San Cristóbal Verapaz
San Cristóbal Verapaz is a town, with a population of 20,961, and a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Alta Verapaz. It is located approximately 29 km from Cobán, the capital of Alta Verapaz and about 210 km from Guatemala City. San Cristóbal belongs to the Pokimchi' linguistic area. Its main income source is the «Cobán» shoe factory, which specializes in industrial rubber boots, which are sold both locally and internationally.
History
Franja Transversal del Norte
The Northern Transversal Strip was officially created during the government of General Carlos Arana Osorio in 1970, by Legislative Decree 60-70, for agricultural development. The decree literally said: "It is of public interest and national emergency, the establishment of Agrarian Development Zones in the area included within the municipalities: San Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista, Nentón, Jacaltenango, San Mateo Ixtatán, and Santa Cruz Barillas in Huehuetenango; Chajul and San Miguel Uspantán in Quiché; Cobán, Chisec, San Pedro Carchá, Lanquín, Senahú, Cahabón and Chahal, in Alta Verapaz and the entire department of Izabal."San Cristóbal Verapaz was not part of the Strip, but it was bordering it and felt the devastating effects of the Guatemala Civil War which was fought mainly in the Strip during the 1980s.
Religious celebrations and town fairs
| Days | Neighborhood |
| 13–15 January | Esquipulas |
| 17–20 January | San Sebastian |
| 20–25 July | San Cristóbal |
| 24–26 April | San Felipe |
| 20–25 July | Santa Ana |
Famous citizens
- Erick Barrondo: Olympic silver medalist in London 2012
- Rodolfo Narciso Chavarría: music composer
Climate
Geographic location
Municipal distribution
The rural area of the municipality has eighty nine communities, while the villa has five neighborhoods: Santa Ana, San Felipe, San Cristóbal, San Sebastián y Esquipulas. The municipality is divided into the following microregions:- One villa
- Six large settlements
- Fifty seven small settlements
- Sixteen common land areas
- Five neighborhoods
- Four cantones
- Three residential areas
| # | Standout locations by microregion | Converging locations |
| 1. | Santa Ana neighborhood | Colonia El Petencito, Finca Nisnic, Cantón Oram, Colonia Paná, Santa Ana Pampur, Tucanjan, Pantup |
| 2. | San Sebastián neighborhood | Agua Bendita, Esquipulas neighborhood, San Cristóbal neighborhood, San Felipe neighborhood, Pankox, Venecia |
| 3. | Vista Hermosa | Chisiram, Villa Nueva |
| 4. | El Salmar | Agua Blanca, San Joaquín, San José Chitusul, Santa Ana Pan Kix, Chisiram, Villa Nueva, Vista Hermosa, Saqlik, Santa María |
| 5. | Chiyuc | Aquil Grande, Chilley, El Alfiler, Finca El Rosario, Caserío la Independencia, Caserío Panek, Pantocan |
| 6. | La Reforma | Pamac, Rexkix, Wachtuhq, Las Arrugas, La Esperanza |
| 7. | La Pacaya | Chirehtzulchituj, Chirexkiche, Chitj Panhux, Najtilabaj |
| 8. | Paniste | Pancaseu |
| 9. | San Lucas Chiacal | |
| 10. | San Inés Chicar | Las Victorias, Pancaseu, Panisté, Secoyon, Tinta |
| 11. | Baleu | Zacatón |
| 12. | Santa Elena | Saqixim, Quejá, Santa Rosa, Chepenal, Las Minas |
| 13. | Pampacche | Mexabaj, Panzal, San Sebastián El Refujio, Wachkob', Pambón Grande |
| 14. | El Rancho | Ceero Verde, Santa María Agua Blanca, Chiworrom, Chipozo, Chisiguan, Wachkuz, Pamboncito, Panajmay, Nuevo Panhux, Santa Cruz del Quetzal |
| 15. | Pantzimaj | Chicuz, Panhux, Cedral |
| 16. | La Providencia | Quixalito, Pampur La Providencia |
| 17. | Cumbre Pamuc | |
| 18. | Navidad |
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