Cofradía, Cortés


Cofradia is a town in northwestern Honduras, in the Naco Valley, 24 km from the city of San Pedro Sula.

Physical and political geography

The limits of Cofradia are:
Cofradia stands at 15°24' north latitude and 88°09' west longitude and is approximately 160 metres above sea level. The urbanised area of Cofradia covers 48 hectares. It is generally hilly, with only a few flat areas. The land sits in the watersheds of the Manchaguala, Chamelecon and San Bartolo rivers.
Mining of ferrous ores has resulted in erosion, forming cracks and gullies.

Forest

In the low-lying areas there is a dry mountainous and forest with thick underbrush; towards El Merendón, there is an abundant mountainous forest of pine and oak. Also, as one ascends to the higher parts of the Sierra del Merendón cloudy mountain forest and tropical rain forest.

Climate

Public services:
Privately owned services
Institutes:
Public schools
Private schools:
Kindergartens:
Academies:
Counting together the urban centre of Cofradia and what are now 25 colonias, Cofradia has grown by a factor of more than 35 in the last century:
, Cofradia is considered part of San Pedro Sula municipality, since San Pedro Sula's development can only grow southwestward; in fact, 5 maquilas have already opened in that sector.
Development may be limited by the fact that the area is not properly legalised, and has lands to which more than one owner can produce a title; as a result it is hard to legally buy and sell property.
The commercial zone is the centre of Cofradia, where most retail buying and selling occurs.

Events

General Esperanzano Gregorio Ferrera surrendered at Cofradia 26 June 1931 after a six-years-long attempted uprising.
Telegraph service in Cofradia began 7 November 1905; the first telegraphist was Don Juan Magnar. Other early telegraphists were Cesar Mejia, who arrived in 1908 from an unknown location and Don Rodolfo Castillo who arrived on 7 March 1911 from Santa Bárbara.
The dam was built in 1936–37 under the supervision of engineer Gonzalo R. Luque. The mayor of San Pedro Sula at this time was Don José Castro López, who presided over the inauguration of the dam 24 December 1937.

Education

The first school was founded in 1900; its first teacher was Don Filadelfo López Morales.
A boys' school was founded in 1900, by teacher Donaldo Sabillon Vásquez.
The girls' school was founded between in 1905 and 1912; its first teacher was Elvia Julia Morales.
Another boys' school was founded in 1930 under the direction of Leandro Rodríguez.
The Miguel Paz Barahona girls school was founded 24 December 1937 at the same time as the inauguration of a municipal water system. The mayor of San Pedro Sula at this time, Don José Castro López, appointed Doña Laura Vda. de Alcocer the director, and in 1920 Don Donaldo was promoted to the position, with a monthly salary of Lps. 90.
At that time, sixth grade was offered only in the more advanced villages, with children in others only going to the fifth grade. The age of matriculation ranged between 7 and 18 years. The teachers were very strict disciplinarians: if a student failed to show up for school, a teacher's assistant would seek the student out and bring him or her back to school, to be punished there by the teacher; and punished again by his or her parents upon arriving back home. The students received 8 hours of lessons daily. Teaching materials for students included a notebook made of sewn office paper, ink made with blue aniline. Pencils were of made candle wax, the satchels were made of cloth or nylon.