The municipality of Fonseca has a total area of 622 km² at an altitude over sea level of 11 m over sea level at the seat of the municipality. The municipality is on a depression in the valley of the Ranchería River which flows through the municipality from west to east, between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá. Fonseca limits to the north with the municipality of Riohacha and Sierra Nevada de Santa Martamountain range; to the south with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Serranía del Perijá mountains; to the east with the municipality of Barrancas and to the west narrowly with the municipality of San Juan del Cesar. The average temperature throughout the year is of 28°Cº variating only between the two rainy seasons and two dry seasons or by altitude due to the mountainous environment.
History
The area of Fonseca was inhabited by different indigenous groups; Chimila, Tupe, Wayuu, Cariachile people and Motilon. There are two hypothesis about the foundation of Fonseca. One describes that by the year 1750 Catalan colonizer Agustín Fonseca and Italian José Agustín Parodi founded [the village. Agustín Fonseca was the leader of a group of adventurers who settled by the Ranchería river, but in a rainy seasonthe river flooded the area bringing diseases. They moved to a dryer place on what is supposedly the present-day main plaza of Fonseca. José Agustín Parodi was a captain of the Spanish Crown and arrived by orders of the Spanish monarchy. In 1773 the settlement of Fonseca was registered as jurisdiction of the Province of Santa Marta, only until 1967 La Guajira separated of Magdalena Department. On June 13, 1829 Fonseca became a municipality of the Intendencia of La Guajira by Decree 1954. Fonseca became a municipality of the Department of La Guajira in 1954.
Since the 1970s Barrancas has been influenced by the Colombian armed conflict because of its strategic location between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Serranía del Perijá mountain ranges and the border with Venezuela. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia through its Caribbean Bloc's 59th, 19th and 41st fronts and the National Liberation Army guerrilla Gustavo Palmesano Front have practiced selective assassinations, kidnappings, extortions, forcedly recruitments, town sieges, arms and illegal drugs trafficking among others against the Colombian government and the civilian population. The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia appeared in the area in the early 2000s led by alias Jorge 40. After a violent presence in the area but also dissipating the guerrillas presence, the AUC demobilized in 2006.
Politics
Administrative divisions
The municipality seat of Fonseca has some 32 neighborhoods mostly houses. The municipality also has three corregimientos; Conejo, El Hatico and Sitio Nuevo. Eight police inspections: Bangañitas, El Confuso, Los Altos, Sabaneta, Los Pondores, Cardonal, Trigo and Cañaboba. Some twenty veredas: El Porvenir, El Potrero, Jaguey, Puyalito, El Puy, Potrerito, Los Toquitos, Hatico Viejo, La Yaya, San Agustín, Puerto López, Las Bendiciones, Las Marimondas, Las Colonias, La Villa, Guamachal, Mamarongo, El Chorro and Mamonal. There is one indigenous reserve called Resguardo Indígena de Mayabangloma.
Demographics
Population data pertaining to the municipality of Fonseca from the year 2000 to 2004.
Year
Urban
Rural
Total
2000
22,923
3,126
26,049
2001
23,702
3,232
26,934
2002
24,508
3,342
27,580
2003
25,341
3,456
28,797
2004
26,203
3,547
29,777
Culture
Fonseca celebrates the Festival del Retorno every year in which people from Fonseca living in other towns, regions or countries are celebrated for their return to town.
