Cerinza

Cerinza is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, and part of the Tundama Province subregion. Cerinza borders Belén in the north, Encino, Santander in the west, Santa Rosa de Viterbo in the south and Floresta and Betéitiva in the east.[2]

Cerinza
Municipality and town
Church of Cerinza
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Cerinza in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceTundama Province
Founded7 January 1554
Founded byMelchor Vanegas
Government
 • MayorJuan Alcibíades Cely Amaya
(2020-2023)
Area
 • Municipality and town61.63 km2 (23.80 sq mi)
 • Urban
0.41 km2 (0.16 sq mi)
Elevation
2,750 m (9,020 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town3,762
 • Density61/km2 (160/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,547
 [1]
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, the area of Cerinza was ruled by the cacique of Tundama, present-day Duitama. The cacicazgo was part of the Muisca Confederation, the former country in the central highlands of the Colombian Andes. The Muisca spoke Chibcha and in that language Cerinza means "my throat". The village was named after the cacique with the same name.[3]

Modern Cerinza was founded on 7 January 1554 by Melchor Vanegas, after conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada entered the village in 1538.

Economy

Main economical activities in Cerinza are livestock farming and agriculture (potatoes, maize, peas and beans).[2]

  • Hospital of Cerinza
  • Monument honouring the Muisca

References
  1. (in Spanish) DANE population statistics
  2. (in Spanish) Official website Cerinza Archived 2016-01-11 at the Wayback Machine - accessed 02-05-2016
  3. (in Spanish) Etymology Cerinza - accessed 02-05-2016

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