
1825: Tekantó was part of the La Costa region, with Izamal as its capital. At this time, Yucatán was much larger than it is today.
1848: During the Caste War of Yucatán, Colonel Bello and his 1,000 men marched through Tekantó after a siege in Izamal.
1900: Tekantó Municipality was officially created, and Tekantó became its main town.

Understanding Tekantó's Shield

In 1990, the Mexican government asked all municipalities to create their own shield or coat of arms. Tekantó's city council held a contest to design theirs. The final design combines ideas from several people.

What the Shield Represents

A sun with 13 rays shows the Mayan "supraworld" (the world above).
An image of the Mayan chief Ah Kin Chel is on a green background.
A gold background with 9 blades of henequen represents the Mayan "infraworld" (the world below). The gold color also shows the area's economic importance.
Two branches of a plant called Kantó are on the sides. Some say this plant gave the town its name.
At the bottom, a silver ribbon has the words "Siyan Kán Tekantó," which means "illustrious" or "famous Tekantó."

Who Lives in Tekantó?

The population of Tekantó is about 4,000 people. In 2000, a census showed that 1,655 people spoke the local language, Yucatec Maya. This is similar to the average for the whole state of Yucatán.

Communities of Tekantó

The municipality has four main communities. The largest is the town of Tekantó itself. The other communities are Tixkochoh, San Francisco Dzon, and Sanlatah.

Tekantó: 3,224 people
Tixkochoh: 455 people 21°00′50″N 89°04′50″W / 21.0138°N 89.0806°W / 21.0138; -89.0806 (Tixkochoh)
San Francisco Dzon: 127 people 20°59′01″N 89°08′36″W / 20.9835°N 89.1433°W / 20.9835; -89.1433 (San Francisco Dzon)
Sanlatah: 83 people 21°02′33″N 89°08′48″W / 21.0426°N 89.1466°W / 21.0426; -89.1466 (Sanlatah)

There are also about 53 people living in smaller, isolated homes or tiny communities like San Diego Rodriguez 20°59′32″N 89°06′51″W / 20.9923°N 89.1143°W / 20.9923; -89.1143 (San Diego Rodriguez). In 2005, there were 942 houses in the municipality.

Tekantó's Geography

Road leading into the Tekantó locality

Neighboring Areas

Tekantó Municipality is surrounded by other municipalities:

To the north: Suma and Teya
To the south: Izamal
To the east: Tepakán
To the west: Bokobá

Distances to Nearby Cities

Here are the distances from the main town of Tekantó to other important cities:

Izamal, Yucatán: 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast, with about 14,954 people.
Motul, Yucatán: 21 kilometers (13 miles) west-northwest, with about 21,109 people.
Merida, Yucatán: 54 kilometers (33 miles) west, with about 717,175 people.

Tekantó also has a train station on an old railway line that used to connect Mérida and Valladolid through Izamal.

Climate and Weather

Tekantó has a warm climate. It usually rains in the early summer, followed by dry periods in late summer. The average temperature each year is 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). The average rainfall is 50 millimeters (2 inches). Winds mostly come from the northeast. The air is most humid in December (89%) and least humid in March (66%). The rainy season is from May to July.

Plants and Animals

Tekantó has small areas of low forest that lose their leaves in certain seasons. You can find plants like poppy, ceiba, and flamboyán.

Common animals in the area include:

Mammals: Rabbits, raccoons, deer, and armadillos.
Reptiles: Various snakes, iguanas, and turtles.
Birds: Doves, tzutzuy, quail, and tórtola.

Places to Visit and Fun Activities

Amazing Buildings

San Augustin Tekantó is a very impressive building. It's one of the biggest churches in Yucatán outside of Merida. It was an important early Franciscan Convent in the region.

Santo Christo de Citilcún

San Augustin Tekantó, as seen from the south

The original mission started in 1567. An inscription on the church shows it was finished in 1688, more than a hundred years after the mission began. Nearby, you can also find the old haciendas of Sanlatah and San Francisco Dzon.

Popular Celebrations

San Augustin Fiesta: Every year from August 26 to 28, there's a big party to honor San Augustin, the patron saint of Tekantó.
Santo Christo de Citilcún Fair: From November 15 to 26, an annual fair celebrates Santo Christo de Citilcún. On November 15, a procession brings Santo Christo de Citilcún to Tekantó. After the procession, there are fireworks and food in the town square. Later in the month, there are many fun events, including folk dancing at the town hall. Sometimes, a temporary bullfighting ring is set up for bullfights and other shows.

Exploring the Area Around Tekantó

The ancient ruins of Ake are about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Tekantó.
Izamal, famous for its monastery, old carriages, and Mayan pyramids, is only 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast.

Tekantó's Economy

Traditional House in Tekantó

Railway Station in Tekantó

Tekantó is in the north-central part of Yucatán, an area known for growing henequen. For many years, until the late 1900s, the main economic activity was the henequen industry, which used the agave plant.

When the henequen industry declined, Tekantó's economy changed. Today, the main crop is maize (corn). Farmers also grow kidney beans, various vegetables, watermelon, and some types of chili peppers. Raising pigs and poultry (chickens) is also common. Beekeeping, which is raising bees for honey, is another important activity in the area.

Education in Tekantó

Guillermo Prieto School

Here's a look at the schools in Tekantó and its communities as of the year 2000:

Name of School	Locality	Level	Student population
FRANCISCO I. MADERO	Tekantó	Pre-school	89
PREESCOLAR COMUNITARIO	San Francisco Dzon	Pre-school	6
SAYABI HA	Tixkochoh	Pre-school	21
ANDRES QUINTANA ROO	Tekantó	Primary	164
GUILLERMO PRIETO	Tekantó	Primary	247
PRIMARIA COMUNITARIA	San Francisco Dzon	Primary	27
PIPILA	Tixkochoh	Primary	47
GUILLERMO PRIETO	Tekantó	Secondary	223