Zipacón

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]

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
Country Colombia
Department Cundinamarca
ProvinceWestern Savanna Province
Founded5 July 1561
Founded byJosé Antonio Rubio
Government
 • MayorGustavo Cortés Camacho
(2016-2019)
Area
 • Municipality and town70 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation
2,550 m (8,370 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Municipality and town5,570
 • Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
 • Urban
2,081
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

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]

  • Road to Zipacón
  • Street in Zipacón
  • Farm
  • Statue of meditating zipa
  • Rural Zipacón

References
  1. (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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