Chimichagua

Chimichagua
Flag
Nickname(s): (Spanish) "El Viejo Puerto" "The Old Port"
Motto: "Peace, Union and Work" (Spanish) Paz, Union y Trabajo
Location of the municipality and town of Chimichagua in the Department of Cesar.
Country	Colombia
Region	Caribbean
Department	Cesar
Foundation	1748[1][2]
Government
- Mayor	Rigoberto Perez (Colombian Conservative Party)[3]
Area
- Total	1,568 km2 (605.4 sq mi)
Population (2005)
- Total	31,116
	[4]
Website	chimichagua-cesar.gov.co/

Chimichagua is a city and municipality in the central region of the Department of Cesar, Colombia. Approximately one third of the municipality of Chimichagua is water. The municipality seat lies by the Cienaga de Zapatosa marshes.

Etymology

Chimichagua was the name of Chimila Cacique that inhabited the area at the time of the Spanish conquest. Chimichagua is the name of a Muiscas deity. Muiscas and Chimilas pertain to the same language family; the Chibchas.^[5]

History

Pre-Columbian

The territory of the municipality of Chimichagua was inhabited by the indigenous group known as the Chimilas who at the time of the Spanish arrival were established in most of the Cesar River basin and its valley between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serrania del Perija mountain ranges and bordering the Magdalena River.^[5]

Spanish conquest and colonization

Chimichagua was founded by Jose Fernando de Mier y Guerra on December 8, 1748 accompanied by Sebastian de Eslava who was in representation of the Viceroy. The village was first named Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Chimichagua. The population of this village migrated to other nearby villages such as Tamalameque, Santa Cruz de Mompox, Valencia de Jesús and Valledupar due to accessibility problems.^[5]

Republicanism

Chimichagua became a municipality by Ordinance 54 of 1892. In 1967 with the creation of the Department of Cesar Chimichagua became one of its municipalities.^[5]

Politics

Administrative divisions

Corregimientos

Chimichagua has 9 corregimientos:

• Candelaria
• El Guamo
• Las Vegas
• Mindinguilla
• Saloa
• Sempegua
• Soledad
• La Mata
• El Jobo

References

1. ^ Townhall of Aguachica: Generalities: History
2. ^ (Spanish) DANE 2005 Census: Chimichagua
3. ^ (Spanish) Interpolitico.com: Mayors of Cesar – 2008–2011
4. ^ Colombiassh.org: Census 2005: Chimichagua
5. ^ ^{a b c d} (Spanish) Cesar 30 Años de Progreso – Gobernación del Cesar (1997). Page 25]

External links

• (Spanish) chimichagua.gov.co
• (Spanish) Chimichagua official website

Coordinates: 9°15′N 73°49′W / 9.25°N 73.817°W / 9.25; -73.817