| Official Name: | Yaxkukul |
| 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: | Jesús Delfino May Tun[2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 43.43 |
| Population As Of: | 2010[3] |
| Population Total: | 2,868 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Demonym |
| Timezone: | Central Standard Time |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | Central Daylight Time |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 21.0617°N -89.42°W |
| Elevation M: | 8 |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | INEGI Code |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 105 |
| 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 |
Yaxkukul Municipality (in the Yucatec Maya language: "where he first worships God") is a municipality in the Mexican state of Yucatán, containing 43.43km (26.99miles) of land and located roughly northeast of the city of Mérida.[2] Survey maps of Yaxkukul cite its full name as "Santa Cruz de Mayo Yaxkukul".
It is unknown which chieftainship the area was under prior to the arrival of the Spanish. An ancient tradition is that a prince from Zaci (now Valladolid) sent a scouting party, which founded a town at the site. After the conquest, the area became part of the encomienda system.[2] In 1607 the encomienda of Nabalam was joined with Yaxkukul, still later Yaxkukul was joined with Tahcab, and in 1667 was granted to the encomendero Francisco Menéndez Morán.[4]
Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821 and in 1825, the area was assigned to the coastal region with its headquarters in Izamal Municipality. Still later, it passed to the Tixkokob Municipality and in 1918, was designated as its own municipality.
Yucatán architecture evolved in towns like Yaxkukul, Tixpehual, and Euan on the "preconquest platform foundation" and in the sixteenth century the features of churches consisted of an open view of chapel, the elongated nave and facade of espadana which finally "complemented these buildings in the eighteenth century".
The municipal president is elected for a three-year term. The town council has seven councilpersons, who serve as secretary and councilors of public works, ecology, public monuments, and nomenclature.[5]
The head of the municipality is Yaxkukul, Yucatán. The other populated areas of the municipality include Hacienda Chac-Abal, San Francisco, San Juan de las Flores, Santa Cruz Canto and Yaxcopoil. The significant populations are shown below:[2]
| Community | Population |
|---|---|
| Entire municipality (2010) | 2,868 |
| San Francisco | 22 in 2005[6] |
| San Juan de las Flores | 20 in 2005[7] |
| Yaxkukul | 2610 in 2005[8] |
Every year from 16 January to 10 February the town holds a celebration for the Virgin of Candelaria.[9]