History of Chunchucmil

The following timeline, based upon a search of historic records by Dr. Anthony P. Andrews and Arqlgo. Luis Millet Cámara, covers events in the history of the modern village of Chunchucmil.

1783
 The original hacienda of Chunchucmil, Yucatán, was founded around a well that formed the core of a property acquired by Br. Manuel José González, the owner of Kochol (a much older rancho) and a resident of Maxcanú. He bought the land, defined as extending a half-league in all directions from the well, from the cacique and justicias of Maxcanú for 200 cargas of corn. He used the land primarily as a cattle ranch. The name of this well, Chunchucmil, means "at the base of the chukum tree."
1798
 First map appearance in the 1798 map drafted by Juan José de León a road is indicated going from Maxcanú to Kochol to an unnamed town to the northwest, which can be no other site than Chunchucmil, and then to the coast opposite the southern Celestún peninsula. This suggests that there was a trail from Chunchucmil to the coast from the late 18'th century onwards, used no doubt to export logwood, and import salt from Celestún.
Early 1800s
 The Br. Manuel José González died, and the ranch was acquired by Mateo Reyes, a resident of Calkiní, and owner of the nearby hacienda of San Mateo. He died a few years later, and Chunchucmil and San Mateo were acquired by Don Simón Peón, then owner of Tankuché. Tankuché was a prominent dyewood-processing hacienda with a major canal to the coast. Another hacienda between Tankuché and San Mateo, named Sihó, was owned by Lorenzo Peón, Simón's brother. So, in essence, the Peón family came to own most of the territory of far northern Campeche and far western Yucatán, from Tankuché to north of Chunchucmil. The Peóns also had substantial holdings in the adjoining region to the northeast. Thus Chunchucmil came to form part of one of the largest latifundia of western Yucatán, to be held by the Peón family for several generations, from the early19th century into the mid-20th century.
1842
 Stephens & Catherwood travel to Yucatán, invited by Don Simón Peón, then owner of Chunchucmil. They visit Halachó, Sihó, Maxcanú and Oxkintok, but not Chunchucmil (Stephens 1843: 109-45).
1872
Casa Principal built by Rafael Peón Losa. A plaque commemorating this event can be seen on the front of the Casa Principal. This likely marks beginning of the henequen era, when the main buildings of the hacienda were built. For the next century, the Chunchucmil region would be known for production of henequen, or "sisal," a natural fiber used for cordage that was in high demand throughout both world wars. The local Maya farmers would become attached to this hacienda, in a system similar to the "company store" mode of indebted servitude that was once common in the southern United States. Locals still refer to this as the "Time of Slavery."
1906
 Five years before the Mexican revolution would run him out of Mexico for his dictatorial rule, General Porfirio Díaz, then President of Mexico, visited Chunchucmil, hosted by Rafael Peón. A plaque that now rests inside the Casa Principal celebrates Porfirio Diaz as the "Hero of the Peace." This would be the first of two presidents to visit Chunchucmil.
1937
 Hacienda lands are redistributed to the people under President Cardenas in the form of ejidos, communal titles of ownership under local administration. It is likely that this was the date Chunchucmil became an ejido, acquiring much of the land previously owned by the Peón family, with the notable exception of the hacienda buildings themselves. The infrastructure for the hacienda remained in private hands and henequen production continued.
1970s & Today

Jose Lopez Portillo, president of Mexico (1976-1982), visited Chunchucmil. It is said that he wanted to see a real Maya village, and through probable ties between the hacienda owners and the government of Yucatán, Chunchucmil was chosen. Chunchucmil received a great deal of renovation for his visit, including a cement park with benches that imitate the architectural style of the ancient Maya.

The advent of synthetic fibers eventually forced the collapse of the world henequen market. By the late 1970's, Chunchucmil ceased producing henequen. Since then, local farmers have relied upon a mixture of subsistence farming, livestock, and occasional attempts to find a new crop to replace henequen. At one point citrus trees were grown throughout the region, until a string of bad years caused many farmers to loose all of their investment. Today, papaya is a growing commodity, though recent blights have worried many. Due to generally poor agricultural conditions around Chunchucmil, the majority of families in town now rely upon some form of wage labor to supplement their farming, whether on nearby ranches, or in the capital city of Merida.

Geography and Ecology of Chunchucmil  
Prehistory of Chunchucmil