Tekantó
Encyclopedia
Tekantó is a small (47.25 km²) municipality
in the Mexican
state of Yucatan
. The municipality was formed in 1900 and its municipal seat is the homonymous locality of Tekantó, at the end of highway 80, 54 km east of Merida
.
, to the east: Tepakán and to the west: Bokobá.
The City council then presided over by C. Manuel González Towers, decided to hold a contest to produce the shield's design. The design was adapted from submissions by several people. Some notable features of the shield are as follows. A sun with 13 rays that indicate the Mayan supraworld. An illustration of the Mayan chief Ah Kin Chel on a green background. Gold background with henequen
that has 9 blades, that means the Mayan infraworld, the color gold has economic importance. At either side two branches interlaced by a plant called Kantó and that some say gave rise to the name of the town. At the bottom of the shield in front of the branches is a tape of silver with the words Siyan Kán Tekantó, this means the illustrious or famous Tekantó.
Tekantó's rail station is on the (now disused) rail line that runs between Mérida
and Valladolid
via Izamal
.
The common animal species that are found in the area include: rabbit, raccoon, deer, armadillo, various snakes, iguanas and turtles; birds: dove, tzutzuy, quail and tórtola.
; it was an important early Franciscan
Convent in this region.
The original mission dates from 1567. According to an inscription on the facade, the church was completed in 1688, over a hundred years after the mission's founding.
Near to Tekantó are the hamlets of the ex-properties: Sanlatah and San Francisco Dzon.
Between 15 and 26 November, an annual fair is held to celebrate Santo Christo de Citilcún. On November 15 each year a procession brings Santo Christo de Citilcún to Tekantó, after the procession there are firework displays and food for sale in the town square. Towards the end of the month there are various festivities including folk dancing
, hosted at the town hall; an impromptu bullfighting
ring is set up to host bull fights and other events.
are 20 km to the south west of the locality of Tekanto, and Izamal
with its world famous monastery, Victorian era carriages, and mesoamerican pyramids
is only 13 km to the south east.
Tekantó is a municipality that is located in the North central zone of Yucatan that is part of the denominated henequen
zone, where the main agricultural crop is agave. Along with the surrounding municipalities the major productive activity for many years, until the end of the 20th Century, was the henequen
industry.
With the decline of the henequen
industry, a process of economic diversification occurred in Tekantó. Today in this area maize is main crop, along with kidney beans, various vegetables, watermelon and some varieties of chili peppers. In addition to these crops, pigs and poultry are farmed. Beekeeping is also common in the area.
Municipalities of Yucatán
The Mexican state of Yucatán is made up of 106 municipios , organized into 9 administrative regions. Most of the names of the municipalities come from the Yucatec Maya language, which is still spoken by more of 30% of the population, according to INEGI ....
in the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
state of Yucatan
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
. The municipality was formed in 1900 and its municipal seat is the homonymous locality of Tekantó, at the end of highway 80, 54 km east of Merida
Merida
Places of the world named Mérida or Merida include:*Mérida, Spain, capital city of the Spanish Community of Extremadura*Mérida, Yucatán, capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatán*Merida, Leyte, a municipality in Leyte province in the Philippines...
.
Borders
The municipalities that surround the municipality of Tekantó are to the north: Suma and Teya, to the south: IzamalIzamal
Izamal is a small city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, 72 km east of state capital Mérida. Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of Mesoamerican chronology; in 2000, the city's estimated population was 15,000 people...
, to the east: Tepakán and to the west: Bokobá.
Shield
In 1990 the Mexican federal government asked all the municipalities to have their own shield or coat of arms.The City council then presided over by C. Manuel González Towers, decided to hold a contest to produce the shield's design. The design was adapted from submissions by several people. Some notable features of the shield are as follows. A sun with 13 rays that indicate the Mayan supraworld. An illustration of the Mayan chief Ah Kin Chel on a green background. Gold background with henequen
Henequen
Henequen is an agave whose leaves yield a fiber also called henequen which is suitable for rope and twine, but not of as high a quality as sisal. Alternative spellings are Henequin and Heniquen. It is the major plantation fiber agave of eastern Mexico, being grown extensively in Yucatán,...
that has 9 blades, that means the Mayan infraworld, the color gold has economic importance. At either side two branches interlaced by a plant called Kantó and that some say gave rise to the name of the town. At the bottom of the shield in front of the branches is a tape of silver with the words Siyan Kán Tekantó, this means the illustrious or famous Tekantó.
Population
The population of Tekantó is approximately 4,000. In the year 2000 the census record showed that 1,655 people spoke the indigenous language, Yucatec Maya. This is consistent with the state average which was 30% in 2000.Communities
The municipality is made up from four principle communities, the municipal seat Tekantó along with its neighboring communities Tixkochoh 21.0138°N 89.0806°W, San Francisco Dzon 20.9835°N 89.1433°W and Sanlatah 21.0426°N 89.1466°W). Their populations are as follows: Tekantó 3224, Tixkochoh 455, San Francisco Dzon 127, Sanlatah 83; the census also included 53 people living outside of these communities, either in isolated rural homes or small communities like the hamlet of San Diego Rodriguez 20.9923°N 89.1143°W. In 2005 there were 942 houses in the municipality.Nearby cities
The distances from the municipal seat to nearby cities are as follows:- IzamalIzamalIzamal is a small city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, 72 km east of state capital Mérida. Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of Mesoamerican chronology; in 2000, the city's estimated population was 15,000 people...
, YucatánYucatánYucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southeast 14,954 people. - Motul, Yucatán 21 kilometres (13 mi) west-northwest 21,109 people.
- MeridaMérida, YucatánMérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
,Yucatán 54 kilometres (33.6 mi) west 717,175 people.
Tekantó's rail station is on the (now disused) rail line that runs between Mérida
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
and Valladolid
Valladolid, Yucatán
Valladolid is a small city in Valladolid Municipality in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Yucatán. Valladolid is in the inland eastern part of the state....
via Izamal
Izamal
Izamal is a small city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, 72 km east of state capital Mérida. Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of Mesoamerican chronology; in 2000, the city's estimated population was 15,000 people...
.
Climate and Ecosystems
Climate
Warm, with rains during the early summer followed by droughts during the late summer. The annual average temperature is of 26.5°C and the annual average rainfall is 50 millimeters. The winds are predominately from the northeast. Relative humidity Annual Average, March 66% - December 89%. The Rainy Season is May through July.Flora and fauna
Small portions of non-evergreen low forest with secondary vegetation in the ends northeast and the northwest. Including: poppy, bojom, ceiba, chehem, chichibé, pochote and flamboyán.The common animal species that are found in the area include: rabbit, raccoon, deer, armadillo, various snakes, iguanas and turtles; birds: dove, tzutzuy, quail and tórtola.
Architectural
San Augustin Tekantó is an impressive building and one of the largest churches in the Yucatan outside of MeridaMerida
Places of the world named Mérida or Merida include:*Mérida, Spain, capital city of the Spanish Community of Extremadura*Mérida, Yucatán, capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatán*Merida, Leyte, a municipality in Leyte province in the Philippines...
; it was an important early Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Convent in this region.
The original mission dates from 1567. According to an inscription on the facade, the church was completed in 1688, over a hundred years after the mission's founding.
Near to Tekantó are the hamlets of the ex-properties: Sanlatah and San Francisco Dzon.
Popular Celebrations
From 26 to 28 August an annual fiesta is held in honor of the patron saint of Tekantó, San Augustin.Between 15 and 26 November, an annual fair is held to celebrate Santo Christo de Citilcún. On November 15 each year a procession brings Santo Christo de Citilcún to Tekantó, after the procession there are firework displays and food for sale in the town square. Towards the end of the month there are various festivities including folk dancing
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
, hosted at the town hall; an impromptu bullfighting
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
ring is set up to host bull fights and other events.
Surrounding Area
The ruins of AkeAke
Ake is an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located in the municipality of Tixkokob. in the Mexican state of Yucatán; 40 km east of Mérida, Yucatán....
are 20 km to the south west of the locality of Tekanto, and Izamal
Izamal
Izamal is a small city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, 72 km east of state capital Mérida. Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of Mesoamerican chronology; in 2000, the city's estimated population was 15,000 people...
with its world famous monastery, Victorian era carriages, and mesoamerican pyramids
Mesoamerican pyramids
Mesoamerican pyramids, pyramid-shaped structures, are an important part of ancient Mesoamerican architecture. These structures were usually step pyramids with temples on top – more akin to the ziggurats of Mesopotamia than to the pyramids of Ancient Egypt...
is only 13 km to the south east.
History
- Before the conquest of YucatánYucatánYucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
the region of Tekantó was part of the chieftainship of Ah Kin Chel (1441–1543). - 1546: The Spanish conquest of Yucatán that started in 1526 is considered complete.
- 1567: Franciscan Mission founded in Tekantó.
- 1581: Cristobal Sanchez inherits both Tekantó and Tepakan under the encomiendaEncomiendaThe encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
system from his father, the famous conquistador Don Diego Sanchez. - 1688: Construction of the convent and mission of San Augustin Tekantó is completed.
- 1700: Antonia Pacheco and Juan N. Calderón are responsible for Tekantó under the encomiendaEncomiendaThe encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
system. - 1720: The legality of the EncomiendaEncomiendaThe encomienda was a system that was employed mainly by the Spanish crown during the colonization of the Americas to regulate Native American labor....
system is ended and is succeeded by the Hacienda system in which laborers were directly employed by the hacienda owners (Sanlatah is a Hacienda in Tekantó municipality). - 1821: Yucatán declares itself independent of Spain.
- 1825: During this time Tekantó was in the partido of La Costa, which had IzamalIzamalIzamal is a small city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, 72 km east of state capital Mérida. Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of Mesoamerican chronology; in 2000, the city's estimated population was 15,000 people...
as its capital. (At this time YucatánYucatánYucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
was divided up onto 15 partidos or subdelegaciones, and YucatanYucatánYucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
then included what is now CampecheCampecheCampeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
). - 1848: On May 28 during the Caste War of YucatánCaste War of YucatánThe Caste War of Yucatán began with the revolt of native Maya people of Yucatán, Mexico against the population of European descent, called Yucatecos, who held political and economic control of the region. A lengthy war ensued between the Yucateco forces in the north-west of the Yucatán and the...
after a 6 day siege Colonel Bello led his force of 1,000 men out of IzamalIzamalIzamal is a small city in the Mexican state of Yucatán, 72 km east of state capital Mérida. Izamal was continuously occupied throughout most of Mesoamerican chronology; in 2000, the city's estimated population was 15,000 people...
taking a back trail to Tekantó. From Tekantó he watched Izamal burn. - 1900: The municipality of Tekantó is created and Tekantó becomes its own municipality seat.
Economy
Tekantó is a municipality that is located in the North central zone of Yucatan that is part of the denominated henequen
Henequen
Henequen is an agave whose leaves yield a fiber also called henequen which is suitable for rope and twine, but not of as high a quality as sisal. Alternative spellings are Henequin and Heniquen. It is the major plantation fiber agave of eastern Mexico, being grown extensively in Yucatán,...
zone, where the main agricultural crop is agave. Along with the surrounding municipalities the major productive activity for many years, until the end of the 20th Century, was the henequen
Henequen
Henequen is an agave whose leaves yield a fiber also called henequen which is suitable for rope and twine, but not of as high a quality as sisal. Alternative spellings are Henequin and Heniquen. It is the major plantation fiber agave of eastern Mexico, being grown extensively in Yucatán,...
industry.
With the decline of the henequen
Henequen
Henequen is an agave whose leaves yield a fiber also called henequen which is suitable for rope and twine, but not of as high a quality as sisal. Alternative spellings are Henequin and Heniquen. It is the major plantation fiber agave of eastern Mexico, being grown extensively in Yucatán,...
industry, a process of economic diversification occurred in Tekantó. Today in this area maize is main crop, along with kidney beans, various vegetables, watermelon and some varieties of chili peppers. In addition to these crops, pigs and poultry are farmed. Beekeeping is also common in the area.
Notables
Notable locals include Marrufo Cetina, Carlos Anastasio. Mandolinista and musical composer (1875–1932).Education
Number of schools by educative level, to the year 2000, according to the Statistical Yearbook of the State of Yucatan, published by the INEGI:| Name of School | Locality | |Student population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCISCO I. MADERO | Tekantó | Pre-school | 89 |
| PREESCOLAR COMUNITARIO | San Francisco Dzon | Pre-school | 6 |
| SAYABI HA | Tixkochoh | Pre-school | 21 |
| ANDRES QUINTANA ROO | Tekantó | Primary | 164 |
| GUILLERMO PRIETO | Tekantó | Primary | 247 |
| PRIMARIA COMUNITARIA | San Francisco Dzon | Primary | 27 |
| PIPILA | Tixkochoh | Primary | 47 |
| GUILLERMO PRIETO | Tekantó | Secondary | 223 |