| Hacienda Xmatkuil | |
| Settlement Type: | Site of the Yucatán State Fair |
| Pushpin Map: | Mexico |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Mexico |
| Coordinates: | 20.8614°N -89.6244°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Mexico |
| Subdivision Type1: | Mexican States |
| Subdivision Name1: | Yucatán |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipalities |
| Subdivision Name2: | Mérida Municipality |
| Timezone1: | CST |
| Utc Offset1: | −6 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | −5 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 97316[1] |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 999[2] |
Hacienda Xmatkuil (pronounced as /es/) is located in the Mérida Municipality in the state of Yucatán in southeastern Mexico. It is one of the properties that arose during the nineteenth century henequen boom. It is part of the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve, which was set aside in 1993 to protect both the artificial and natural history of the reserve area of Mérida.
Since 1974, the former hacienda has served as the site of the Yucatán State Fair and features agricultural events, competitions and fair rides each November.
The name (Xmatkuil) comes from the Mayan language and means "the place where you pray to God".[3]
The property is located 10 km south of Mérida on Calle 50.[4]
See main article: Haciendas of Yucatán.
The Hacienda Xmatkuil was originally used for agricultural purposes and during the henequen boom was dedicated to sisal production. In 1974, the former grounds became an exhibition location for the county fair. Initially, the event was limited to showing livestock, industrial equipment, agricultural produce and artisan products, but it quickly expanded with restaurants, competitions in art and sports, and other events to become the largest fair on the Yucatán peninsula. The current event, which occurs annually on the second weekend of November, includes arts and crafts show, livestock shows, rodeo events, concerts, sporting events, a dog show, and a children's petting zoo. It usually runs through 3 weekends.
On 28 June 1993, the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve was designated to protect the history of the 7 large haciendas, their adjoining pueblas, 12 minor archaeological sites, 6 cenotes and one of Merida's important water supply stations.[5] Hacienda Xmatkuil was part of this historic designation.[6]
Within the reserve are the following protected haciendas:[6]
All of the henequen plantations ceased to exist as autonomous communities with the agrarian land reform implemented by President Lázaro Cárdenas in 1937. His decree turned the haciendas into collective ejidos, leaving only 150 hectares to the former landowners for use as private property.[8] Figures before 1937 indicate populations living on the farm. After 1937, figures indicate those living in the community, as the remaining Hacienda Xmatkuil houses only the owner's immediate family.
According to the 2005 census conducted by the INEGI, the population of the city was 357 inhabitants, of whom 189 were men and 168 were women.[9]
| Year | 1900 | 1910 | 1921 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 125 | ? | 238 | 195 | 156 | 126 | 149 | 400 | 202 | 250 | 258 | 336 | 357 |