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Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango (Spanish pronunciation: [keˌtsal.teˈnaŋ.ɡo], also known by its Maya name Xelajú [ʃelaˈχu] or Xela [ˈʃela]) is a municipality and namesake department in western Guatemala. The city is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2,330 meters (7,640 feet) above sea level at its lowest part. Inside the city, it can reach above 2,400 m (7,900 ft).
Quetzaltenango is a part of the Los Altos Metropolitan Area, which also includes the municipalities of Salcajá, Cantel, Almolonga, Zunil, Concepción Chiquirichapa, San Mateo, La Esperanza, San Juan Ostuncalco, Olintepeque, San Miguel Sigüilá, and Cajolá in Quetzaltenango Department, as well as San Cristóbal Totonicapán and San Andrés Xecul in Totonicapán Department.
As of the 2018 census, the city has a population of 180,706 in 122 km2 (47 sq mi). 43% of the population was indigenous in 2014.
The word "Quetzaltenango" is generally considered to mean "the place of the quetzal bird." The resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, and the Guatemalan quetzal is the currency of Guatemala. Quetzaltenango became the city's official name in colonial times[citation needed].
Many people, especially the indigenous population and locals, refer to the city by its Kʼicheʼ Mayan name, "Xelajú", or more commonly "Xela". This name is derived from the indigenous xe laju' noj, meaning "under ten mountains", referring to the mountain range of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas near the city. Some proudly but unofficially consider it the "capital of the Mayas".
In pre-Columbian times, Quetzaltenango was a city of the Mam Mayans, although by the time of the Spanish conquest in 1524, it had become part of the K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj.[citation needed] The city was said to have already been over 300 years old when the Spanish first arrived. With the help of his allies, Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado defeated and killed the Maya ruler Tecún Umán here[citation needed].
From 1838 to 1840 Quetzaltenango was the capital of the state of Los Altos, one of the states or provinces of the Federal Republic of Central America. As the union broke up, the army of Rafael Carrera conquered Quetzaltenango making it part of Guatemala. In 1850, the city had a population of approximately 20,000.
During the 19th century, coffee was introduced as a major crop in the area. As a result, the economy of Xela prospered[citation needed]. Much fine Belle Époque architecture can still be found in the city.[citation needed]
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Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango (Spanish pronunciation: [keˌtsal.teˈnaŋ.ɡo], also known by its Maya name Xelajú [ʃelaˈχu] or Xela [ˈʃela]) is a municipality and namesake department in western Guatemala. The city is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2,330 meters (7,640 feet) above sea level at its lowest part. Inside the city, it can reach above 2,400 m (7,900 ft).
Quetzaltenango is a part of the Los Altos Metropolitan Area, which also includes the municipalities of Salcajá, Cantel, Almolonga, Zunil, Concepción Chiquirichapa, San Mateo, La Esperanza, San Juan Ostuncalco, Olintepeque, San Miguel Sigüilá, and Cajolá in Quetzaltenango Department, as well as San Cristóbal Totonicapán and San Andrés Xecul in Totonicapán Department.
As of the 2018 census, the city has a population of 180,706 in 122 km2 (47 sq mi). 43% of the population was indigenous in 2014.
The word "Quetzaltenango" is generally considered to mean "the place of the quetzal bird." The resplendent quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, and the Guatemalan quetzal is the currency of Guatemala. Quetzaltenango became the city's official name in colonial times[citation needed].
Many people, especially the indigenous population and locals, refer to the city by its Kʼicheʼ Mayan name, "Xelajú", or more commonly "Xela". This name is derived from the indigenous xe laju' noj, meaning "under ten mountains", referring to the mountain range of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas near the city. Some proudly but unofficially consider it the "capital of the Mayas".
In pre-Columbian times, Quetzaltenango was a city of the Mam Mayans, although by the time of the Spanish conquest in 1524, it had become part of the K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj.[citation needed] The city was said to have already been over 300 years old when the Spanish first arrived. With the help of his allies, Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado defeated and killed the Maya ruler Tecún Umán here[citation needed].
From 1838 to 1840 Quetzaltenango was the capital of the state of Los Altos, one of the states or provinces of the Federal Republic of Central America. As the union broke up, the army of Rafael Carrera conquered Quetzaltenango making it part of Guatemala. In 1850, the city had a population of approximately 20,000.
During the 19th century, coffee was introduced as a major crop in the area. As a result, the economy of Xela prospered[citation needed]. Much fine Belle Époque architecture can still be found in the city.[citation needed]