Cucaita

Cucaita is a municipality in the Central Boyacá Province, part of Boyacá Department, Colombia. The urban centre is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at a distance of 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the department capital Tunja. Cucaita borders Sora in the north, Tunja in the east and south and Samacá in the south and west.[1]

Cucaita
Municipality and town
View of Cucaita
Flag
Seal
Location of the municipality and town of Cucaita in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceCentral Boyacá Province
Founded12 August 1556
Founded byJuan de Los Barrios
Government
 • MayorJosé Moisés Castillo Duarte
(2020-2023)
Area
 • Municipality and town43.58 km2 (16.83 sq mi)
Elevation
2,650 m (8,690 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town4,687
 • Density110/km2 (280/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,905
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

The name Cucaita is derived from Chibcha and means either "Seminary enclosure" or "Shade of the farming fields".[1][2]

History

The area of Cucaita in the times before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca, organised in their loose Muisca Confederation. Cucaita was ruled by the zaque of nearby Hunza.

Modern Cucaita was founded on August 12, 1556 by friar Juan de Los Barrios.[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Cucaita are agriculture (predominantly onions and peas), livestock farming and minor carbon mining.[1]

Born in Cucaita
Panorama of central square of Cucaita
  • View of Cucaita
  • Central square
  • Church of Cucaita
  • Church interior
  • Monument to Rafael Antonio Niño
  • Rural Cucaita
  • Farmfields

References
  1. (in Spanish) Official website Cucaita Archived 2015-05-29 at Archive.today
  2. (in Spanish) Etymology Municipalities Boyacá - Excelsio.net

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