San Juan Opico Explained

San Juan Opico
Settlement Type:Municipality
Pushpin Map:El Salvador
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in El Salvador
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:El Salvador
Subdivision Type1:Department
Subdivision Name1:La Libertad
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:218
Population As Of:2007
Population Total:74,280
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Coordinates:13.8833°N -110°W
Elevation M:492

San Juan Opico (or Opico) is a municipality in the La Libertad department of El Salvador.

It is located 42 kilometers from San Salvador, capital of the republic. The municipality has an area of 218 km2 and a population of 74,280 inhabitants; according to the 2007 census it is ranked No. 13 in population.

Within its territory are pre-Columbian archaeological sites like Joya de Cerén and San Andrés and a church built in the colonial era.

History

Opico was established as an Indian village in 1572 and received the title of town in 1881.

Administrative divisions

It has 27 cantons:San Jose la Cueva, Talcualuya, El Castillo, Buena Vista, Nombre de Dios, San Antonio, San Pedro Martir, Tehuicho, Barranca Honda, Los Amates, Pitichorro, Nueva Encarnación, Chantusnene, San Nicolás Encarnación, Minas de Plomo, San Pedro Oriente, San Felipe, Los Encuentros, Agua Escondida, Lomas de Santiago, Joya de Ceren, Sitio del Niño, Chanmico, Matazano, Sitio Grande, El Jabali, Las Delicias, and Las Granadillas.

Sports

The local football club is named Juventud Independiente and it played in the Salvadoran Premier Division after being promoted in Summer 2011. Now they play in the second division. They play their home games at the Complejo Municipal.

External links