Santana, Boyacá

Santana is a town and municipality in the Ricaurte Province, in the north of the Colombian department of Boyacá. The urban centre is situated at an altitude of 1,550 metres (5,090 ft) in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. Santana borders Chitaraque and the Santander Department in the east, Güepsa, Santander in the west, Suaita, Santander in the north and Chitaraque and San José de Pare in the south.

Santana Santa Ana de Vélez
Municipality and town
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Santana in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Coordinates: 6°3′26″N 73°28′52″W
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Ricaurte Province
Founded	14 June 1806
Founded by	Antonio José Amar y Borbón
Government
• Mayor	Raúl Fernando Moreno Walteros (2020-2023)
Area
• Municipality and town	67 km2 (26 sq mi)
Elevation	1,550 m (5,090 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	7,692
• Density	110/km2 (300/sq mi)
• Urban	2,348
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website

Etymology

Santana was called Santa Ana de Vélez until the end of the nineteenth century. Later, it was shortened to Santana.

History

The region of Santana before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, was an important cotton-growing area. The Guane and through trade also the Muisca, made mantles and small cloths used as money from the plant. Santana was located between the terrains led by the major cacique of Vélez and Chitaraque. Conquistador Martín Galeano founded the modern town of Vélez on June 3, 1539. Santa Ana was visited by evangelisers at the end of 1692 for the first time, 75 years after the installation of the encomienda of Santa Ana de Vélez. Modern Santana, then still called Santa Ana, was founded by viceroy Antonio José Amar y Borbón on June 14, 1806.

Economy

The basis for the economy of Santana is the cultivation of sugarcane, to produce panela. Also coffee is grown in Santana.