Villaflores (Chiapas)

Villaflores is a city in the Mexican southeast and is also the municipal seat of the homonymous municipality that is located in the west of the state of Chiapas, on the limits of the Central Depression of Chiapas and the Sierra Mother of Chiapas, predominating the mountainous relief, according to the 2015 population census there are 98,618 inhabitants. Due to its number of inhabitants, Villaflores is the eleventh largest city in Chiapas.

History

The history of Villaflores dates back to the time of the Dominicans of the Chiapas convent, who founded the haciendas called friars. The first attempt at municipal integration is the decree promulgated on November 9, 1876 by Carlos Borda, governor and military commander of Chiapas; The mandate ordered the creation of a state town with the name of Santa Catarina La Grande, to the congregation of families residing in the Catarina land, belonging to the department of Chiapa. The new town was on the verge of being nullified, because despite the fact that the decree established: “Upon compensation for the land occupied,” the Moreno family (which was affected) filed the appeal for protection, which was granted by the Supreme Court. of Justice of the Nation. For this reason, Sebastián Escobar, governor of the State, promulgated a decree (November 7, 1877) that repeals the previous provision. However, as time goes by, the town of Santa Catarina La Grande survives.

In 1915, Governor Jesús Agustín Castro gave it the status of free municipality. On July 10, 1935, the municipal seat was changed to the town of Monte Negro, a situation that was reversed in January 1936. On November 30, 1944, the state governor Rafael Pascacio Gamboa granted it the status from city to municipal seat.

Relevant historical facts

• 1876 The community was decreed as a people.
• 1893 On November 3, Don Emilio Rabasa promulgates the decree that changes the name to the village of Catarina la Grande by that of Villaflores.
• 1915 As governor Jesus Augustine Castro gives him the category of free municipality.
• 1935 On July 10, the municipal head of the town of Monte Negro was changed, a situation that was reversed in January 1936.
• 1944 On 30 November, the governor of the state Rafael Pascacio Gamboa gave the city category to the municipal head.
• 1950 The municipal palace was inaugurated.
• 1983 For planting purposes the municipality is located in the IV Frailesca region.
• 1985 On the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the Independence and 75th of the Mexican Revolution, during a national period, they receive in the municipal head the patriotic symbols.

Toponymy

The town was originally called Santa Catarina la Grande and on November 3, 1893, Governor Emilio Rabasa promulgated the decree that changed the name of the town to Villaflores. The formal name is Villa Flores.

In the past, Villaflores received the nickname Cantarranas, because ponds formed there during the rains and many frogs gathered to sing.

Culture

Currently there is the Frailescano Cultural Center, which is dependent on La Rial Academia de la Lengua Fraylescana, this same center is the headquarters of the municipal house of culture.

Education

In the year 2000, the municipality presented an illiteracy rate of 19.32%, an indicator that in 1990 was 22.77%. Of the population over 15 years of age, 29.18% have incomplete primary school, 15.59% completed primary school and 34.15% attended some level of education after this level.

Local traditions

Parties

Lord of Esquipulas, San Martín de Porres and San Juan. Carnival in the town of New Mexico that is a fusion of traditions of the first settlers of that ejido, coming from the sister state of Oaxaca and Mexico. from Ocozocoautla. In addition to the September 15 festival, the cry for independence in Pueblo Cristóbal Obregón.

Religions

69.59% of the population professes Catholicism, 11.05% Protestantism, 7.04% non-evangelical biblical and 12.32% atheism

Media

The municipality has 12 post offices and a telegraph and post office, as well as a telephone network with state, national and international service. It has two radio stations: 103.9 FM "Extremo Grupero" and 98.3 FM "Radio Frailescana" The latter is part of the Chiapas System of Radio Television and Cinematography and is in the testing phase.

Tourism in Villaflores

The main tourist attractions are: Guaymas Caves. The caves are located 5 kilometers from the El Portillo ejido and 47 kilometers from the city of Villaflores. The distance from the state capital is 76 kilometers via Suchiapa. It has an extension of 20 to 30 meters wide and approximately 20 meters high with 75 meters deep. Its formations are made of stalactites and stalagmites. It is recommended to request authorization to visit the caves from the authority of the El Portillo locality and request a guide from the commissioner of ejidal assets. In this attraction, nature observation, hiking and photography are generally practiced.

Roads

The municipality in 2000 had a road network of 564.3 mm. Mainly integrated by the network of the State Road Commission (261.4 km) and rural roads built by the Secretariats of Public Works, Rural Development, National Defense and the National Water Commission (262.1 km). The municipality's road network represents 32.4% of the IV Frailesca economic region. Currently Villaflores is one of the strategic cities of Chiapas, now it will be an important communications hub because it will be crossed by the CHIAPAS CIRCUIT where it leaves from El Parral (Chiapas) at the Angostura dam to Tonalá as well as the superhighway: Tuxtla Gutiérrez-Tapachula where Villaflores and Motozintla will be intermediate points, the section where the highway will begin is the Suchiapa-Guadalupe section; as well as that of Villaflores-Villa Hidalgo-El Parral in the latter where they intend to join the Chiapas Circuit with the following sections:

• Airport Angel Albino Corzo-Acala-Venustiano Carranza-Socoltenango-La Trinitaria
• Autopista Chiapas Bicentenario: El Parral-La Concordia-Rizo de Oro-Chicomuselo-Frontera Comalapa
• Airport Angel Albino Corzo-El Parral-Villaflores-Tonalá-Puerto Arista
• Autopista Directa al Soconusco y Puerto Chiapas: Tuxtla Gutierrez-Suchiapa-Guadalupe Victoria-Villaflores (Tramo: Tuxtla Gutiérrez zona sur-Tapachula)
• Supercarretera Villaflores-Jaltenango-Montecristo de Guerrero-Siltepec y (Motozintla-Niquivil-Pavencul-Tapachula stretch Fronteriza del Sur y Tuxtla Gutierrez-Tapachula VIA CORTA DIRECTA)