Apopa | |
---|---|
Location in El Salvador | |
Coordinates: 13°48′N 89°11′W / 13.800°N 89.183°W | |
Country | El Salvador |
Department | San Salvador Department |
Area | |
• Total | 20.02 sq mi (51.84 km2) |
Population | |
• Total | 217,733 |
Apopa is a municipality in the San Salvador department of El Salvador. Probably the seventh biggest city in El Salvador with a little more than 150,000 people, the city has now collided with Soyapango and San Salvador, making it part of the Great San Salvador Metro (with a 1,900,000 2010 population estimate).
The toponym Apopa means "a place with mist".
Hydography: The rivers crossing this municipality are Acelhuate, Las Cañas, Guaycume and Tomayate river.
Dimensions: The area is 51.84 km²
Orography: The hills within this municipality are El Sartén and El Guaycume hills.
The people of Apopa, were a part of the department of San Salvador from June 12, 1824, until March 9, 1836 when it transferred to the federal district of the Central American Federation until June 30, 1839 when it again returned to a municipality of the northern district of San Salvador with the dissolution of the Central American Federation.
As a municipality, Apopa by November 14, 1860 had a population of 2194. Its jurisdiction included three farms: The Angel Arrasola, San José and San Nicolás. The latter purchased by the Municipal Corporation. To cooperate in their acquisition, the General President of the Republic Don Gerardo Barrios by act of January 28, 1865 made Apopa head of the northern district with jurisdiction over San Martin, Nejapan and Tonacatepeque. On March 7, 1874 during the administration of Field Marshal Don Santiago Gonzales Apopa was awarded the title of Villa Apopa. In 1878 the district increased with the incorporation of the municipality of El Paisnal. In 1892 Apopa stopped being head of the former district and became part of the new district Tonacatepeque. On June 7, 1921 during the administration of Jorge Meléndez Apopa was conferred the title of the city of Villa Apopa.
The local professional football club is named C.D. Vendaval Apopa and it currently plays in the Salvadoran Second Division after they merged with Chalatenango.
Central park in Apopa
Troncal del Norte Highway (to Honduras) passes through Apopa.
Catholic church in Apopa, across from the Central Park