Tekantó Municipality

The municipalities that surround Tekantó Municipality are to the north: Suma and Teya, to the south: Izamal, to the east: Tepakán and to the west: Bokobá.

In 1990 the Mexican federal government asked all the municipalities to have their own shield or coat of arms. The City council then presided over by C. Manuel González Towers, decided to hold a contest to produce the shield's design. The design was adapted from submissions by several people. Some notable features of the shield are as follows. A sun with 13 rays that indicate the Mayan supraworld. An illustration of the Mayan chief Ah Kin Chel on a green background. Gold background with henequen that has 9 blades, that means the Mayan infraworld, the color gold has economic importance. At either side two branches interlaced by a plant called Kantó and that some say gave rise to the name of the town. At the bottom of the shield in front of the branches is a tape of silver with the words Siyan Kán Tekantó, this means the illustrious or famous Tekantó.[3]

The population of Tekantó is approximately 4,000.[1] In the year 2000 the census record showed that 1,655 people spoke the indigenous language, Yucatec Maya.[4] This is consistent with the state average which was 30% in 2000.

The municipality is made up from four principle communities, the municipal seat Tekantó along with its neighboring communities Tixkochoh 21.0138°N 89.0806°W / 21.0138; -89.0806 (Tixkochoh), San Francisco Dzon 20.9835°N 89.1433°W / 20.9835; -89.1433 (San Francisco Dzon) and Sanlatah 21.0426°N 89.1466°W / 21.0426; -89.1466 (Sanlatah)). Their populations are as follows: Tekantó 3224, Tixkochoh 455, San Francisco Dzon 127, Sanlatah 83; the census also included 53 people living outside of these communities,[1] either in isolated rural homes or small communities like the hamlet of San Diego Rodriguez 20.9923°N 89.1143°W / 20.9923; -89.1143 (San Diego Rodriguez). In 2005 there were 942 houses in the municipality.[5]

The distances from the municipal seat to nearby cities are as follows:

• Izamal, Yucatán  · 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) southeast  · 14,954 people.
• Motul, Yucatán  · 21 kilometres (13 mi) west-northwest  · 21,109 people.
• Merida, Yucatán  · 54 kilometres (34 mi) west  · 717,175 people.

Tekantó's rail station is on the (now disused) rail line that runs between Mérida and Valladolid via Izamal.

• Before the Spanish conquest of Yucatán the region of Tekantó was part of the chieftainship of Ah Kin Chel (1441–1543).
• 1546: The Spanish conquest of Yucatán that started in 1526 is considered complete.
• 1567: Franciscan Mission founded in Tekantó.[2]
• 1581: Cristobal Sanchez inherits both Tekantó and Tepakan under the encomienda system from his father, the famous conquistador Don Diego Sanchez.[6]
• 1688: Construction of the convent and mission of San Augustin Tekantó is completed.[2]
• 1700: Antonia Pacheco and Juan N. Calderón are responsible for Tekantó under the encomienda system.[7]
• 1720: The legality of the Encomienda system is ended and is succeeded by the Hacienda system in which laborers were directly employed by the hacienda owners (Sanlatah is a Hacienda in Tekantó municipality).[8]
• 1821: Yucatán declares itself independent of Spain.[9]
• 1825: During this time Tekantó was in the partido of La Costa, which had Izamal as its capital. (At this time Yucatán was divided up onto 15 partidos or subdelegaciones, and Yucatán then included what is now Campeche).[10]
• 1848: On May 28 during the Caste War of Yucatán after a 6-day siege Colonel Bello led his force of 1,000 men out of Izamal taking a back trail to Tekantó. From Tekantó he watched Izamal burn.[11]
• 1900: Tekantó Municipality is created and Tekantó becomes its own municipality seat.[1]

Traditional House in Tekantó

Railway Station in Tekantó

Tekantó is a municipality that is located in the North central zone of Yucatán that is part of the denominated henequen zone, where the main agricultural crop is agave. Along with the surrounding municipalities the major productive activity for many years, until the end of the 20th Century, was the henequen industry.

With the decline of the henequen industry, a process of economic diversification occurred in Tekantó. Today in this area maize is main crop, along with kidney beans, various vegetables, watermelon and some varieties of chili peppers. In addition to these crops, pigs and poultry are farmed. Beekeeping is also common in the area.

• 
  The clock over San Augustin Tekantó.
• 
  San Augustin Tekantó's Franciscan Bell.
• 
  San Augustin Tekantó's American Bell.
• 
  Local people in traditional dress.
• 
  Downtown Tekantó.
• 
  A nicer home in Tekantó.
• 
  A typical rural street.
• 
  A Well at the edge of town.
• 
  A traditional Cottage.
• 
  The Zócalo (Main Plaza).

Notable locals include Marrufo Cetina, Carlos Anastasio. Mandolinista and musical composer (1875–1932).[1]

Number of schools by educative level, to the year 2000, according to the Statistical Yearbook of the State of Yucatán, published by the INEGI:[1]

Guillermo Prieto School

• Municipalities of Yucatán.

Spelling of Mayan Names:

The spelling of Mayan names (family names, place names and others) will often vary from document to document,[12] for this page the spellings used on the municipality web site have been adopted as the standard. Another recommended standard for place names is the SCT (Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes) spelling, as this would then match any road signs. As there are more references to the municipality web site, the SCT spellings are not used throughout the page, but included below for reference.

San Francisco Dzon is also known as San Francisco Tzon (INEGI) and San Francisco Izun (SCT)[13]

Sanlatah is also known as Sanlatá (SCT).[13]