Nuevo Colón

Nuevo Colón
Chiriví
Municipality and town
Central square of Nuevo Colón

Flag
Seal

Location of the municipality and town of Nuevo Colón in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Coordinates: 5°21′N 73°28′W / 5.350°N 73.467°W / 5.350; -73.467Coordinates: 5°21′N 73°28′W / 5.350°N 73.467°W / 5.350; -73.467
Country  Colombia
Department Boyacá Department
Province Márquez Province
Founded 15 October 1783
Government
 • Mayor Heriberto Suárez Muñoz
(2016-2019)
Area
 • Municipality and town 0.28582 km2 (0.11036 sq mi)
 • Urban 0.04492 km2 (0.01734 sq mi)
Population (2015)
 • Municipality and town 6,559
 • Urban 1,300
Time zone UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website Official website

Nuevo Colón is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Márquez Province. The urban centre is located at an altitude of 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, at a distance of 34 kilometres (21 mi) from the departmental capital Tunja. Nuevo Colón borders Boyacá, Boyacá, Ventaquemada and Jenesano in the north, Tibaná and Turmequé in the south, Tibaná in the east and Turmequé and Ventaquemada in the west.[1]

Etymology

Nuevo Colón was first called Chiriví, after the name of the area in the time before the Spanish conquest, when it was inhabited by the Chibcha-speaking Muisca. Chiriví means "our".[2] It received the name Nuevo Colón in 1907.[1]

History

Chiriví was part of the domains of the zaque of Hunza before the conquest. Conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada passed through Nuevo Colón in 1537, when he was crossing the Tenza Valley to discover the emerald mines of Somondoco, on his way to Hunza. Chiriví, as Nuevo Colón was called, after the foundation of Tunja, became part of the encomienda of Gonzalo Suárez Rendón. Nuevo Colón was visited by the first evangelisers in 1556, the first church was constructed in 1776 and modern Nuevo Colón was founded on October 15, 1783. The colour orange in the coat of arms of the municipality refers to the skin colour of the indigenous Muisca.[1]

Economy

Around 80% of the economy of Nuevo Colón is based on agriculture of fruits. Main products cultivated are prunes, pears, apples, peaches, and the typical Colombian fruits curuba, tree tomato, papayuela, feijoa, granadilla and uchuva. Additionally potatoes, beans and maize are grown.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 (in Spanish) Official website Nuevo Colón
  2. ↑ (in Spanish) El significado del nombre Boyacá y sus pueblos
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