Department of San Miguel (El Salvador)
San Miguel is a department of El Salvador. Its departmental head is San Miguel, a city that is 138 km from San Salvador. It limits to the north with the Republic of Honduras; to the east with the departments of Morazán and La Unión; to the west with the departments of Cabañas and Usulután; and to the south with the Pacific Ocean. It covers an area of 2,077.1 km² and has a population of over 480,000. It was declared a department on June 12, 1824. Originally, the department of San Miguel covered all the territory that today forms the Eastern Zone of El Salvador, having the Lempa River as its western border; to the north and east it bordered with Honduras; to the southeast with the Gulf of Fonseca; and to the south it bordered the Pacific Ocean. But at the end of the XIX century, San Salvador divided the territory into the current four departments with the aim of limiting the influence of the city of San Miguel in the national interests. Certainly, the decrees for the creation of the eastern departments make this fact explicit.
History
The territory was originally populated by Lenca groups. After the founding of the town of San Salvador in 1525, the Spanish entrusted Captain Luis de Moscoso with the founding of San Miguel de la Frontera, which took place in 1530.
In 1865, during the government of Francisco Dueñas, it was determined that the department would reduce its size and the departments of La Unión and Usulután would be created at the expense of the territory.
Among the notable political figures originating from this department are Captain General Gerardo Barrios, and Captain General Miguel Santín del Castillo, who in both presidential terms made important contributions such as the introduction of normal education and public schools; and the promotion of industrialized coffee cultivation.
Hydrography
Most important rivers by flow and length:
- Torola and its tributaries: Jalalá, Chorosco, Cañas, Riachuelo and Carolina
- River Lempa and its tributaries on the left margin.
- La Vega and El Pulido.
- Great of Saint Michael and his tributaries: Papalon, Jute, Miraflores, Huiscoyol, Anchila, Méndez, Ereguayquín and Yamabal.
- Sirigual or Galdamez.
- The Marys.
- The Chorro, San Antonio and Gualozo that leads to the Pacific Ocean.
Gaps
- Olomega.
- The Jocotal.
- San Juan El Gozo.
- Aramuaca
Religion
In San Miguel there are 2 religions that are widely practiced, these being Catholicism and Protestantism. Catholicism represents 50% of the population and Protestantism represents 44%, while 3% of the population does not belong to any religion and 1% belongs to other religions.
Administrative division
Municipalities
| Pos | Municipality | Area (km2) | Population | Population Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina | 52.92 | 8.240 | 155.70 |
| 2 | Chapeltique | 103.55 | 10.728 | 103.60 |
| 3 | Chinameca | 77.34 | 22.311 | 288.48 |
| 4 | Chirilagua | 206.9 | 19,984 | 96.59 |
| 5 | Ciudad Barrios | 68.13 | 24.817 | 364.26 |
| 6 | Comacaran | 34.62 | 3.192 | 92.2 |
| 7 | The Transit | 74.58 | 18.363 | 246.22 |
| 8 | Lolotique | 94.45 | 14.916 | 157.92 |
| 9 | Moncagua | 102.95 | 22.659 | 311.97 |
| 10 | New Guadalupe | 22.81 | 8.905 | 390.4 |
| 11 | New Eden of San Juan | 63.13 | 4.034 | 63.9 |
| 12 | Quelepa | 22.21 | 4.049 | 182.3 |
| 13 | San Antonio | 16.9 | 8.174 | 483.67 |
| 14 | San Gerardo | 82.84 | 6.079 | 73.38 |
| 15 | San Jorge | 37.72 | 9.115 | 241.64 |
| 16 | San Luis de la Reina | 168.18 | 6.834 | 40.63 |
| 17 | San Miguel | 593.98 | 218.410 | 367.7 |
| 18 | San Rafael Oriente | 45.02 | 13.290 | 295.2 |
| 19 | Sesori | 203.3 | 10.705 | 52.66 |
| 20 | Uluazapa | 36.42 | 3.351 | 92.0 |
Gentilic
Michaelense. Although, as a general rule, the demonym "migueleño (a) is used, it is not the correct one.
Education
The city of San Miguel has a good educational system in both basic and secondary education in the public and private sectors. At the university level, there are the following institutions:
- Universidad de El Salvador (UES) or Universidad Multidisciplinaria de Oriente.
- University of the East (UNIVO)
- Universidad Gerardo Barrios os (UGB)
- Dr. University. Andrés Bello (UNAB)
- Specialized School in Engineering (Itca-Fepade)
- Open Modular University (UMA)
Illustrious people
- Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero.
- Captain General José Gerardo Barrios Espinoza.
- General Juan José Cañas, author of the letter of the National Anthem of El Salvador.
- Dr. David J. Guzmán, poet and writer and author of the Prayer to the Salvadoran Flag.
- Doctor Francisco Antonio Gavidia, poet and author of many literary, artistic and scientific works.
- Miguel Álvarez Castro, author of an "Oda a José Cecilio del Valle" and a beautiful choice "On the occasion of Pierzón's shooting."
- José María Silva, former head of State of El Salvador.
- Doctor Don Salvador Valenzuela, called "the Salvadoran Ulpiano", author of a remarkable book or treatise of law intitulated "Instituta".
- Dr. Abraham Chavarría, writer and lawyer.
- Doctor Miguel Charlaix, Departmental Political Governor who installed and organized the First Carnival of San Miguel
Tourism and sport
Among the most notable tourist sites are Cuco beach; the tourist center "Altos de La Cueva"; 'Posada de los Pájaros' Trail Archived 2013-05-03 at the Wayback Machine Recreational park AQUA PARK The adventure of the monkey archeological ruins of Moncagua, Quelepa and Uluazapa; and the ausoles of Chinameca, San Jorge and Carolina.
As for sports, San Miguel is represented in the First Division of El Salvador by Club Deportivo Águila, an entity that has won a total of 16 titles. The Club Deportivo Dragón also has its seat, which is in the second Division of Salvadoran Soccer.
On the other hand, the Carnival of San Miguel is one of the most important popular festivities in El Salvador that takes place every November, during the patron saint festivities of the main city.
Gallery
Map of San Miguel and its administrative division.
