Boaco
strong>Boaco is the capital city and municipality of the Boaco department of Nicaragua. The municipality of Boaco has a population of 56,900 (2006 est.) and an area of 1,086.81 km² (26% of the Boaco department).
The city of Boaco, with a population of approximately 19,000 (2006 est.), is located 88 km. from Managua. Boaco is called "La Ciudad de Dos Pisos" (The city of the two storeys), named by Dr. Armando Incer Barquero. The city's only two flat places are "El Parque" (Park) and the baseball field.
History
The name Boaco has its roots in the Zumo and Aztec native languages. It is comprised of two words; Boa or Boaj ("Enchanters") and the suffix O ("Place" or "Town"). In other words, Boaco means "Place (or Town) of the Enchanters". The ancient Boaco, or Boaco Viejo (Old Boaco) was located five leagues (15 miles) east of the city of Boaco. There are currently no vestiges of the former population.
In 1749, the Zambo, Caribe and Mosquito Indians, encouraged by the British colonialists on Nicaragua's Atlantic coast, raided Boaco Viejo. The attack was a predatory incursion filled with hate and ferocity.[citation needed] The town was completely devastated. The few who survived the massacre flew west and founded the new town of Boaco (now known as Boaquito ("little Boaco")) near the Malacatoya River. Between 1752 and 1772, the population of Boaquito settled in the area where the city of Boaco is today, mainly due to diseases and the characteristics of the terrain (lowlands that were prone to flooding during the rainy season.).
The municipality of Boaco was traditionally part of the department of Chontales. On February 4, 1910, the government of José Madriz established the department of Jerez with the city of Boaco as its capital. However, the conservative government reversed that law and it was not until July 18, 1935 that the government of Juan Bautista Sacasa created the department of Boaco with the municipalities of Boaco, Camoapa, San Lorenzo, Teustepe, San José de los Remates and Santa Lucía. Boaco then became the capital of the department.
