Chimichagua

Chimichagua (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃimiˈtʃaɣwa]) 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.

For other uses, see Chiminigagua.
Chimichagua
city
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
(in Spanish) "El Viejo Puerto"
"The Old Port"
Motto(s): 
"Peace, Union and Work"
(in Spanish) Paz, Union y Trabajo
Location of the municipality and town of Chimichagua in the Department of Cesar.
CountryColombia
RegionCaribbean
DepartmentCesar
Foundation1748[1][2]
Government
 • MayorRigoberto Perez
(Colombian Conservative Party)[3]
Area
 • Total1,568 km2 (605 sq mi)
Population
 (Census 2018)
 • Total30,289[4]
Time zoneUTC-5
Website
chimichagua-cesar.gov.co/

Etymology

Chimichagua was the name of the Chimila cacique that inhabited the area at the time of the Spanish conquest. Chimichagua or Chiminigagua is the name of the supreme being of the Muisca. Muisca and Chimila pertain to the same language family; the Chibcha language.[5]

History

Pre-Columbian

The territory of the municipality of Chimichagua was inhabited by the indigenous group known as the Chimila 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 Serranía del Perijá 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

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 Archived July 31, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. (in Spanish) DANE 2005 Census: Chimichagua
  3. (in Spanish) Interpolitico.com: Mayors of Cesar – 2008–2011 Archived November 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Censo Nacional de Población y Vivienda 2018" (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. (in Spanish) Cesar 30 Años de Progreso – Gobernación del Cesar (1997). Page 25

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