Sanahcat Municipality

Sanahcat Municipality is one of the 106 municipalities in the Mexican state of Yucatán. It contains 54.93 square kilometres (21.21 sq mi) of land and is located roughly 52 kilometres (32 mi) southeast of the city of Mérida.[2] It is bounded on the north by Hocabá – Xocchel, on the south by Huhí, on the east Kantunil, and the west by Homún.[4] In the Yucatec Maya language, its name means "legume of Tzalam."

Sanahcat
Municipality
Principal Church of Sanahcat, Yucatán
Municipal location in Yucatán
Sanahcat Location of the Municipality in Mexico
Coordinates: 20°48′15″N 89°12′50″W
Country	Mexico
State	Yucatán
Government
• Type	2012–2015[1]
• Municipal President	Victor Gabriel Ek Moo[2]
Area
• Total	54.93 km^2 (21.21 sq mi)
	[2]
Elevation [2]	16 m (52 ft)
Population  (2010[3])
• Total	1,619
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)
INEGI Code	064
Major Airport	Merida (Manuel Crescencio Rejón) International Airport
IATA Code	MID
ICAO Code	MMMD

History

During pre-Hispanic times, the town existed but it is unclear which chieftainship it was part of. After the conquest the area became part of the encomienda system.[2] In 1565 the encomienderos were Melchor and Francisco Pacheco.[5]

Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821 and in 1825, the area was assigned to the Beneficios Bajos region with its headquarters in Sotuta.[2] Development of the area started in 1821.[4] In 1900, it split away from Hocabá. On 29 September 1924 Sanahcat was elevated to a municipality and in 1937 the Haciendas Tixcacal Xtohil and Ancona were withdrawn from its jurisdiction.[2][4]

Governance

The municipal president is elected for a three-year term. The town council has four councilpersons, who serve as Secretary and councilors of public works; parks and gardens; and cemeteries.[6]

The Municipal Council administers the business of the municipality. It is responsible for budgeting and expenditures and producing all required reports for all branches of the municipal administration. Annually it determines educational standards for schools.[6]

The Police Commissioners ensure public order and safety. They are tasked with enforcing regulations, distributing materials and administering rulings of general compliance issued by the council.[6]

Communities

The head of the municipality is Sanahcat, Yucatán. The other populated area is the Hacienda Tixcacal Leal. The significant populations are shown below:[2] The current president of the municipality is Victor Gabriel Ek Moo (period 2012-2015).[4]

Community	Population
Entire Municipality (2010)	1,619[3]
Sanahcat	1509 in 2005[7]

The electoral rolls of the municipality belongs to the Fifth Federal Electoral District and Local Fourteenth Ward.[4]

Local festivals

Every year on the 15th of August a celebration in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption is held.[2]

Tourist attractions

• Church of Our Lady of the Assumption built in the 16th century
• Cenote Pishtón
• Hacienda Tixcacal Leal

On the way to Momain, there is a church at Sanathcat which is roughly finished and is built to a "T-plan". The chapel has an arch feature and has a belfry.[8] The church built in the sixteenth century. is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.[4]

References

1. "Presidentes Municipales" (in Spanish). Mérida, Mexico: PRI yucatan. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
2. "Municipios de Yucatán »Sanahcat" (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2015.
3. "Mexico In Figures: Sanahcat, Yucatán". INEGI (in Spanish and English). Aguascalientes, México: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
4. "Sanahcat" (in Spanish). Gobierno del Estado de Yucatán. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
5. Quezada, Sergio (2014). Maya lords and lordship: the formation of colonial society in Yucatán, 1350–1600. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-806-14579-2.
6. "Sanahcat". inafed (in Spanish). Mérida, Mexico: Enciclopedia de Los Municipios y Delegaciones de México. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
7. "Sanahcat". PueblosAmerica (in Spanish). PueblosAmerica. 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
8. Perry & Perry 2002, p. 218.

Bibliography

• Perry, Richard D.; Perry, Rosalind (2002). Maya Missions: Exploring Colonial Yucatan. Espada├▒a Press. ISBN 978-0-9620811-9-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)