Zipacón

Zipacón
Municipality and town
Central square and church

Flag

Seal

Location of the municipality and town of Zipacón inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Zipacón
Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 4°45′36″N 74°22′47″W / 4.76000°N 74.37972°W / 4.76000; -74.37972Coordinates: 4°45′36″N 74°22′47″W / 4.76000°N 74.37972°W / 4.76000; -74.37972
Country  Colombia
Department Cundinamarca
Province Western Savanna Province
Founded 5 July 1561
Founded by José Antonio Rubio
Government
  Mayor Gustavo Cortés Camacho
(2016-2019)
Area
  Municipality and town 70 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation 2,550 m (8,370 ft)
Population (2016)
  Municipality and town 5,570
  Density 80/km2 (210/sq mi)
  Urban 2,081
Time zone UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website Official website

Zipacón (Spanish pronunciation: [sipaˈkon]) is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Western Savanna Province, part of the department of Cundinamarca. The urban centre of Zipacón is situated at an altitude of 2,550 metres (8,370 ft) on the Bogotá savanna, the southern flatlands of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. Zipacón borders Anolaima, Facatativá, La Mesa and Bojacá.[1]

Etymology

The name Zipacón comes from Muysccubun and means "crying of the zipa".[1]

History

In the times before the Spanish conquest, Zipacón was inhabited by the Muisca, organised in their loose Muisca Confederation. Zipacón was the site of meditation for the zipa. The settlement was at the border with the Panche, eternal enemies of the Muisca. It was in Zipacón where the Panche invaded when the Spanish conquistadors were conquering the Bogotá savanna.[2]

The oldest evidences for agriculture of potatoes on the Bogotá savanna has been unearthed in Zipacón and dated at 3200 years BP.[3] The settlement was inhabited since the Herrera Period, at least since 3270 BP.[4] Rock art has been discovered in Zipacón.[5][6][7][8][9]

Modern Zipacón was founded on July 5, 1561, by José Antonio Rubio.[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Zipacón are agriculture and livestock farming.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 (in Spanish) Official website Zipacón
  2. (in Spanish) Zipa Sagipa - Pueblos Originarios
  3. García, 2012, p.63
  4. Nieto Escalante et al., 2010, p.96
  5. (in Spanish) Siteos arqueológicos - ICANH
  6. Muñoz Castiblanco, 2006, p.10
  7. Martínez & Botiva, 2004a
  8. López Estupiñán, 2011
  9. Martínez & Botiva, 2004b, p.15

Bibliography

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