It is unknown which chieftainship the area was under prior to the arrival of the Spanish. After the conquest the area became part of the encomienda system. The encomienda was established under Francisco de Montejo the Younger in 1549 and by 1571 it had passed to Beatriz de Montejo. In 1579 the encomendero was Diego de Santillán and in 1607 it passed to Martín de Palomar. In 1616 the encomenderos were Diego García de Montalvo, Jacinto de Montalvo y Olmos, and Martín de Montalvo y Figueroa, but by 1678 it had passed to Diego Tello de Aguillar. Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821 and in 1825, the area was assigned to the Camino Real Bajo region with its headquarters in Hunucmá Municipality, which was head of Chocholá, Halachó, Kinchil, Kopomá, Maxcanú, Opichén, Samahil, Tetiz, and Umán. After the ejidos and land redistribution of the 1930s, Hunucmá was reconfirmed as head of its own municipality.
Governance
The municipal president is elected for a three-year term. The town council has nine councilpersons, who serve as Secretary and councilors of public lighting, public security, education and culture, parks and gardens, public works, cemeteries and roads, markets, potable water, and sports. The Municipal Council administers the business of the municipality. It is responsible for budgeting and expenditures and producing all required reports for all branches of the municipal administration. Annually it determines educational standards for schools. The Police Commissioners ensure public order and safety. They are tasked with enforcing regulations, distributing materials and administering rulings of general compliance issued by the council.
Communities
The head of the municipality is Hunucmá, Yucatán. The other populated areas of the municipality include Capel, Rancho Chen Toro, Hulila, Hunkanab, Rancho Chico, San Antonio Chél, Rancho San Joaquín, San Miguel, Rancho San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Sisal, Texán de Palomeque. The significant populations are shown below:
Community
Population
Entire Municipality
30,731
Hunkanab
448 in 2005
Hunucmá
22,800 in 2005
San Antonio Chel
206 in 2005
Sisal
1672 in 2005
Texan de Palomeque
2937 in 2005
Local festivals
Every year from 10 to 15 August there is a festival of the Virgin of the Assumption; on 28 to 31 January, the feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated; and the last week of August, in Sisal is a celebration in honor of the Christ of Hunucmá.
Notable locals include: Jose Leon Bojorquez, musician, composer and director of the Folk Orchestra of the State and Tipica de Yucalpetén. Alberto Bojórquez Pérez Perez Alberto Bojorquez, Promoting tourism and the peninsula.
