Sacatepéquez (Spanish pronunciation: [sakateˈpekes]) is one of the 22 departments of Guatemala. The name comes from Sacatepéquez, a city from November 21, 1542, until July 29, 1773, when it was destroyed by the 1773 Guatemalan Earthquake (Santa Marta Earthquake). Sacatepéquez means grasshill in the Nahuatl language. The capital of Sacatepéquez is Antigua Guatemala. Other important cities include Ciudad Vieja and San Lucas Sacatepéquez, which also hosts a marketplace and is a culinary attraction. The Chajoma were a group of indigenous people who were Kaqchikel speaking Indians identified Mixco Viejo as their capital, and spread throughout the Sacatepequez Department until their capital was moved to Ciudad Vieja, in Antigua.

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Quick Facts Departmento de Sacatepéquez, Country ...

Sacatepéquez Department Departmento de Sacatepéquez
Department of Guatemala
From top to bottom, from left to right: Arch of Santa Catalina, Water Volcano, Defay Castle, Traditional Chicken Bus, Sumpango giant kites and Central Plaza of the Old City.
Flag Coat of arms
Sacatepéquez
Country	Guatemala
Capital and largest city	Antigua Guatemala
Municipalities	16
Government
• Type	Departmental
Area
• Department of Guatemala	465 km2 (180 sq mi)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Department of Guatemala	330,469
• Density	710/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
• Urban	292,366
• Religions	Roman Catholicism Evangelicalism Maya
Time zone	UTC-6

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Sacatepéquez has also been spelled Zacatepeques.^[2]

Sacatepéquez Department has a population of 330,469 (2018 census).^[1] In 1850, the area had a population of an estimated 56,000. The southern area, which is closer to Guatemala City, has the largest population.^[3]

1. Alotenango
2. Antigua Guatemala
3. Ciudad Vieja
4. Jocotenango
5. Magdalena Milpas Altas
6. Pastores
7. San Antonio Aguas Calientes
8. San Bartolomé Milpas Altas
9. San Lucas Sacatepéquez
10. San Miguel Dueñas
11. Santiago Sacatepéquez
12. Santa Catarina Barahona
13. Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
14. Santa María de Jesús
15. Santo Domingo Xenacoj
16. Sumpango

The area is mountainous, with what the British described, in 1850, as a "mild climate."^[2] Guatemala hosts a chain of active and dormant volcanoes, with those in Sacatepequez including Acatenago, Volcan De Agua (Volcano of Water), and Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire).^[4] Jocotes, a fruit of the cashew family, grow in the region.^[5]

The more populated areas produce fruit and various crops, including maize. Livestock is also raised, with trade going towards Guatemala City. The southern area of the department produces coffee, sugar, tobacco, and cotton. As of 1850, products were being shipped out of Iztapa.^[3] Although Guatemala is able to produce cash crops such as bananas and textiles, 72% of people living in rural areas live in poverty with 31% of them reaching extreme poverty.^[6]

• Chajoma