| Justo Briceño Municipality | |
| Native Name: | Municipio Justo Briceño |
| Native Name Lang: | es |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Flag Size: | 100px |
| Seal Size: | 100px |
| Mapsize: | 300px |
| Pushpin Map: | Venezuela |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Map showing the location of Justo Briceño Municipality within Venezuela |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 300px |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Venezuela |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mérida |
| Seat Type: | Municipal seat |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Víctor Luis Matheus López (COPEI) |
| Population As Of: | 2007 |
| Population Total: | 6472 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Title1: | Established |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Timezone: | VET |
| Utc Offset: | -4 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code(s) |
| Area Code: | 0271 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code(s) |
| Footnotes: | See main article: other. |
The Justo Briceño Municipality is one of the 23 municipalities (municipios) that makes up the Venezuelan state of Mérida and, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, the municipality has a population of 6,472.[1] The town of Torondoy is the shire town of the Justo Briceño Municipality.[2]
On September 23, 1867, it was established as Torondoy Civil Parish . In 1904, Torondoy District was established, comprising the parishes of Piñango, Santa Apolonia and Torondoy. On January 19, 1935, Torondoy District was renamed to Gómez District, but this change was short-lived, and in 1936, it was renamed Justo Briceño District. In 1988, it separated from the Tulio Febres Cordero Municipality and adopted the name of Justo Briceño Autonomous Municipality, and in 1992, dropped the title of Autonomous to become Justo Briceño Municipality.
A historical border conflict has existed over the border between the Zulia State and Mérida State parts of town.
It is a completely mountainous region. Most of the territory lies between 1,150m and 2,000m of altitude, with altitudes exceeding 4,500m near the borders with Rangel and Libertador municipalities, resulting in snowy areas. The average annual temperature is 16 °C (60.8 °F) with average rainfall of 1,250mm. The main waterways include Torondoy, Macumana, Macumpate and Arenoso rivers and El Molino creek.
The Justo Briceño Municipality, according to a 2007 population estimate by the National Institute of Statistics of Venezuela, has a population of 6,472 (up from 5,355 in 2000). This amounts to 0.8% of the state's population.[3] The municipality's population density is .[4]
The mayor of the Justo Briceño Municipality is Víctor Luis Matheus López, re-elected on October 31, 2004, with 51% of the vote.[5] [6] The municipality is divided into two parishes; Capital Justo Briceño and San Cristóbal de Torondoy.[2]