Candelaria Municipality

Candelaria
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms
Location of Candelaria
Candelaria Location of Candelaria
Coordinates: 18°0′N 90°45′W / 18°N 90.75°W / 18; -90.75Coordinates: 18°0′N 90°45′W / 18°N 90.75°W / 18; -90.75
Country	Mexico
State	Campeche
Municipal seat	Candelaria
Government
– Municipal president	(2006-09)
Area
– Total	5,518.5 km2 (2,130.72 sq mi)
Population (2005)
– Total	49,850
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Created	19 June 1998
Website	www.candelaria.gob.mx/

Candelaria is one of the 11 municipalities that make up the Mexican state of Campeche. It is situated at the south of the state, and the municipal seat, and largest settlement, is the city of Candelaria.

The name "Candelaria" is in reference to the Río Candelaria, a river which drains the region.

History and geography

The municipality of Candelaria borders to the north with the municipality of Escárcega; to the south with Guatemala and the state of Tabasco; to the east with the municipality of Calakmul, and to the west with the municipality of Carmen. It covers a total surface area of 5,518.55 km².

On 25 April 1984, the State Congress heard a request made by the residents of the region for it to be established as an autonomous municipality. The municipality of Candelaria was created by the Congress on 19 June 1998.

Demographics

The 2005 census reported a population of 49,850 persons. Of these, 2,091 spoke an indigenous language, predominatly Ch'ol and Chontal.

Population centres in the municipality include:

• Candelaria, the municipal seat

Other settlements: Miguel Hidalgo, El Naranjo, Benito Juárez, Miguel Alemán, Monclova, Nuevo Coahuila, Pejelagarto, San Juan Arroyo and Las Golondrinas.

References

• Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (INEGI)
• Candelaria Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México, INAFED

External links

• Ayuntamiento de Candelaria Municipal website (Spanish)
• Municipio de Candelaria from Campeche state government website (Spanish)