Simijaca

Simijaca
Municipality and town

Central square of Simijaca

Flag

Seal

Location of the municipality and town inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Simijaca

Location in Colombia

Coordinates: 5°30′7″N 73°51′7″W / 5.50194°N 73.85194°W / 5.50194; -73.85194Coordinates: 5°30′7″N 73°51′7″W / 5.50194°N 73.85194°W / 5.50194; -73.85194
Country  Colombia
Department Cundinamarca
Province Ubaté Province
Founded 14 August 1600
Founded by Luis Enríquez & Juan López de Linares
Government
  Mayor German Leonidas Rodríguez Albornoz
(2016-2019)
Area
  Municipality and town 107 km2 (41 sq mi)
  Urban 0.8 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Elevation 2,559 m (8,396 ft)
Population (2015)
  Municipality and town 13,077
  Density 120/km2 (320/sq mi)
  Urban 7,293
Time zone Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)
Website Official website

Simijaca (pronounced/SIMIH'ækƏ/) is a town and municipality in the Ubaté Province, part of the Cundinamarca Department, Colombia. The town centre is located at an altitude of 2,559 metres (8,396 ft) on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at 136 kilometres (85 mi) from the capital Bogotá. Simijaca borders the Boyacá municipalities Chiquinquirá and Caldas in the north, Susa and Carmen de Carupa in the south, Caldas in the west and San Miguel de Sema in the east.[1]

Etymology

Simijaca means in the Chibcha language of the Muisca "Blue circle" or "Nose of the white owl".[2]

History

The area of Simijaca before the Spanish conquest was part of the Muisca Confederation. Initially loyal to the zaque of Hunza, Simijaca changed rule around 1490 when it was submitted by zipa Saguamanchica.[3]

The first Spanish establishment was done by Rodrigo Mexia Serrano on February 26, 1586. However, this population was ephemeral. And when the oidor (judge) Luis Enrique did a visitation, in July 1600, the natives had not populated the town and the entrusted had not built the church. By act on August 14, 1600, carried out by Luis Enríquez & Juan López de Linares in Cucunubá, the new and actual town of Simijaca was established. It was formed by indigenous people from Simijaca, Fúquene and Nemoguá.

Economy

Main economical activity in Simijaca is agriculture with products onions, beans, maize, potatoes and peas as most important agricultural products.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 (Spanish) Official website Simijaca
  2. Espejo Olaya, 1999, p.1123
  3. Restrepo Arcila, 2002, p.179

Bibliography

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