The municipality of Mercedes de Oriente belongs to the Department of La Paz.
In Antonio Vallejo’s 1889 statistical yearbook, it is mentioned that it was founded and designated as a municipality in 1885. It has been under the jurisdiction of the Department of La Paz since its creation.
General Data of Mercedes de Oriente
Origin of its name: religious-geographical combination. The municipality was called Jojillas before becoming a municipality.
- Territorial area: 37.50 km2
- Population: 1,169 inhabitants (2012)
- Date of creation: 1885
- Patronal festival: November 24th, day of the Virgin of Las Mercedes.
- Villages and hamlets: 2 villages and 17 hamlets.
- Altitude: 1190 meters above sea level.
Main Economic Activity
Cultivation of basic grains, coffee, sugarcane, citrus fruits, bananas, and vegetables; cattle, horse, pig, and goat breeding; poultry farming.
Infrastructure
- Health: 1 health center.
- Education: 1 primary education center and 3 pre-primary education centers.
- Transportation: vehicles and passenger buses.
- Communication network: year-round passable road, Hondutel telephone service, and mobile phone coverage.
Location
Located in a small plain, at the foot of a hill called Portillo del Roble.
Limits
- North: municipality of Guajiquiro;
- South: Republic of El Salvador;
- East: municipalities of San Antonio del Norte and San Juan;
- West: municipality of Opatoro.
Hydrography: Cañas, Guajiniquillo, Pescado, Matapalo, Nicho, and Uniré rivers.
