Villeta | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality and town |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Pushpin Map: | Colombia |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Colombia |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Colombia |
Subdivision Type1: | Department |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Name2: | Gualivá |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Jhon Alexander Morera Gutiérrez |
Established Title: | Founded |
Established Date: | 29 September 1551 |
Founder: | Alonso de Olalla & Hernando de Alcocer |
Area Total Km2: | 140.9 |
Area Urban Km2: | 5.5 |
Population As Of: | 2018 census |
Population Footnotes: | [1] |
Population Total: | 26873 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Population Urban: | 17985 |
Population Density Urban Km2: | auto |
Coordinates: | 5.0083°N -74.4738°W |
Timezone: | Colombia Standard Time |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Elevation M: | 850 |
Villeta is a municipality and town in Cundinamarca (Colombia), located in Gualivá Province, approximately 84km (52miles) northwest of Bogota, considered the capital of the province. Its name means "Little Village". The municipality borders Quebradanegra and Nimaima in the north, Nocaima and Sasaima in the east, Albán and Vianí in the south and Guaduas in the west. It is situated at an altitude of 850m (2,790feet) in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes[2]
The region of Villeta before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Panche. Modern Villeta was founded as Villa de San Miguel on September 29, 1551, by Alonso de Olalla and Hernando de Alcocer.[3]
Main economic activities in Villeta are related with sugar cane derivatives and as an important tourist center for people from Bogotá due to its warm climate, including ecologic trails, cascades and hotels.
The Villeta Group comprising the Conejo, La Frontera, Simijaca, Hiló, Capotes, Socotá, El Peñón and Trincheras Formations is named after Villeta.[4]