Facatativá

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Facatativa
motto = Present and future of Cundinamarca "(Presente y futuro de Cundinamarca)"


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Geolocation of Facatativa in Cundinamarca
subdivision_type = Colombia
subdivision_type = Department
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name = Cundinamarca
subdivision_name1 = Western Savanna Province
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Oscar Hernan Sanchez Leon,
established_title = Foundation
established_date = July 3, 1600
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population_as_of = 2007 census estimate
population_note =
population_total = 106,070Ranked 1
population_footnotes = ^{[http://www.dane.gov.co/files/censo2005/resultados_am_municipios.pdf]}
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utc_offset = -5
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elevation_m = 2640
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website =
[http://www.mifacatativa.com/gobierno.html City Official Site]
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Facatativá is a town and municipality in the Cundinamarca Department, located about 28 miles (42 km) northwest of Bogotá, Colombia and 2,586 meters above sea level. The city is known for its Archaeological Park Piedras del Tunjo (Rocks of the Tunjo Indian)and best known in Colombia as "Piedras de Tunja" (Literally stones of Tunja) featuring large rock formations that were once the bottom of a lake.

History

Facatativa is an aboriginal word that has been translated in different ways. The widely most accepted one among historians is that it means strong fort at the end of the plains. Another common translation is fenced fort outside the soil [ [http://www.facatativa-cundinamarca.gov.co/nuestromunicipio.shtml?apc=m-I1--&m=f&s=m Nuestro municipio > Información general - Facatativá ] ] . Facatativa was originally inhabited by the indigenous native Chibcha (also known as Muisca) tribes. Proof of their existence is corroborated by the paintings and other archaeological evidence found there. The Chibcha tribes were never as developed as the Mayas or Aztecs, however they were able to settle and create a complex and structured society. Due to its internal conflicts, Chibchas were easily taken over by Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. By this time there were also other important aboriginal settlements among them Niminxacca and Chocca.

Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada had knowledge of the native's use of gold for religious acitivities. As he was seeking to get this gold, a leader Cacique by the name of Tisquesusa decided to escape with 600 men towards what is known now as Facatativa. There Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada was able to capture him. His soldiers killed him on July 15 1537.

On July 3 of 1600 Spaniard administrator Diego Gomez de Mena founded the city according to the act of visit released by Gabriel de Carvajal in 1639.

The church was set to be built by Gomez de Mena in a contract on August of 1601. This church was destroyed by an earthquake on July 12, 1785. A year after the priest Juan de la Mata Salazar y Caicedo informed about the damage and a new church was built on May 1787.

This church was erected where it would later become the Augustinians temple. However a new earthquake damaged the structure on November 16, 1827. It was nevertheless able to stand until 1870 when a new temple was inaugurated. The newly built church was finally open on August 6. 1895 while the head priest was Agustino Pedro Salazar who also created the Priests Home, The Saint Agustin School, a Hospital (known today as Saint Raphael Hospital) and the cemetery.

Unfortunately this church was again damaged by an earthquake on February 9,1967. This was quickly set to renewal on June under the administration of Bishop Monsignor Raul Zambrano Camader by the firm Vargas Triana & COPRE. On July 20, 1911 an obelisk was inaugurated at the "Plaza of the Republic" known today as Santander Park as a way to honor the independence heroes killed there on August 31, 1816. Facatativa became a gate for civilization for the New Kingdom of Granada and it was also a place of exchange of products of warmer and colder climate.

By mid XIX century the road from Los Manzanos to Bogotá was built. Facatativa was a stage for a number of confrontations and historic events that occurred on the wars of independence and civilian ones of last century.

By Order No 9 of January 1856 by the Provincial Chamber of Bogotá, whose project was presented by Governor Pedro Gutierrez Lee, a Parish of Facatativa was acknowledge by the legislation of the Independent State of Cundinamarca. By Decree of March 9, 1848 from President Tomas Cipriano de Mosquera, Facatativa was chosen as the capital of Canton of Funza due to its convenient geographic location.

The first act of Parish books that there are records of, is from 1692, signed by priest Sebastian Rodriguez who succeeded Juan Garcia de Duque. In 1685 the latter was preceded by Bernardo de Guzman Ponce de Leon y Saavedra. This was interpreted as the missing of the two first books which held important historic data. On May 21 of 1781 arrived to Facatativa Captain Jose Antonio Galan and Lutenant Nicolas Jose de Vesga with a company of hundred comuneros that were given by Juan Francisco Berbeo at the municipality of Nemocon so he could catch the Regent Gutierrez de Pineres. In the year 1851 it was established the first notary office and on February 28 1859 the office of registry of the circuit. On January 17, 1865 the State Assembly announced in Facatativa the fith Constitution of Cundinamarca. By the same year the telegraphic service was inaugurated. On Decemer 14, 1869 the national Colombian government made a contract with William Lee Stiles for the telegraphic line between the cities Facatativa-Villeta-Guaduas-Honda which would snap to the ones in Ambalema and Manizales, made by the same engineer according to the contract of August 30, 1866.

On August 2, 1870 Secretary of foment Don Salvador Camacho Roldan made a contract with Victoriano Paredes for the construction of a telegraph line between Facatativa and Honda. The City Hall was built on 1882 under the administration of Governor Daniel Aldana whom on February 28 of the same year would sign a deal for the construcition of the Sabana railroad. On July 26, 1886 his successor General Jaime Cordoba made a contract so the railroad was finally built. On March 8, 1907 the district prison was built.

On February 13, 1909 arrived the first locomotive from Girardot. For this locomotive a new station was built since the one built for the already existent Sabana train tracks were wider. On 1926 both tracks were ade even. in the year 1933 the first Plaza of Fairs was open being this one among the firsts in the country.

On May 6, 1940 on the Santander park a commemorative bust of General Francisco de Paula Santander was put as a memorial for the 100th anniversary since his death. On December 18, 1972 died Monsignor Raul Zambrano Camader first Bishop of the Archdioceses of Facatativa in an aircraft accident occurred at the El Tablazo hill. On January 5 1884 the first stone of a new hospital was set on the corner of a piece of land that was first intended of use as a cattle killing facility.

In conformity to the Constitution of the Province of Cundinamarca of 1815, Facatativa was included in the Canton of Bogotá. By the law 46 of April 29, 1905 Cudinamarca was divided in two Departments named Quesada and Cundinamarca. Facatativa was installed as the capital city of the Cundinamarca department by national decree431 of May 10 of 1905. The Governor of that time was Belisario Ayala. The House of Culture was created on October 12, 1966, by intellectuals, writers and important personalities. In 1973 a building was built as a headquarter for offices and theater. A new and modern building was built on 1999 as a new place for operations for the cultural section of the municipal government. This building includes a gallery for visual artists. Courses and schooling is provided here. [ [http://www.facatativa.gov.co/facatativa-5.htm Pagina nueva 1 ] ]

Economy

Facatativa's main source of income is the growing of flowers. The high altitude of the city is appropriate for the growing of different kind of flowers, mainly roses which are exported to the United States. It reaches its peak of consumption in February during Saint Valentine's Day

Demography

The people are mainly a mixture of Spanish and Amerindian, having the mestizo race as the most common people, with at least a 15% of unmixed whites.
* Population: 106,070(2005)

Telecommunications

Two major central urban stations with Microwave, digital and analogic capabilities. Colombia's biggest transmitting relay antenna is located at the peak of the Manjui's Hill at 5 miles from Facatativá.

Military

Communications Battalion, Police and Anti-narcotics squads. Cavalry School and major Police headquarters for the protection of the Colombian Petroleums research facilities located there.

References

External links

*es icon [http://www.facatativa-cundinamarca.gov.co/ Government of Facatativa official website]
*es icon [http://www.mifacatativa.com/ Community official website]