San Marcos de Caiquín

For other uses, see San Marcos.

San Marcos de Caiquín
Municipality
Arriving in Town
Country	Honduras
Department	Lempira
Municipality since	4 November 1994 (1994-11-04)
Area
• Total	94 km2 (36 sq mi)
Population  (2001)
• Total	4,136

San Marcos de Caiquín is the newest municipality in the Honduran department of Lempira.

History

It was created as a municipality on November 4, 1994. The "Lenca" community of San Marcos de Caiquin has historically been a village of La Campa municipality. Its inhabitants are descendants of "Lenca-Chortis" ethnic groups. Because of their cultural and economical activities, they decided to create a municipality with its own ethnic traits.

Geography

It can be said that the municipality capital is located at the toe of the mountain on which San Manuel Colohete is located. To be more precise, it is on a depression among some hills. These hills are covered with pine forests. On the way to this capital, it can be seen on the road the volcanic origin of the rocks and soil. In order to make it to the municipality capital, the traveler must start in the city of Gracias.

Boundaries

It is bounded on the north by La Campa municipalities; on the south by Santa Cruz and San Andrés municipalities; on the east by Santa Cruz municipality; and on the west by San Manuel Colohete and San Sebastián municipalities.

Its surface area is 94 km².

Resources

The forests provide a profitable economical activity, best of all is that the people have ecological conscience and make the most out them. Coffee plantations are the number one activity, followed by Beans and Corn crops. As the rest of the department, it has electricity and mobile communication services. There are several streams and wells that provide water for the people. At the Mayor's office, many organizations constantly provide training and lectures about improving the well-being and conditions of the locals, since there is a lot to be learned yet.

Population

For San Marcos de Caiquin the descendants of Amerindians are about 80% of population, the rest is represented by the cross-breed of Spanish and Amerindians.

For the year 2001 the population was 4,136; and in accordance with estimates it is expected to have 4,927 inhabitants for 2008. There are 7 villages and 54 settlements.