The free state of “Escárcega de Matamoros” was named in honor of “Ing. Francisco Escárcega Márquez" who was in charge of the construction of the train in the southeast Coatzacoalcos—Campeche, and of the hero of the independence “Don Mariano Matamoros”.
During the mandate of the General Porfirio Díaz, obeying an economic tendency guided by the transition of the land to individual ownership, the Ing. Manuel J. Ávila and General Joaquín Mucel were awarded a large estate named “Matamoros”. This estate is located in today’s municipality of Escárcega. With these decisions, Porfirio Díaz expected to benefit first from the opening of the foreign capital of the jungle reserve of the peninsula, and second by the concession of privileges of the small group that controlled the local politics and economics, of which General Joaquín Mucel formed a part.
In this area, located in a region not only of fertile lands but also of marshes and ciénegas, was covered in the jungle trees called “ek” by the indigenous or “palo de tinte” by the Spanish. These trees were extremely valuable because when they were boiled in large caldrons, the juice would produce a paste that was utilized to dye cloth dark blue, or indigo, or black before the invention of chemical dyes.
The large inflow of foreign capital that provoked the Porfirista regimen was favored even more by the government of the revolutionary figure of Carranza. The participation of North Americans in the settlement of capitals showed the interest for expanding in this territory of the country, especially in the beginning of the twentieth century, when the abundant chicle started to be in high demand by North American markets. Thus, in 1914 “The Laguna Corporation” was started in the zone that encompassed the Ex-hacienda Matamoros, El Pital, San Isidro, at kilometers 27, 36, 52 and kilometer 47, today Escárcega.
By 1934, this company transported its product in company trains to El Pital, from where it was shipped to the city of Carmen, from where it was exported to the rest of the world. To more effectively control the production, a store and an encampment was constructed at kilometer 47, which was 10 km from the center of “Matamoros”, which had a population of fewer than 50 people.
As chemical dyes were invented, the exploitation of chicle came to surpass palo de tinte. When the exploitation of chicle started in the zone, the first “chileros” traded with Tuxpan Veracruz, where years before they had exploited resin. Each year when the season began, the men who were contracted or “enganchados” arrived to dedicated six or seven months to bleed the zapote trees to extract the precious resin; annually thousands of men were confronted with an inhospitable environment. The importance of this area’s economic activity was enforced with the construction of the “railway of the southeast.” Ing. Francisco Escárcega Márquez went to supervise construction from Tlaxcaltelca. Unfortunately, he didn’t see the work concluded, as in 1938 he experienced an unfortunate air accident in the company of C.P.A. Miguel Colorado Cupid. Ing. Rosenweig saved his life in this accident, and then proposed and obtained the acceptance of the authorities and people, and thus the nascent community of km 47 was named Francisco Escárcega and another pueblo was named Miguel Colorado.
July 5, 1939, by a presidential decree, the cooperative Francisco Escárcega was created, with an area of 14 thousand hectacers, 150 hectacers of those were the urban zone; this decree was made by the first president of the municipal board, Sr. Manuel Flores Z. In 1956, the congress of the state declared Escárcega a village headed by the municipality of Carmen, naming the C. Prof. Francisco Castillo Maldonado the first president of the municipal board. And finally, by decree of the III legislature published July 19, 1990, it was converted into the ninth municipal of the state of Campeche. The said decree came into effect with vigor on the first day of January, 1991.
In Escárcega, the dance and the music provide a mix of European and indigenous customs that create their own profile; they dance fandango, habanera, guaranducha and pichito amoroso. However, being a population where the customs and traditions of other states of the Mexican republic are interlaced, these traditions have fused to create something new in terms of traditional festivals; thus, in festivals it is common to dance to the music of the northern style, with a collection of the typical music of the peninsula.
Carnival
These festivities are celebrated on the same date in almost all the state (8 days before the start of Lent), and consist predominantly of algarabía, coronations, parades, contests, popular dances and traditional paintings.
Expo Feria Escárcega
This is the celebration in honor of the saint Virgin of Fátima, patron of the place, and it is celebrated the first fortnight in May, starting with a coronation of the queen of the festivals that lasts a week. During these festivals, there is an important event called “Regional Flower Games”, where poets and writers of the entire region participate.
Anniversary of the Founding
The festivities for this occasion end on July 18th and 19th, and include cultural and sport events, and a civic ceremony with the assistance of the representatives of the neighboring municipalities. The celebration ends with a widely attended popular dance.
Posada del Pueblo
This is a great Christmastime festival for the entire pueblo. The festival starts with a seasonal cultural event with gifts and carols. Later, there are fireworks and the grand gala dance.
