# San Juan Cotzal

San Juan Cotzal (Spanish pronunciation:) is a town and municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. San Juan Cotzal is part of the Ixil Community, along with Santa María Nebaj and San Gaspar Chajul.

## History
### Pre-Hispanic era

Worried about the defection of the aj K'ub'ul family chief, who had taken his family away to look for fertile and, above all, Pacific land, the K'iche' king sent a group of soldiers to control their movements. He was afraid that the aj K'ub'ul would look for reinforcements from other ethnic groups in the area to form a strong army and attack the K'iche's. The warriors settled to the east of the aj K'ub'ul and, since the K'iche's had moved away to look for an undisturbed place to settle, they were a peaceful community. The warriors informed the K'iche' king as much, reassuring him that he had no reason to worry about the exiled group.
As time went by, the K'iche' warriors realized that the aj K'ub'ul life was very different from the one they were used to have under the ruling of their king, as they simply worked on their land and crops and then enjoyed their families without having to worry about being invaded or called to fight in a war. They went back to their place of origin, Tujalj (Sacapulas and Canillá), but only to pick up their families, and went on to settle a new community where they were once stationed to keep an eye on the aj K'ub'ul.

### Campaigns in the Cuchumatanes

In the 10 years after the fall of Zaculeu, commencing in 1525, various Spanish expeditions crossed into the Sierra de Los Cuchumatanes and engaged in the gradual and complex conquest of the Chuj and Q'anjob'al. The Spanish were attracted to the region in the hope of extracting gold, silver and other riches from the mountains but their remoteness, the difficult terrain, and relatively low population made their conquest and exploitation extremely difficult. The population of the Cuchumatanes is estimated to have been 260,000 before European contact. By the time the Spanish physically arrived in the region, this had collapsed to 150,000 due to Old World diseases that had run ahead of them.

### Uspantán and the Ixil

After the western portion of the Cuchumatanes fell to the Spanish, the Ixil and Uspantek Maya were sufficiently isolated to evade immediate Spanish attention. The Uspantek and the Ixil were allies and in 1529, four years after the conquest of Huehuetenango, Uspantek warriors were harassing Spanish forces and Uspantán was trying to foment rebellion among the K'iche'.
Uspantek activity became sufficiently troublesome that the Spanish decided that military action was necessary. Gaspar Arias, the magistrate of Guatemala, penetrated the eastern Cuchumatanes with 60 Spanish infantry and 300 allied indigenous warriors. By early September he had imposed temporary Spanish authority over the Ixil towns of Chajul and Nebaj. The Spanish army then marched east toward Uspantán itself; Arias then received notice that the acting governor of Guatemala, Francisco de Orduña, had deposed him as a magistrate. Arias handed command over to the inexperienced Pedro de Olmos and returned to confront de Orduña. Although his officers advised against it, Olmos launched a disastrous full-scale frontal assault on the city. As soon as the Spanish began their assault they were ambushed from the rear by more than 2,000 Uspantek warriors. The Spanish forces were routed with heavy losses; many of their indigenous allies were slain, and many more were captured alive by the Uspantek warriors only to be sacrificed on the altar of their deity Exbalamquen. The survivors who managed to evade capture fought their way back to the Spanish garrison at Q'umarkaj.
A year later Francisco de Castellanos set out from Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala (by now relocated to Ciudad Vieja) on another expedition against the Ixil and Uspantek, leading eight corporals, 32 cavalry, 40 Spanish infantry and several hundred allied indigenous warriors. The expedition rested at Chichicastenango and recruited further forces before marching seven leagues northwards to Sacapulas and climbed the steep southern slopes of the Cuchumatanes. On the upper slopes, they clashed with a force of between four and five thousand Ixil warriors from Nebaj and nearby settlements. A lengthy battle followed during which the Spanish cavalry managed to outflank the Ixil army and forced them to retreat to their mountaintop fortress at Nebaj.
The Spanish forces besieged the city, and their indigenous allies managed to scale the walls, penetrate the stronghold and set it on fire. Many defending Ixil warriors withdrew to fight the fire, which allowed the Spanish to storm the entrance and break the native defences. The victorious Spanish rounded up the surviving defenders and the next day Castellanos ordered them all to be branded as slaves as punishment for their resistance. The inhabitants of Chajul immediately capitulated to the Spanish as soon as news of the battle reached them. The Spanish continued east towards Uspantán to find it defended by 10,000 warriors, including forces from Cotzal, Cunén, Sacapulas, and Verapaz. The Spaniards were barely able to organise a defence before the defending army attacked. Although heavily outnumbered, the deployment of Spanish cavalry and the firearms of the Spanish infantry eventually decided the battle. The Spanish overran Uspantán and again branded all surviving warriors as slaves. The surrounding towns also surrendered, and December 1530 marked the end of the military stage of the conquest of the Cuchumatanes.

## Population

According to an official census performed by the Guatemalan National Statistics Institute (INE), the municipality had a total population of 14,137 in 1994; in 2002 this grew by 42% and in 2008 a study determined that there was an additional 29% increase. The following tables show the difference population classification in San Juan Cotzal:
By gender :
| By gender Gender Total 1994 Census % 1994 Census Total 2002 Census % 2002 Census Total estimated in 2008 % estimated in 2008 Male 6631479,611481271349 Female 75065310,439521323251 TOTAL 14137 100 20050 100 25945 100 | By age Age range Total 1994 Census % 1994 Census Total 2002 Census % 2002 Census Total estimated in 2008 % estimated in 2008 From 0 to 6 343624516826700527 From 7 to 14 320123449322596723 From 15 to 64 7080509686481219447 More than 65 420370347793 TOTAL 14137 100 20050 100 25945 100 |
| By ethnic group Ethnic group Total 1994 Census % 1994 Census Total 2002 Census % 2002 Census Total estimated in 2008 % estimated in 2008 Native 132369419520972516797 Non-native 901653037783 TOTAL 141371002005010025945100 | By location Area Total 1994 Census % 1994 Census Total 2002 Census % 2002 Census Total estimated in 2008 % estimated in 2008 Urban 5,069369037451323251 Rural 9,0686411013551271349 TOTAL 141371002005010025945100 |

### Dwelling

86% of the population owns their home, while the rest live in borrowed (12%) or rented (2%) houses. Most of the urban structures are made of zinc sheets roofing and brick walls. Rural area homes are built out of wood and 'teja', and lack any kind of flooring.

### Occupation and salaries

Agriculture is by far the main productive activity of the area, and those who work their own land fare better income-wise.
Occupation (2008) :
| Occupation (2008) Activity Urban area Rural area Total % Agriculture 9337146461 Management 804812817 Artinsan work 42458711 Commerce 3324578 Livestock 211132 Industry 55101 TOTAL 255504759100 | Income sources(2008) Income source Urban area Rural area Total % Total Work own land 7919327252 Labor force 6911518436 Own business 2621479 Family remittances 8192 Retirement 5271 TOTAL 187332519100 | Income levels (2008) In Quetzales Homes % 0 to 400 17333 401 to 800 17433 801 to 1200 8516 1201 to 1600 387 1601 to 2000 264 2001 to 2400 92 2401 to 2800 92 2801 to 3200 102 3201 to 3600 00 3601 or more 31 TOTAL 527100 |
82% of the population had an income of Q1,200.00/month, which was less than minimal wage at the time. Area development halted during the Guatemalan Civil War, although economic conditions were not all that prosperous even before it.

### Education

San Juan Cotzal has numerous educational institutions: 22 of them are public schools run by the Government.
Enrolled students by education level :
| Enrolled students by education level Level 1994 2008 PublicPrivateCooperativeTotalPublicPrivateCooperativeTotal Preschool 377-108485478-136614 Elementary 1756-371793311863513232 Middle level Junior High School --8484--5585582 High School ------7777 TOTAL 2133-22923623596638224481 | Teachers by education level Level 1994 2008 PublicPrivateCooperativeTotalPublicPrivateCooperativeTotal Preschool 12-31522-N.A22 Elementary 30-23296-N/A96 Middle level Junior High School 8-61423-932 High School ------1010 TOTAL 50-1161141-19160 |
| Coverage by education level Education level Student population in 1994 Student population in 2008 Enrolled studentsCoverage%Enrolled studentsCoverage% Preschool 243648520623761410 Elementary 32011793574490323272 Middle level Junior High School 2080844390855814 High School ---5664771 TOTAL 77172362202994481 | Education level Level 1994 2008 PublicPrivateCooperativeTotal%PublicPrivateCooperativeTotal% Preschool 36-22586718-8269 Elementary 9-2111313555219268 Middle level Junior High School 12-5172053-55821 High School -------552 TOTAL 57-2986100206570281100 |

## Economy

The production activity details are shown in the following tables:
Agriculture :
| Agriculture Product Production en quintals Total value in Quetzales Corn 6691802920 Beans 679203700 Coffee 5178010,356,000 TOTAL 5915011,362,620 | Private services Business type Establishments Total value in Quetzales Bus 202,520,000 Nixtamal mill 701,260,000 Cable TV 3540000 Barber shops 12201600 Photo shops 4156000 Photocopy centers 5150000 Entertainment establishments 2144000 Hotels 3144000 Workshops 399000 Computation academy 284000 Dentistry 160000 Radio stations 142000 Music ensembles 136000 Shoemaker shops 530000 Typewriting 328800 Language schools 124000 Pulpero leasing 82880 TOTAL 1445,522,280 | Commercial activity Business Establishments Total value in Quetzales Family grocery stores 2603,540,000 Butcher shops 221,200,000 Gas stations 51612000 Hardware stores 4576000 Food establishments 7315000 Smithy 3288000 Carpentry 6240000 Bakery 6216000 Dollar stores 12172800 Weave stores 2168000 Drug stores 7142800 Liquor stores 3131400 Cell phone parts 6129600 Bookstores 7100800 Shoe stores 496000 Propane shop 243200 Clothing 142000 Ice cream shops 136000 Agriculture supplies 124000 Newspaper stands 12400 TOTAL 4068,076,000 |
| Animal husbandry Product Cattle heads Total value in Quetzales Bovine 124496000 Poultry 1,49089400 Porcine 6931050 Ovine 3729600 Caprino 2318400 TOTAL 1743 664450 | Artisan activities Activity Units Total value in Quetzales Fabrics 6840674400 Maguey products 9000125280 Carpentry 25291980 Smithy 9041318 Tailoring 22513500 Bakery 250007500 Candle making 60006000 TOTAL 47407959,978 | Commercial activity Business Establishments Total value in Quetzales Family grocery stores 2603,540,000 Butcher shops 221,200,000 Gas stations 51612000 Hardware stores 4576000 Food establishments 7315000 Smithy 3288000 Carpentry 6240000 Bakery 6216000 Dollar stores 12172800 Weave stores 2168000 Drug stores 7142800 Liquor stores 3131400 Cell phone parts 6129600 Bookstores 7100800 Shoe stores 496000 Propane shop 243200 Clothing 142000 Ice cream shops 136000 Agriculture supplies 124000 Newspaper stands 12400 TOTAL 4068,076,000 |

## Climate

San Juan Cotzal has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb).
Climate data for San Juan Cotzal :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) | 22.4 (72.3) | 24.2 (75.6) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.3 (75.7) | 23.3 (73.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.0 (73.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 22.1 (71.8) | 21.8 (71.2) | 22.9 (73.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) | 16.0 (60.8) | 17.5 (63.5) | 18.2 (64.8) | 18.3 (64.9) | 18.3 (64.9) | 17.6 (63.7) | 17.6 (63.7) | 17.6 (63.7) | 17.0 (62.6) | 16.5 (61.7) | 16.0 (60.8) | 17.2 (62.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) | 9.6 (49.3) | 10.8 (51.4) | 11.7 (53.1) | 12.4 (54.3) | 13.3 (55.9) | 12.5 (54.5) | 12.1 (53.8) | 12.3 (54.1) | 12.0 (53.6) | 10.9 (51.6) | 10.2 (50.4) | 11.5 (52.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 44 (1.7) | 29 (1.1) | 40 (1.6) | 53 (2.1) | 118 (4.6) | 284 (11.2) | 231 (9.1) | 199 (7.8) | 227 (8.9) | 197 (7.8) | 104 (4.1) | 46 (1.8) | 1,572 (61.8) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org ||||||||||||||

## Geographic location

San Juan Cotzal is 269 km from Guatemala City and 104 km from Santa Cruz del Quiché through the Quiché 6 West highway.
vtePlaces adjacent to San Juan Cotzal :
Chajul
Nebaj
San Juan Cotzal
Uspantán
Cunén :