Municipality of Centla

Centla is a municipality in the Mexican state of Tabasco, located in the Usumacinta River region and in the Pantanos subregion.

Its municipal seat is the city and port of Frontera and it has a division also made up of three towns, four towns, 63 rancherías, 41 ejidos, 25 colonies, eight subdivisions and 23 sectors.

Its area is 3,093 km², which corresponds to 10.8% of the state's total; This places the municipality in fourth place in territorial extension.

Toponymy

Its name comes from the Nahuatl word Cin-tla, which means "In the cornfield".

History

The history of the first settlers of the municipality of Centla is lost in the immensity and darkness of past time, this, coupled with the few existing historical monuments, makes it very difficult to clarify this mystery.

What is known is that the plains of Centla were heavily populated by the Chontal Maya upon the arrival of the first Spaniards in 1518. The most important population was Potonchan, the capital city of the Tabscoob lordship, who had intense trade as it was a natural bridge between the Mayans of the highlands of the Guatemalan Petén and the Acalan lordship with the Mayan populations of the Yucatan Peninsula and even with the Mexicas and other cultures of the Central Altiplano.

Juan de Grijalva, was the discoverer of these lands, when on June 7, 1518 he discovered the river then called the Tabasco River, and which since that date has been called 'Grijalva', landing in Potonchan and meeting with the Mayan authorities, it is even said that Grijalva gave his red velvet doublet to the Mayan chief Tabscoob, who in exchange gave him various jewelry.

On March 12, 1519 he landed at "Punta de los Palmares" the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, and he entered the Grijalva River to the town of Potonchan where, unlike Grijalva, he was received aggressively by the indigenous people, who signaled to him to leave. Cortés, unable to convince them with words, decided to do it through force.

This is how, on March 14, 1519, it took place in those plains of "Cintla" what would be the first great battle between indigenous people and Spaniards in New Spain, the famous Battle of Centla, in which according to the Spaniard Bernal Díaz del Castillo more than 40,000 indigenous people participated, and where the horse intervened for the first time in a battle in the new world, causing a real impact on the indigenous people since they thought that horse and rider were the same person, which was decisive for the victory of the Spanish.

After the victory was achieved, and once peace was concluded, on March 25, 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived at the trunk of a large ceiba tree (sacred tree of the Mayans) and, giving two blows with his sword, took possession of the lands in the name of the Spanish monarchs, and founding the Villa de Santa María de la Victoria, the first Spanish town in Mexico. That day, the first Christian mass was also held in continental America, officiated by Fray Bartolomé de Olmedo and chaplain Juan Díaz.

On May 8, 1525, Juan de Vallecillo, who would be the first governor of the province of Tabasco, arrived at the Villa de Santa María de la Victoria, with the task of pacifying the province, something he did not achieve. Later, in 1526, Cortés sent Baltazar de Osorio, who also failed in his attempt to pacify the region, so he traveled to Mexico to request more help from Cortés.

In 1529 Francisco de Montejo arrived, who finally managed to partially pacify the province in 1535 and began organizing the conquest of Yucatán and Cozumel from here.

In 1557 the first pirate incursions began to occur on the coast of Centla, and in 1558 the pirates took over the Island of Tris (today Isla del Carmen), intensifying their attacks on the provincial capital of Tabasco, which they burned and destroyed on many occasions, highlighting the attacks of 1597, 1600, 1614 and 1639, which caused little by little the inhabitants of the town of Santa María de la Victoria to abandon the city, until the 24th of June 1641, the Spanish authorities, by decree signed by Viceroy Diego López Pacheco, transferred the powers of the province to the town of San Juan Bautista (today Villahermosa), so the few remaining inhabitants abandoned the town of Santa María de la Victoria..

The city and port of Frontera was founded on March 30, 1780 when the priest Don Tomás Herguera, with a group of families, founded the town of San Fernando de la Frontera. Years later, its name would be changed to Guadalupe de la Frontera, which was the headquarters of the state customs in 1829 and 1834, and by decree of President Benito Juárez, since December 1, 1871 the port of Frontera is the official headquarters of the maritime Customs in Tabasco.

On March 3, 1825, the Constituent Congress of the State of Tabasco decreed the law by which the state was divided into three departments, the city of Frontera was annexed to the department of "La Capital" with headquarter in San Juan Bautista (today Villahermosa).

On December 5, 1833, the morbid cholera epidemic was declared in Frontera, causing a large number of deaths. Juan Federico Maximiliano, Baron de Waldeck, Czechoslovakian traveler who was the first renowned traveler to visit Tabasco, would write:

..."On December 5, 1833, the cholera morbo was declared in the small town of Frontera...when I arrived the epidemic was with all its strength and another calamity no less naughty, the civil war was on the eve of bursting..."

Illustrious people

• Tomás Helguera: Presbyter, founder in 1780 of the city of San Fernando de la Frontera (Today City and Puerto de Frontera, current head of the municipality of Centla).

• Andrés Calcáneo Díaz: (1874 – 1914) Political and Writer.

• Quintin Aráuz Carrillo: (1892 – 1923) Founder of the first agrarian leagues.

• Antonio Ocampo Ramírez: (1914-1983) Lawyer.

• María del Carmen Paredes Zaldívar: First woman to occupy the City Hall (1977-1978, dying in office).

• Ulises García Hernandez: Political. Municipal President (1956-1958).

• Armando Pérez Chan: Politician, writer and historian of the Municipality. Mayor (1980-1982).
• Professor José Ezequiel Cortázar Maldonado: (1928-2008) Former Director of the Elementary School “Ing. Joaquín Pedrero Córdova”; and former Director of Plantel 12 of the School of Tabasco Bachelors.
• Angel José Mora Suárez: (1925-2017) Dibujante, graphic author of the iconic Mexican comic "Chanoc", published uninterruptedly for more than 20 years, beginning in 1959. Because of his agile and dynamism, he is considered one of the great teachers of the Mexican comic book.
• Francisco Ascanio Zenteno: Poet. National Poetry Prize for "The Day I Awakened Bird."

Location

The municipality of Centla is located in the Usumacinta region and the Pantanos subregion, with the city and port of Frontera as its municipal seat, which is located in the north of the state, between parallels 18°40'; latitude, to the south 18°02' north latitude, to the east 92°16', and 93°05' west longitude.

It borders to the north with the Gulf of Mexico, to the south with the municipalities of Macuspana and Centro, to the east with the state of Campeche and the municipality of Jonuta, and to the west with the municipalities of: Centro, Nacajuca, Jalpa de Méndez, and Paradise.

Extension

The territorial extension of the municipality is 3,093 km², which corresponds to 10.8% of the state's total, and ranks 4th. place on the scale of municipal extension.

Its territorial division is made up of: a city, three towns, four towns, 63 rancherías, 41 ejidos, 25 colonies, eight subdivisions and 23 sectors.

In the municipality there are nine regional development centers in which most economic and social activities are carried out, these are: ejido la Estrella, Francisco I. Madero town, Ignacio Allende town, Vicente Guerrero town, Cuauhtémoc town, Ignacio Zaragoza town, Simón Sarlat town, Quintin Arauz town and Boca de Chilapa ranch.

Geography

Municipal limits

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

Northwest: Gulf of Mexico	North: Gulf of Mexico	Northeast: Carmen (Campeche)
West: Paradise		This: Jonuta
Southwest: Jalpa de Méndez, Nacajuca	South: Center, Macuspana	Sureste: Jonuta

Orography

The territory is completely flat; It has coastal plains, plains and swamps, plains with dunes, alluvial plains, with a large number of bodies of water, streams, lakes, rivers. The maximum altitude recorded is 10 m s. n. m.

Hydrography

The soil of the municipality benefits from the two largest rivers in the country: the Grijalva and the Usumacinta; The latter receives the waters of the San Pedrito River in Tres Brazos, and then joins the Grijalva River that flows into the Gulf of Mexico through the Barra de Frontera. In addition, countless secondary rivers flow through the municipality, such as the San Pedrito (which joins the Grijalva and the Usumacinta in the area known as "Tres Brazos).

To the east of the city of Frontera is the San Pedro and San Pablo River, which serves as a natural boundary with the state of Campeche.

It also has a lake potential of approximately 16,117 hectares, highlighting the lagoons El Viento, Chichicastle, El Tocoal, Santa Anita, El Loncho and San Pedrito.

And many other rivers, as well as a large number of lagoons, lakes, mangroves and a large area of swamps.

Climate

Tropical with regular rains for 6 months and reaches max temperatures. 43 °C, in spring-summer and minimums of 18 °C. in winter. In autumn, temperatures can reach up to 19 °C. But, regularly, its temperature is 29 °C.

Main ecosystems

The main ecosystem is the Pantanos de Centla, considered a biosphere reserve with an area of 302,706 ha, which covers part of the low areas of the municipalities of Jonuta and Macuspana. And it is considered the most important wetland in Mesoamerica and one of the 15 most important in the world.

The predominant vegetation is the jungle and the savanna. The flora is typical of warm and humid climates.

Flora

There are a large number of species of aquatic flora and fauna, typical of tropical swamps. One of the most important protected areas in the state of Tabasco are the 'Pantanos de Centla'.

The diversity of the vegetation is reflected in the flora that ranges from the swamps to the trees and shrubs such as guaya, jondura, jobos, pomarosa, pitahaya, star apple, anona, soup bread, cashew, coconut, mango and orange.

Fauna

The municipality is the habitat of various types of fish, turtles, crocodiles, monkeys and other species, currently under threat, due to the decrease in their habitat. We can find the following species with their common name and current situation;

Types of vegetation

The high evergreen and sub-evergreen forest, medium sub-deciduous forest, low evergreen forest, popal, tular, reedbed, floodable thorny scrub, floodable unarmed scrub, floodable palm grove, natural and cultivated grassland, savanna, floodable palm grove, aquatic and underwater vegetation persist..

• Types of habitats: dunes, swamps, mangroves, marshes, freshwater and salt mirrors, river islands.

Natural resources

There are timber trees that are used to make homes and furniture, as well as resources from the sea, rivers, lagoons and swamps where there is a large extension of mangrove areas; This municipality is considered the one with the greatest fishing potential in the state. Below is the complete list of trees with their common name and current status:

Mangle (Endangered)

Coco (Threatened)

Cedar (Endangered)

Guaya (Not Threatened)

Caimito (Not Threatened)

Anona (Not Threatened)

Rose Pomarose (Not Threatened)

Soup Bread (Not Threatened)

Mango (Not Threatened)

There are also important oil fields, with currently 56 oil wells in 12 fields, which have a daily production of 29,127 barrels and a daily natural gas production volume of 161.9 million cubic feet.

Economy

Productive activities

The municipality has 309,300 hectares. According to the Municipal Statistical Notebook, 1998 edition of the INEGI, the agricultural area was 3%; livestock 25%; forestry 2%; and the remaining 70% was destined for urban areas, bodies of water and unproductive areas.

Primary sector

Agriculture

Until the end of the nineties, coconut cultivation and basic crops such as corn and beans, as well as fruit trees and pepper stood out. In 1997 the planted area was 10,483 hectares, the coconut activity occupied 7,375 hectares, which represented 70.35%; In 2011, 4,900 hectares were registered planted with corn. In the same way, in 2011, crops such as beans only recorded 500 hectares planted and green chili only 146 hectares.

Livestock

Livestock farming is another important sector in the local economy, with this activity being practiced extensively. According to INEGI data, in 2011 the volume of bovine carcass production was 2,529 tons, pork production was 563 tons, sheep production was only 15 tons, and poultry production was 570 tons.

Fishing

This is an important activity in the municipality since it has 80 km of coastline, the port still represents an important fishing hub in the state, despite the damage suffered by oil exploitation, it still maintains considerable production. The species with the greatest demand are: pigua, shrimp, snook and mojarra.

Secondary sector

Industry

Products are made with bovine, lizard, otter and shark skins. There are also ship repair workshops, which represent the most important industrial activity in the municipality, the largest of which is the naval repair workshop belonging to the V Military Naval Zone.

Tertiary sector

Trade

Commercial activity has spread widely in the municipality with the installation of large commercial chains and self-service stores not only in the municipal seat but also in its main towns where the main products are food, footwear, clothing, furniture stores, appliances, hardware, construction materials, car parts, books, drinks, etc.

Services

It has various banking institutions, businesses specialized in food preparation, various land transportation lines inside and outside the municipality, pharmacy, parts stores, clothing stores, furniture stores, stationery stores and supermarkets.

Tourism

Beaches

Due to its natural conditions, the municipality has its own places to enjoy beach tourism and ecotourism; counting on the beaches Miramar, Pico de Oro, la Bocana, la Victoria, el Bosque, which are highly visited by local and regional tourists.

Forest Beach

It is a 40 m wide open sea beach, with fine gray sand, gentle slope and moderate waves. It is located at a distance of approximately 90 km from the state capital.

Miramar Beach

It is approximately 5 km long, 100 m of dry beach and 10 m of wet beach; The slope and waves are gentle, the water is warm blue-green; It has palapas and is located 65 km from the state capital.

Pico de Oro Beach

It is approximately 3 km long, 5 m of wet beach and 5 m of dry beach, with gentle slopes and waves, the sand is gray, and the water is blue-green. On the shore there is a barrier of coconut trees that houses the bowers, restaurants, changing rooms and toilets. It is located at a distance of 70 km from the state capital.

La Bocana Beach

It is located in the bay formed by the Grijalva River, before flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. The sand is fine, the water is warm green and the waves are gentle. You can practice swimming, fishing and take boat trips, upriver or reach the open sea.

Victoria Beach

Of fine dark gray sand, it is approximately one km long and 40 m wide; The slope is gentle, the water is cloudy and warm.

Ecotourism

Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve

For ecotourism activity, the municipality has the Centla swamps, declared a Biosphere Reserve since 1992, being the largest area of protected wetlands in North America, with 302,706 protected hectares and is considered one of the 15 wetlands Most important in the world. It is currently on UNESCO's tentative list to be named "World Heritage Site".

In the Pantanos de Centla Biosphere Reserve there are various options to practice ecotourism, as well as bird watching. Within the reserve, there is the station "Tres Brazos" which is the surveillance center of the reserve, as well as an environmental monitoring center. Also there is the "Casa del Agua" which has various tourist service facilities such as a museum, tours, a tower for panoramic views, as well as a dock for tourist tours of the reserve.

They are located in the delta of the Usumacinta and Grijalva rivers. With a territorial extension of 302,706 hectares; made up of the municipalities of Centla Jonuta and Macuspana, considered a biosphere reserve where around 260 plant species belonging to 89 botanical families have been identified; Of them, 79 species are food or medicinal or are used for construction, as fuel, living fences, and for crafts. 10 species are reported as vulnerable or in danger of extinction.

In this area you can observe a wide diversity of at least 39 species of fish, 50 amphibians and reptiles, 60 species of mammals and 110 species of birds. In the area there are 9 species of animals whose populations have been seriously diminished, locally, nationally and worldwide, to such an extent that some of them are in danger of extinction such as the manatee, crocodile, white turtle, peregrine falcon, jabiru stork and eagle. fisherwoman

Mangroves

In this municipality, the two largest rivers in the country meet, the Usumacinta River and the Grijalva River, which together, with the mangrove and popal tular vegetation, constitute a fascinating landscape, habitat for species such as the saraguato, monkey at night, hedgehog, raccoon, otter, squirrel, hawk, owl, pelican, parrot, parrot and calandria.

Productive Activities

The municipality has an area of 309,300 hectares. According to the Municipal Statistical Notebook, 1998 edition of the INEGI, the agricultural area was 3%; livestock 25%; forestry 2%; and the remaining 70% was destined for urban areas, bodies of water and unproductive areas.

The total agricultural area is 309,300 hectares, livestock 9,279 hectares and forestry 77,325 hectares.

Demography

Ethnic and fundamental groups

The municipality has an indigenous population of 11,042 inhabitants, of which 3,266 speak the Chontal language of Tabasco; the rest are made up of other ethnic groups. Its main activities are agriculture, livestock and fishing, due to the high rates of marginalization in the municipality, the social and economic development of indigenous communities has been hindered.

Demographic Evolution

Year, Total, Men, %, Women, %.

1950: 27,062; 13,558; 50.1; 13,504; 49.9

1960: 32,776; 16,558; 50.5; 16,218; 49.5

1970: 42,882; 21,634; 50.5; 21,248; 49.5

1980: 53,778; 27,232; 50.6; 26,546; 49.4

1990: 70,053; 35,498; 50.7; 34,555; 49.3;

2000: 88,181; 44,281; 50.22; 43,900; 49.78

2010: 102,110; 50,925; 49.88; 51,185; 50.12;

Source: Municipal Statistical Notebook 1998 INEGI

Sociodemographic panorama of Tabasco 2010

XIII General Population and Housing Census 2010

According to the preliminary results of the XIII General Population and Housing Census 2010 of the INEGI, the municipality has 102,110 inhabitants, 50,925 men (49.88%), and 51,185 women (50.12%), which represents 4.6% of the total population of the state, with the municipality registering a population density of 38 inhabitants/km².

Social and communications infrastructure

Education

The educational system at all levels in the municipality is made up of 269 schools that are regularly attended by 28,905 students who are served by 1,102 teachers.

Of those 269 schools, 97 are preschool, 131 primary, 33 secondary, 7 high school, there are also 3 special education centers, 3 job training centers, 39 laboratories, 14 school libraries, 12 public libraries in the urban and rural environment.

In addition, the municipality has 3 Higher Education schools, the ASBEMAAN university located in the center of the city in Morelos and Mina, the Higher Technological Institute of Centla (ITSCe) located on the outskirts of the municipal seat founded in 2001, the Intercultural University of Tabasco (Centla campus) located in Villa Vicente Guerrero, in addition to the technological high school Institute of Professions M.A. (IPMA) located in the center of the city in the downtown area, said institutions deconcentrated from the state government.

Health

The demand for medical services is met by official and private organizations in urban and rural areas, with 30 medical units; 29 for outpatient consultation and one for general hospitalization from the Ministry of Health.

The rural clinics provide preventive medicine, outpatient consultation and general medicine services, the maternal and child health centers offer, in addition to the services already mentioned, laboratory services for clinical analysis, X-rays and health regularization, obstetric care, pediatric gynecology and hospitalization.

Social Security

There are 28 medical units, 27 for outpatient consultation and one for general hospitalization. The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) has an outpatient consultation unit and the Institute of Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE) has a general hospitalization unit.

Social Assistance

There are 26 medical units: 24 outpatients and one general hospitalization unit; as well as a general hospitalization DIF unit. In the rural area there are 11 health houses, in addition to individual medical clinics.

Supply

The municipality has 7 public markets, 76 DICONSA stores, one from ISSSTE, in addition to large commercial stores and supermarkets from the private sector, among which Soriana Express from Grupo Soriana, Bodega Aurrerá, a Mexican subsidiary of the American corporation Walmart, and a commercial warehouse of the Almacenes Coppel chain and a flea market or market on wheels is set up once a week. Also Dunosusa, Compucopias, Telas Parisina, and soon Famsa.

Culture

Crafts

They are made with shark teeth and jaws, shells, snails, scales, starfish, etc. Objects are also made of wood, skins and water lilies.

Centla Folkloric Ballet

The folkloric ballet of the municipality of Centla was born on March 19, 1982 in the facilities of the "ingeniero Félix Fulgencio Palavicini" federal secondary school; by Professor José Zepeda Cortéz, thus forming one of the institutions that has elevated the municipality of Centla and the state of Tabasco on a national scale. Made up of 45 people including dancers, drummers and costume staff, the folkloric ballet of the municipality of Centla has participated in different states of the republic to mention a few such as: Morelos, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Veracruz, Feria de Tabasco, Chiapas and Campeche, He has recently managed to bring Tabasco culture to various countries, reflecting the great diversity of Mexican culture.

Fairs and traditions

July 18 Vicente Guerrero Fair.

Last week of May. Municipal Fair.

3rd. July week Chilapa Fair.

September 23-29 Fair in Allende.

October 7-12 Fair in La Estrella.

2nd. week of December.- Fair in Cuauhtémoc.

January 26 to February 2.-Frontera Integration Fair.

Corpus Christi.-Feast of the Lord of Tila in Frontera and Chilapa.

Traditions and customs

The festivities of the Quintín Arauz village where the Dance of the Old Dance is danced year after year. border integration fair -January 26 to February 2. In addition to the municipal fair and the fairs of the different integration centers.

Music

Wind music, drummers and marimba. The songs “Las Muchachas de Frontera” and “Camino de Frontera” by Manuel Pérez Merino.

Typical Costume

For women, long floral skirt, with a lot of flare and a white cotton blouse with a collar embroidered with flowers in solid knit. The men wear white blanket pants and shirts, a red scarf around their neck, a chontal hat, a backpack, a machete and a bush.

Gastronomy

Within the typical gastronomy of Centla, the following stand out:

Food: a rich variety of stews and cocktails, with products from the river and the sea, among which the pigua, crabs, sea bass, shrimp and mojarras stand out; From the typical Tabasco table, green pejelagarto, roasted in salad or empanadas, the preparation of sausages such as pork cheese and bread stuffed with quince stands out in the same way.

Sweets: among a wide variety, coconut, papaya, nance and cocoyol stand out.

Drinks: chorote (refreshing corn drink cooked with cocoa).

Main locations

• Border: municipal header, the main public buildings of the municipality and state and federal representations are located, in addition to large commercial chains recently settled in the header. The most representative activities are the provision of services and trade, in addition it has been proposed continuously for maritime, commercial and industrial development projects this is due to its strategic location in an oil zone which is the objective of many companies related to the industry. The population is 23,024 and is located 80 km from the state capital.

• Vicente Guerrero: main activities are livestock, agriculture, fruit, fisheries and trade which has grown significantly in recent years. It has tourist beaches close to its location in addition to various public transport services and a general medicine unit. The distance to the municipal header is 33 km and its population is 9,354 inhabitants.

• Ignacio Allende: main activities are farming, fishing and trade. The distance to the municipal header is 31 km and its approximate population is 3.547 inhabitants.

• Cuauhtémoc: its main activity is livestock, agriculture and fruit farming. The distance to the municipal capital is 44 km and its population is 3,476 inhabitants.

• Simon Sarlat: Villa. The main activities are livestock and agriculture. The distance to the municipal header is 34 km and its population is 3,317 hectares.

• Ignacio Zaragoza: its main activities are livestock and agriculture. It has a population of 2,497.

• Francisco I. Madero: its main activities are livestock, agriculture and trade. It has a strategic location as it is located near oil wells and tourist beaches. The distance to the main municipality is 13 km and its population is 2,304 inhabitants.

• Quintin Arauz: its main activities are fishing and planting basics. The distance to the municipal header is 48 km and its population is 1,283 inhabitants.

• The Star: its main economic activities are livestock and agriculture. Its distance to the municipal header is 11 km. Its population is 1,113 inhabitants.

Chronology of the Municipal Presidents