Mérida Municipality is one of the 106 municipalities in the Mexican state of Yucatán containing 858.41 km2 of land with the head or seat being the city of Mérida. Because the archaeological remains of the Maya reminded the Spaniards of the ancient city of Mérida, Spain, which was marked by Roman archaeological sites, they renamed the site of T-hó after the Spanish city.

History What now constitutes the head of the municipality of Mérida, was a pre-Hispanic Itza Mayan town called T-hó (Yucatec Maya language meaning "five hills"), which was founded around the 12th century AD. By the time of the Spanish arrival, the city was virtually abandoned, though still used as a ceremonial center and its remnant buildings were of impressive monumental scale. Francisco de Montejo the Younger established the city of Mérida on the site on 6 January 1542. In the first year of the conquest, Montejo ordered the establishment of 54 encomiendas in favor of his soldiers and confirmed the three principal municipalities to be Mérida, Valladolid, and San Francisco de Campeche.

Overlapping jurisdictions occurred for the area at various times with the administration being under the Audiencia de Guatemala in 1549, but also the Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1549-1552. Then between 1552 and 1561 the area returned to the Audiencia de Guatemala and between 1561 and 1565 was again administered under the Viceroyalty of New Spain. In 1617, Yucatán became a Captaincy General in its own stead.

Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821 and in 1825, the area was distributed into 15 administrative partitions including Bacalar, Campeche, Hecelchakán, Hunucmá, Ichmul, Isla del Carmen, Izamal, Lerma, Mama, Mérida, Oxkutzcab, Seibaplaya, Sotuta, Tizimín and Valladolid. In 1840, Yucatán declared itself to be a free, independent nationEstado de Yucatán. División Territorial de 1810 a 1995, p 69 with its capital located in Mérida. The following year treaties were signed for the peninsula to rejoin Mexico, but by 1842, independence was again declared. In 1843, a new treaty of reinstatement was signed, but in 1845 the peninsula withdrew because Mexico had not complied with the terms of the 1843 agreement. Finally in 1846 the peninsula agreed to reintegrate into MexicoEstado de Yucatán. División Territorial de 1810 a 1995, p 70 but the outbreak of the Caste War, in 1847, an indigenous rebellion that took place throughout the Yucatán, delayed the full implementation until 1849.

The Constitution of 1850, redrafted the administrative divisions and made headquarters for the 17 partitions at: Bacalar, Bolonchenticul, Campeche, Espita, Hequelchakan, Isla del Carmen, Izamal, Maxcanú, Mérida, Motul, Peto, Seibaplaya, Sotuta, Tekax, Ticul, Tizimin, and Valladolid.Estado de Yucatán. División Territorial de 1810 a 1995, p 73 In 1918, the modern municipality of Mérida was confirmed as the seat of the municipio and capital of the State.

Governance The municipal president is elected for a three-year term. The town council has seventeen councilpersons, who serve as Secretary and councilors of Markets, Utilities and Public Safety; Administration; Social Development; Public Security; Entertainment; Urban Development and Ecology; Public Works; Youth And Sports; Women; Health and Disability; Economic Development; Tourism; Heritage; Education; and Culture.

The Municipal Council administers the business of the municipality. It is responsible for budgeting and expenditures and producing all required reports for all branches of the municipal administration. Annually it determines educational standards for schools.

The Police Commissioners ensure public order and safety. They are tasked with enforcing regulations, distributing materials and administering rulings of general compliance issued by the council.

Geography The land throughout the municipality is virtually flat, without any areas of the elevation, and like much of the Yucatan Peninsula has no surface water streams. There are cenotes both underground and at the surface (collapsed caverns). The climate is semi-humid, with temperature range between a maximum of 40 °C and minimum 14 °C.

Communities The head of the municipality is Mérida, Yucatán. There are 158 populated areas of the municipality. The most notable include Caucel, Chablekal, Cholul, Chuburná de Hidalgo, Cosgaya, Dzityá, Dzununcán, Komchén, Molas, San José Tzal, Sierra Papacal and Sitpach. Communities of 50 people or more (as of 2005)Census Results by Locality, 2005 INEGI. are listed below, along with numerous smaller ones (not listed).

+ Communities of 50 people or more in the Mérida Municipality Community Pop Community Pop Community Pop Mérida 734,153 Leona Vicario 1,822 Seminario San Pablo 53 Caucel 6,655 Molas 1,859 Sierra Papacal 986 Chablekal 3,165 Noc Ac 437 Sitpach 1,502 Chalmuch 454 Oncán 606 Susulá 447 Cheumán 197 Opichén 327 Suytunchén 92 Cholul 5,161 Petac 183 Tahdzibichén 678 Cosgaya 584 Sac-Nicté 278 Tamanché 555 Dzibilchaltún 156 San Antonio Hool 135 Temozón Norte 270 Dzidzilché 153 San Antonio Tzacalá 618 Texán Cámara 483 Dzityá 1,496 San Diego Texán 81 Tixcacal 765 Dzoyaxché 412 San Ignacio Tesip 329 Tixcuytún 348 Dzununcán 1,528 San José Tzal 3,092 Xcanatún 1,350 Hunxectamán 104 San Pedro Chimay 1,012 Xcunyá 837 Kikteil 216 Santa Cruz Palomeque 718 Xmatkuil 357 Komchén 3,778 Santa María Chí 328 Yaxché Casares 50 La Ceiba 1,023 Santa María Yaxché 50 Yaxnic 703

Local festivals Every year on 6 January the founding of the city is acknowledged in a citywide festival. Also annually from 27 September to 14 October is a celebration in honor of Santo Cristo de las Ampollas.

Tourist attractions

La Casa de Montejo (1549) Catedral de San Ildefonso (1598), first in the continental Americas Palacio de Gobierno (1892) Monumento à la Patria (1956) Haciendas of Yucatán: 18th century farms associated with the Henequen industry in Yucatán. Misnebalam Ghost Town

References