When Spanish
conquistadors arrived in southern
Honduras in 1535, the
Chorotega indigenous people inhabited the area. In 1541, a town was founded there by Captain Cristobál de la Cueva which was known as Villa de Xerez de la Frontera de Choluteca. The conquistadors had a practice of establishing colonies in their territories in strategic locations to dominate and take over the land from the indigenous people. With the founding of Xerex de la Frontera, that strategy was used to possess a communication center with the sister republics of
Guatemala and
Nicaragua. Like other parts of Honduras, the Choluteca area had many mineral deposits and fertile land for agriculture, making it one of the richest colonies of Honduras for the Spanish government. From its founding, Villa de Xerez de la Frontera depended on the Guatemalan government, but in 1580, it became part of the
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
municipality. Under the Honduran president
Coronado Chávez, the city was officially named “Choluteca” on October 1, 1845 by the
National Congress of the Republic. There are many versions of Choluteca's founding.
Federico Lunardi says it was established in 1535, Rómulo Ernesto Durón says 1533, and
Doris Stone says 1540. The modern historian Marxis Lenin Hernández says there is a need to investigate the real origin of Choluteca because of these discrepancies. He says that Federico Lunardi's version of the history is the most widespread. Over the years, Choluteca has developed into one of the country's most important centers of history, culture, and commerce. The city was heavily damaged by flooding from
Hurricane Mitch in 1998. It received more rainfall than any other place affected by the storm – 36 inches in only a few days. This is the amount of rain the city normally receives in 212 days. In addition, the Choluteca River swelled to six times its normal width, putting entire neighbourhoods under water temporarily. and restored electricity in
San Francisco, Lempira. Choluteca is one of the most productive areas of Honduras. The department raises commodity crops of sugar,
cantaloupe,
watermelon,
okra, and
sweet potato. It also harvests
shrimp and fish, and produces salt, and a few
precious metals.
José Cecilio del Valle, the first President of
Central America, was born in Choluteca in 1780. His house (Casa Valle, located on the main square) is now a cultural centre housing the local library and a tourist centre. The house is featured on the back of the 100-
lempira note.
Dania Prince,
Miss Earth 2003 and the only Honduran to win a grandslam beauty pageant, came from Choluteca. ==Transport==