| Official Name: | Cansahcab |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Pushpin Map: | Mexico |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Municipality in Mexico |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Mexico |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Yucatán |
| Government Type: | 2012–2015[1] |
| Leader Title: | Municipal President |
| Leader Name: | Felipe Chan May[2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 146.9 |
| Population As Of: | 2010[3] |
| Population Total: | 4,696 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Demonym |
| Timezone: | Central Standard Time |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | Central Daylight Time |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 21.1667°N -95°W |
| Elevation M: | 6 |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | INEGI Code |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 009 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Major Airport |
| Blank Info Sec2: | Merida (Manuel Crescencio Rejón) International Airport |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | IATA Code |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | MID |
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | ICAO Code |
| Blank2 Info Sec2: | MMMD |
Cansahcab Municipality (In the Yucatec Maya Language: "Place of the four white caves") is a small (146.90 km²) municipality in the Mexican state of Yucatán located roughly 50 km southeast of the state capital of Mérida.
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area belonged to the chieftainship of Ah Kin Chel. After the conquest the area became part of the encomienda system. One of the encomenderas was Bantulia Sosa de Rivero, who in 1700 had responsibility entrusted for the care of 250 indigenous inhabitants.[2]
Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821 and in 1825, the area was assigned to the Izamal Municipality. In 1913 it was designated as its own municipality.
The municipal president is elected for a three-year term. The town council has four councilpersons, who serve as Secretary and councilors of ecology, public services and public security.[4]
The head of the municipality is Cansahcab, Yucatán. The other populated areas of the municipality include Ayala, Ekbalám, Kancabchén, San Antonio Xíat, San Isidro, San Pedro, Santa María, and Uchanchá. The significant populations are shown below:[2]
| Community | Population |
|---|---|
| Entire Municipality (2010) | 4,696 |
| Cansahcab | 4325 in 2005[5] |
| San Antonio Xíat | 171 in 2005[6] |
| Santa María | 224 in 2005[7] |
Every year from 14 – 16 September, Cansahcab holds an annual fair or "fiesta del pueblo" during which an impromptu bullfighting ring is set up to host much of the festivities which include a charrería, bullfighting and folkloric dancing.[8] On 4 October, a feast is held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the town.
Notable locals include General Teodosio Canto who was governor of the state of Yucatán from 1882-1886.[2]