Cardenas Municipality

Cárdenas is a municipality in the Mexican state of Tabasco, located in the Grijalva River region and in the Chontalpa subregion. It owes its name to the illustrious Presbyter and Dr. José Eduardo de Cárdenas y Romero, Deputy for Tabasco before the Cortes of Cádiz and who promoted the foundation of the municipal seat by donating (giving) the land for his settlement.

Its municipal seat is the city of Heroica Cárdenas and it has a division made up of 59 surrounding urban colonies, 58 ejidos, 51 rancherías, 21 towns, 8 rural colonies, 6 subdivisions and 3 villas. The latter are the towns of Sánchez Magallanes, Villa Benito Juárez and Villa Ignacio Gutiérrez Gómez.

Its area is 2,112 km², which corresponds to 8.3% of the total state; this places the municipality in fifth place in territorial extension.

Toponymy

The municipality owes its name to the illustrious Tabasco and Dr. José Eduardo de Cárdenas y Romero, priest, tireless defender of the indigenous people during the colony, Deputy for Tabasco before the Cortes of Cádiz, Spain in 1811, great promoter and donor of the land for the founding of the town of San Antonio de los Naranjos today Heroica Cárdenas, head of the municipality.

History

The occupation of the territory of what is now the municipality of Cárdenas could date back to the years 800 to 400 BC as a consequence of the Olmec expansion of La Venta, a site close to the limits of this municipality and that of Huimanguillo. According to Drulder and Contreras, the Olmec culture expanded to the Tonalá and Cárdenas ranches. To the northwest and south of the municipality, archaeological vestiges belonging to the Mayan Culture have been found, such as in Arroyo Hondo, La Azucena, Encrucijada, Santuario and in Sánchez Magallanes.

During the early days of the colony, several Spanish expeditions passed through the territory that is now the municipality of Cárdenas. Around 1524, the Spanish incursions into the territory began, from La Villa del Espíritu Santo (Coatzacoalcos), with the aim of conquering and pacifying the region called Chontalpa. That year, Captain Luis Marín, along with an army, crossed the river Tonalá (current natural limit between the states of Veracruz and Tabasco) passes through the town called Agualulco (today Sánchez Magallanes) and crosses the municipality of Cárdenas towards the towns of Cupilco Cucultiupa, Cimatán and Nacaxuxuca.

A month later, in April 1524, Captain Rodrigo Rangel, following the same route as Luis Marín, entered the lands of Cárdenas in order to pacify the region.

Bernal Díaz del Castillo in the "True History of the Conquest of New Spain", narrates that the conquistador Hernán Cortés in his expedition to Las Hibueras (today Honduras), passed through a town called Ayagualulco or Agualulco, today identified with The Villa and port of Sánchez Magallanes (formerly Barra de Santa Ana), to later enter the municipality of Paraíso today.

In the year 1557, pirate raids began on the coasts of Tabasco, an activity that was disastrous for the province. Between 1680 and 1689, the pirate Laurens de Graff alias "Lorencillo", raided the Chontalpa on countless occasions, becoming a true scourge for the populations of the region, due to this, the agualulcos had to leave the Barra de Santa Ana and going inland founding villages and towns such as San Felipe Río Nuevo (today, Villa Ignacio Gutiérrez Gómez) and Huimango; and to avoid once and for all the siege of the pirates, the peoples of Chontalpa decided to cover the Mezcalapa or Dos Bocas river, in the so-called "pass of Don Chilo Pardo", a site located in the municipality of Huimanguillo, diverting it towards a tributary branch of the Grijalva river. Since then, this channel, which drastically decreased its flow, was called the Seco River.

On April 22, 1797, by order of the colonial governor Miguel de Castro y Araoz, and at the initiative of Dr. José Eduardo de Cárdenas y Romero, the survey of the lands of San Antonio Río Seco began., and with it, the foundation of San Antonio de los Naranjos, in what today would be the first square of the city of Heroica Cárdenas, belonging at that time to the Cunduacán party.

On January 2, 1851, the State Congress decreed that the town of San Antonio de Cárdenas was declared a village, in memory of the illustrious Dr. José Eduardo de Cárdenas y Romero, by virtue of having been the donor of the land he owned “Los Naranjos”, as he said: “for the widening and extension of the town”.

On December 18, 1883, according to the Organic Law of the Territorial Division of the State of Tabasco, the municipality of Cárdenas was officially created and at the end of 1890, the territorial division of the municipality was made up of a village (H. Cárdenas), 2 towns (Barra de Santa Ana and San Felipe Río Nuevo) and 12 rural neighborhoods (Arroyo Hondo, Bajío, Camino Nacional, Calzada, Habanero, Hidalgo, Limón y Candelero, Naranjeño, Paso y Playa, Poza Redonda y Santuario, Río Seco 1st, Río Seco 2nd, Santana and Zapotal).

On April 5, 1919, it was one of the 17 free municipalities into which the state is divided and on May 4, 1949, Cárdenas is ratified as a municipality of the state of Tabasco.

Municipal government

Illustrious Persons

• José Eduardo de Cárdenas y Romero: (1765-1821).- Although he was not born in the municipality of Cárdenas, because he is the founder of the municipal capital, he occupies a very special place in the memory of this municipality. Doctor in theology and Diputate in the Courts of Cadiz. Leading a group of colonizers from his native Cunduacán, he founded the city of Heroica Cárdenas. In their honor, the municipality and the header bear their name.

• Andrés Sánchez Magallanes: (1810-1865).- Republican colonel, hero and defender of La Reforma Juarista, distinguished himself in the war against the French invaders. In recognition of its struggle, the municipal header holds the title of "Heroica". The State Congress declared it "Benemeritus of Tabasco" and the Sanchez Magallanes seaport, bears its name.

• Ignacio Gutiérrez Gómez: (? -1911).- He was a military man who participated in the Mexican Revolution in Tabasco. Born in San Felipe Rio Nuevo. He got up in arms against Porfirio Díaz, even before the 1910 movement, by doing so on April 5 of that year. On 19 December 1910 he rose again in arms. The next day, on a board he is appointed head of the Tabasco Libertarian Movement and is given the appointment of "general". He took Huimanguillo, Cardenas, Comalcalco and Paradise. He died during the "Aldama Battle" in Comalcalco at the hands of the federal army on April 21, 1911.

• Carlos Greene Ramírez: (1879-1929).- General Brigadier of the Constitutionalist Army. He participated in many battles during the Mexican Revolution in Tabasco. Chief of Military Operations in the State of Mexico. First governor of Tabasco by the 1919 Constitution.

• José del Carmen Sánchez Magallanes: Lawyer. Federal Representative at the Constituent Congress of Querétaro 1917.

• Pedro Casanova Casao: Political. Acting Governor of Tabasco. In 1906 he was an anti-re-re-elector. Diputated by the 4th. District corresponding to his native Cárdenas, he signed the Constitution of April 5, 1919, but was disastrous as governor Tomás Garrido Canabal. He committed suicide at Veracruz on 16 July 1948.

• Achilles Calderón Marchena: Radio broadcaster in Tabasco State.

• Rubén Darío Vidal Ramos: Political. President of the High Court of State Justice, former municipal president of Cárdenas. During his government, the modernization of the city began.

• Juan Manuel Cordova Cruz's:distinguishing from his political and university trajectory, as among the positions he held are President of the Academic Division of Agricultural Sciences (DACA), of the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (UJAT). Córdova Cruz, who currently served as the Thirteenth Regidor of the City of Cárdenas and represented the PRI, was the son of the former peasant leader of the Chontalpa Plan, Juan Córdova Candelero, who was the first president of the Ejidos Union “Lázaro Cárdenas del Río” and was also a local deputy of Cárdenas, for the tricolor.

• Jesus Daniel Gallardo Vasconcelos: Professional football player, international player of Mexico, participant in the 2018 Football World Cup and the 2022 Football World Cup

Population

Parque Independencia, in the center of the city of Heroica Cárdenas.

According to preliminary results of the 2015 General Population and Housing Census of INEGI, the municipality has 258,554 inhabitants, of which 127,310 are men and 131,244 are women, which represents 11.1 of the population of the state of Tabasco and with this figure, Cárdenas is the second most populous municipality in the state, after the municipality of Centro. The population density of the municipality is 121.3 inhab/km 2. The municipality of Cárdenas has an indigenous population of 306 inhabitants, of which 67 belong to the Nahuatl-speaking ethnic group, 58 to the Maya, 57 to the Zapotec, 50 are Chontales from Tabasco and the rest is made up of other unclassified groups. defined.

Geography

Extension

The territorial extension of the municipality is 2,112 km², which corresponds to 8.63% with respect to the total of the state, and occupies the 5th place on the scale of municipal extension.

Its territorial division is made up of: a city, 2 villas, 20 towns, 39 ranches, 74 ejidos, 44 urban colonies, 5 subdivisions, 6 congregations, and 31 agricultural and livestock colonies.

In the municipality there are 25 regional development centers in which most of the economic and social activities are carried out, these are: Andrés Sánchez Magallanes village and port, Benito Juárez village, Ignacio Gutiérrez Gómez town, C-23 town (Venustiano Carranza), town C-11 (José María Morelos y Pavón.), town Azucena 2ª, town El Golpe, ranch. Sanctuary 2ª., Town C-10 (Lázaro Cárdenas), Town C-9 (Francisco I. Madero), Town C-14 (Plutarco Elías Calles), Town C-15 (Adolfo López Mateos), Town C-16 (Emiliano Zapata), town C-17 Independencia, town C-22 (José María. Pino Suárez), town C-21 (Benito Juárez), town Santana 1.ª, town Santa Rosalía, r/a. Hidalgo 2nd B, town C-27 (Eduardo Chávez), town C-28 (Gregorio Méndez), town C-33 (November 20), town C-29 (General Vicente Guerrero), town Melchor Ocampo, town Habanero 1.ª, El Barrial town

Municipal boundaries

It has administrative boundaries with the following municipalities and/or geographical features, depending on its location:

Northwest: Gulf of Mexico (Atlantic Ocean)	North: Gulf of Mexico (Atlantic Ocean)	Northeast: Paradise
West: Huimanguillo and Agua Dulce (Veracruz)		This: Comalcalco and Cunduacán
Southwest: Huimanguillo	South: Huimanguillo	Sureste: Reform (Chiapas)

Orography

The soil of Carden has a very regular relief, made up of flat terrain with areas of depression with a variable altitude between 2 and 17 m s. no. m.. The municipality does not present natural elevations higher than 25 meters above sea level. The altitude of the municipal head of 10 m s. no. m.

Most of the surface has very humid clayey soils with poor drainage due to little variation in altitude. There are also sandy and saline soils in the areas near the coast and sedimentary soils on the banks and beds of the rivers.

The subsoil of Cárdenas has important oil deposits at the state level, which is why it is an area of first order oil extraction.

Hydrography

Hydrographic resources are varied, although not as critically as in the center of the state. The eastern end of the municipality is bordered by the Mezcalapa River, which runs east until it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. In the northern part are the San Felipe, Naranjeño and Santana rivers.

Cárdenas is home to the most important lagoon system in the state; formed by the lagoons of Carmen and La Machona, which are classified as lagoons, separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Santa Anna Bar.

The lagoons of La Palma, Santa Teresa and El Pajaral are also located, the latter maintains an important population of birds on one of its islands, including seagulls, pelicans, herons, among others. This makes it an important environmental study post and a potential site for ecotourism development.

In the northern part, the San Felipe and Naranjeño rivers flow into the Carmen lagoon and the Santana river into the La Machona lagoon. The Chicozapote River borders the village of Benito Juárez and empties into the Tonalá River near the mouth of the latter in the Gulf of Mexico. There are other rivers and streams of lesser importance.

Climate

As in the rest of the state, the climate of Cárdenas is hot and humid with abundant rains in summer (Am). The average annual temperature in the entity is 27 °C, the average maximum temperature is 36 °C and occurs in the month of May, the average minimum temperature is 18.5 °C during the month of January.

The state average precipitation is 2 550 mm per year, the rains occur throughout the year, being more abundant in the months of June to October.

The average annual relative humidity is estimated at 83%, with a maximum of 86% in January and February and a minimum of 77% in May.

The greatest gales occur in the months of November and December, with maximums of 30 km/h, and the smallest in June, with maximums of 20 km/h.

Flora and Fauna

The original vegetation is medium and high perfoliate jungle; although most of it has given way to agricultural crops and, mostly, to pastures for extensive cattle breeding. In the areas close to the bodies of water there is hydrophilic vegetation, known as popal, forming marshes and swamps of great extension with vegetation such as flowers, trees, tomato plants, among others.

The fauna is typical of tropical regions, with various species of reptiles (especially chelonians), birds, amphibians and mammals; as well as a huge variety of invertebrates.

Economy

The municipality of Cárdenas is the main sugarcane producer in Tabasco.

Primary sector

Since 1965, the municipality has been the headquarters of the agricultural development project called Plan Chontalpa, which incorporates 352,000 hectares of crops in the Chontalpa region, with the municipality having covered 52,517ha to date. Said project is still in development today since various difficulties have arisen in the different stages of its application. However, it has produced some satisfactory results.

The municipality stands out as the main state producer of sugar cane (15,557ha), cocoa (13,229ha), coconut (9,054ha) and rice (6,000ha). Other crops produced in the municipality include corn, beans, sorghum, chili (chili) and fruit crops, of which the most important are bananas and citrus.

As for livestock, in Cárdenas it is practiced extensively, with the municipality having 117,772 heads of cattle, 34,872 pigs, 690 sheep and 3,342 horses, as well as 345,331 poultry, according to INEGI data corresponding to the 2000 Economic Census.

Fishing is not another important sector of municipal production, since Cárdenas has a coastline of 66 km, as well as a large expanse of inland waters. The production of oysters, sea bass, tarpon, dogfish, strip, moray eel, shrimp and crab stands out. Jellyfish or jellyfish fishing for export to Japan has recently been instituted. The main center of fishing production is the town and port of Sánchez Magallanes.

Secondary sector

The municipality of Cárdenas is one of the main producers of ostion at the national level.

In terms of industry, the municipality presents an important development in the sector of industrialization of agricultural products; highlighting the sugar mills Benito Juárez and Santa Rosalía, the Cocoa Industrialization Plant and the Chontalpa Rice Processing Plant.

Another relevant industry is the oil industry, which has 37,879 km of oil corridors and pipelines in the municipality, with Cárdenas being the municipality with the largest number of roads or pipelines of this type in the state.

Tertiary sector

Tourism activity takes place mainly in the coastal areas, in the town and port of Sánchez Magallanes, near which the Del Carmen, La Machona and El Pajaral lagoons are located, with great potential for ecotourism development. Accommodation can be found more easily in the city of Cárdenas.

[Commerce] is the main engine of the Cardenense economy, since the municipal seat is a connection point between the state capital, Villahermosa, and the north of the country via federal highway 180. Thanks to this, Cárdenas has Numerous commercial establishments of all kinds, as well as a large number of services, such as national chain self-service stores, car dealerships, banks, restaurants, pharmacies, etc.

Communications

Federal Highway No. 187 Malpaso-El Bellote, 4-lane Huimanguillo-Cárdenas.

Cárdenas can be reached by road; There are 811.50 km of paved highways in the municipality, of which 80.3 km are paved federal highways, and 259 km of state highways, of the latter, 155 km are paved and 104.2 km are surfaced.

In the entire road network in the municipality, 109 vehicular bridges have been built.

Federal Highway 180 also called "Circuito del Golfo" It crosses the municipality from west to east, and has two options, the two-lane free federal highway and the modern four-lane toll highway.

Also, federal highway No. 187 Malpaso-El Bellote crosses the municipality from south to north.

The state coastal highway connects the town of Sánchez Magallanes with the city of Paraíso, although it is in very poor condition as marine erosion has affected several sections.

Tourism

Temple of San Antonio de Padua

Church of San Antonio de Padua, in the city of Heroica Cárdenas.

It is the main church of Heroica Cárdenas, its main façade is sober, the towers and the niche with the sculpture of San Antonio de Padua attract a lot of attention, which makes this majestic building a place worth visiting. It is built in front of the Independence Park and its interior, in addition to its risen Christ on the cross, leaves you amazed.

Sánchez Magallanes town and port

Sanchez Magallanes beach view

Fishermen's town located on the shores of the beautiful beach of the same name. It extends on a small peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and Laguna del Carmen, it has several spas among which Ensueño del Trópico stands out, which is the most visited, it has a 4 km long beach by 60 m wide. It has fine-grained gray sand, sloped to gentle waves. The water is blue, warm, and shallow up to 50 m offshore. There are also the Acapulquito Spa and Barra de Panteones. The port of Sánchez Magallanes is accessible by road and is located at a distance of 93 km from the municipal seat.

Chontalpa Ecological Park

The Chontalpa Ecological Park contains one of the last two remnants of canacoite (Bravaisia integerrima) forest in Mexico. It covers an area of 277 ha and is located in the western part of the state of Tabasco (17°59'05″ to 17°59′51″ N, 93°34′13″ to 93°35′33″ W). In this work, an updated checklist of 124 bird species recorded in Czech was presented. the park, of which 23 species are on the list of Mexican species at risk. This study is relevant because it constitutes a support of the importance of the park as an area for the conservation of birds in the region of the Chontalpa, Tabasco.

Laguna del Carmen and La Machona

They flow into the Gulf of Mexico, whose blue and green tones blend harmoniously with the surrounding vegetation. Located in a place of unique beauty, ideal for fishing, boating and bird watching.

El Pajaral Island

island the bird

Island located next to the port of Sánchez Magallanes, it is the ideal place to practice ecological tourism because it is a natural refuge for thousands of birds, when taking a pleasant boat trip through the Laguna del Carmen, you can see these beautiful virgin islands where large flocks of seagulls, pelicans, herons and ibis take flight in search of food.

Tropical Dream Beach

This resort has approximately 4 kilometers of beach, which is highly visited especially in the summer. The shallow, warm blue-green water, as well as the fine sand, make a stay pleasant for visitors who like contact with nature.

Benito Juárez García Park

Attractive site with walkways, squares and iron benches, where the main component of its decoration is its vegetation of palm trees, flamboyant trees and Indian laurels. In addition, there are attractive garden areas and a hemicycle dedicated to Lic. Benito Juárez, which has smooth shaft columns and a Doric capital.

Museums

Carlos Pellicer Museum that is located in the city of Heroica Cárdenas, where works of the poet, photographs and archaeological pieces of the Olmec culture are exhibited.

Works of Art (Paintings)

Mural: "The Evolution of Man", by Ponce Montuy, in the Carlos Pellicer Cámara museum in the city of Heroica Cárdenas.

Other sites of interest

• Barra de Santa Anna
• Emilio Ruiz Ross
• Centro Cultural Cárdenas
• Central Park of Cardenas "Independence"
• Plaza Hidalgo
• Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe City
• Municipal Palace
• Chocolate

Popular Festivals

Municipal Fair In the municipal seat (from June 1 to 16) in honor of San Antonio de Padua. During this festivity, the Flor de Caña is chosen; the participants walk through the main streets of the city.

choice of the flower of the reed

Oyster Farming Fair In honor of the Virgin of Santa Ana, it takes place from July 22 to 26 in the port of Sánchez Magallanes

Patronal Fair In honor of San Antonio de Padua, in the municipal seat (from June 6 to 13).

Docenario Festivities of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 1 to 12)

Main towns

• Heroica Cárdenas: Municipal head. Considered the second major city in the state and fifth of southeastern Mexico. It is located the main public buildings of the municipality and state and federal representations. The main economic activities are trade and service. The approximate population is 95,482 inhabitants, and is 50 km away from the state capital

• Sánchez Magallanes: Villa and port Antigua Barra de Santa Ana. Port of the Gulf of Mexico. The main activities are fishing, ostriculture, plantation agriculture and livestock. There is an important activity of the oil industry in the region. The distance from the main municipality is 93 km and its approximate population. is 7,827 inhabitants

• Villa Benito Juárez: Formerly called "Campo Magallanes". Its main activities are livestock, fishing, and oil and gas extraction. The distance of the municipal header is 44,5 km and its approximate population is 4,961 inhabitants

• Santa Rosalía: (Miguel Hidalgo 2a.) The main activities are the cultivation and processing of sugar cane, rice sowing and livestock. The distance of the municipal header is 20 km and its approximate population is 4,727 inhabitants.

• José Maria Pino Suarez: (C-22 populated)The main activities are the cultivation of sugar cane, cocoa, rice, and livestock. The distance to the municipal header is 44 km and its approximate population is 4,245 inhabitants

• Francisco I. Madero: (C-9 population). The main activities are the cultivation of sugar cane, rice, and livestock. The distance from the municipal capital is 33 km, and its approximate population is 4,139 inhabitants.

• Colonel Gregorio Méndez:(C-28). The main activities are the cultivation of sugar cane, cocoa, rice, and livestock. The distance to the municipal header is 15 km and its approximate population is 4,121 inhabitants

• Melchor Ocampo : Located 1 km from the municipal capital, this town has a population of 3224 inhabitants. Its importance is due to the proximity of the municipal header. Its main activities are agriculture and livestock and trade.