Choluteca, Choluteca
| Choluteca | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Nickname(s): Cholu | |
 Choluteca
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| Coordinates: 13°18′10″N 87°11′00″W / 13.30278°N 87.18333°WCoordinates: 13°18′10″N 87°11′00″W / 13.30278°N 87.18333°W | |
| Country |
 Honduras
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| Departament | Choluteca |
| Municipality | Choluteca |
| Founded | 1522 |
| Villa Title | 1585 |
| City Title | 1845 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Democratic Municipality |
| • Mayor | Quintín Soriano |
| • Vice-Mayor | Martha Margarita Oyuela |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,360 km2 (1,680 sq mi) |
| Abbreviation | Cholu |
Choluteca is a municipality and the capital city of the Honduran department of the same name. Situated in southern Honduras between El Salvador and Nicaragua, the city is generally considered the regional centre of southern Honduras and is a major transit point on the Pan-American Highway. It has a major bus station and is home to the regional light (ENEE) and water (SANAA) utilities. The city is located on the Choluteca River, near the centre of the department. An arching silver bridge crosses the river into the city.
Choluteca's population of around 100,000 makes either the fourth- or fifth-largest city in the country, depending on the source. It is the only major Honduran city on the Pan-American Highway. It is considered to be the second-hottest city in Honduras after Nacaome.
When Spanish conquistadors arrived in southern Honduras in 1535, the Chorotega indigenous people inhabited the area. In 1541, a town was founded there by Captain Cristobál de la Cueva which was known as Villa de Xerez de la Frontera de Choluteca. The conquistadors had a practice of establishing colonies in their territories in strategic locations to dominate and take over the land from the indigenous people. With the founding of Xerex de la Frontera, that strategy was used to possess a communication center with the sister republics of Guatemala and Nicaragua. Like other parts of Honduras, the Choluteca area had many mineral deposits and fertile land for agriculture, making it one of the richest colonies of Honduras for the Spanish government.
From its founding, Villa de Xerez de la Frontera depended on the Guatemalan government, but in 1580, it became part of the Tegucigalpa, Honduras municipality. Under the Honduran president Coronado Chávez, the city was officially named “Choluteca” on October 1st, 1845 by the National Congress of the Republic.
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Wikipedia