San Miguel Department (El Salvador)

San Miguel (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsam miˈɣel]) is a department in the eastern part of El Salvador. The capital is San Miguel. The department is 2,077 km2 in area and has a population of over 678,000.

San Miguel
Flag of San Miguel
Coat of arms of San Miguel
Location within El Salvador
Location within El Salvador
Coordinates: 13°31′19″N 88°14′02″W / 13.522°N 88.234°W / 13.522; -88.234
Country El Salvador
Created
(given current status)
1824
CapitalSan Miguel
Area
 • Total2,077.1 km2 (802.0 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 2nd
Population
 (2017)
 • Total678,000
 • RankRanked 3rd
 • Density330/km2 (850/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
ISO 3166 codeSV-SM

Before the Spanish conquest of El Salvador, the territory that now consists of the departments of San Miguel, La Unión and Morazán was the Lenca kingdom of Chaparrastique (Place of Beautiful Orchids).[1]

San Miguel was first known as San Miguel de la Frontera. The city was founded by Luis de Moscoso on May 8, 1530, where it is now Santa Elena. On July 11, 1812, the city was given the title of "Noble y Leal Ciudad" (noble and loyal city). It was made a department on June 12, 1824.

It is the location of Ciudad Barrios, the birthplace of Archbishop Óscar Romero.


Municipalities

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  1. San Miguel Centro
  2. San Miguel Norte
  3. San Miguel Sur

Districts

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A beach in El Cuco, San Miguel
  1. Carolina
  2. Chapeltique
  3. Chinameca
  4. Chirilagua
  5. Ciudad Barrios
  6. Comacarán
  7. El Tránsito
  8. Lolotique
  9. Moncagua
  10. Nueva Guadalupe
  11. Nuevo Edén de San Juan
  12. Quelepa
  13. San Antonio
  14. San Gerardo
  15. San Jorge
  16. San Luis de la Reina
  17. San Miguel
  18. San Rafael Oriente
  19. Sesori
  20. Uluazapa

Agriculture

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The products that are more cultivated are the basic grains, henequen and sugar cane, fruits, oleaginous seeds, mangrove, and grass. The upbringing of bovine, swinish, goat, and mule livestock exists and the upbringing of corral birds and of bees. Among the most important manufacturing, there is the elaboration of nutritious products, threads, yarns, drinks, cotton fabrics, clothes, leather articles, detergents, soaps, milk, and construction material.

Tourism

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There are a few beaches in the San Miguel department, such as El Cuco.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Boland, Roy (2001). Culture and Customs of El Salvador. London: Greenwood Press. p. 13. ISBN 0-313-30620-6.