Chía, CundinamarcaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chía

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Nickname(s): The Moon City

Location of the town and municipality of Chia in Cundinamarca Department.

Chía

Location of the town and municipality of Chia in Cundinamarca Department.

Coordinates:  4°51′N 74°03′E

Country Colombia

Department Cundinamarca

Province Central Savanna

Foundation Pre-Columbian

Government

 • Mayor Guillermo Romero Varela

Area

 • City 80 km2 (30 sq mi)

 • Urban 76 km2 (29 sq mi)

Elevation 2,564 m (8,412 ft)

Population (2012)

 • City 200,000

 • Density 1,080/km2 (2,798/sq mi)

Demonym(s) Chios

Website Official website (Spanish)

Chía is a town and municipality in the Cundinamarca department of Colombia, located to the north of Bogotá on the main road toZipaquira. Its history dates back to the pre-Columbian era. The name comes from the Chibchan language and means "moon" or "month".

Due to its proximity to Bogotá (2.7 km), Chía has effectively become a dormitory suburb of the capital. It is also home of theUniversidad de la Sabana.

Contents  [hide] 

1History 2Borders 3Other facts 4Sites of interest 5Sports facilities 6External links

History[edit]

Chía was a Muisca settlement in the pre-Columbian era, and an important ceremonial center of worship to the moon deity Chia goddess. In 1537 the Spanish, under the command of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, took possession of the town.

In 1781, during the Revolt of the Comuneros, the march of the insurgents towards Bogotá stopped near Chía in order to cross theBogotá River, in what is now known as the Bridge of the Commoners (Spanish: Puente del Común). At that site the viceroy signed a series of concessions to the rebels. However, once the rebel group had dispersed, the viceroy declared the concessions invalid for having been signed "under pressure". It is widely believed that eventually Bogota will merge with Chia, if the city continues expanding (as it happened with Bosa and Soacha).

Borders[edit]

North with Cajicá and Sopó South: Localities of Usaquen and Suba, Bogotá West with Tabio and Tenjo Southwest: Cota East with Sopó

Other facts[edit]

Government Flag of Chía

Market Day: Sunday Distance from Bogotá: 11.0 km Median temperature: 14 °C Demonym: Chiense or Chiano DANE Code: 25175

Sites of interest[edit]

Marroquín Castle Hacienda Yerbabuena Commoners Bridge Chía Mall (Centro-Chía) Andrés Carne de Res Iglesia la Valvanera

Sports facilities[edit]

Olympic village, Chia

Sports unit "Rio Frio" Olympic village BMX Track "Iván de Jesús Barrientos"

External links[edit]

(Spanish) Official site of the Chía city council (Spanish) : FOTW: Flag and Coat of Arms of Chia