Quetzaltenango

Quetzaltenango Xelajú (K'iche')
Municipality and city
Historical buildings, Streets, Minerva Temple, Arch sixth state of Los Altos, Interior of Municipal Theater and Historical center.
Quetzaltenango Location in Guatemala
Coordinates: 14°50′40″N 91°30′05″W / 14.84444°N 91.50139°W / 14.84444; -91.50139
Country	Guatemala
Department	Quetzaltenango
Spanish foundation	15 May 1524
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Mayor	Juan Fernando López, Partido Humanista
Area
• Municipality and city	122 km2 (47 sq mi)
Elevation	2,330 m (7,640 ft)
Population  (2018 census)[1]
• Municipality and city	180,706
• Density	1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
• Urban [2]	180,706
Demonym	Quetzalteca/o
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central America)
Climate	Oceanic climate: subtropical highland variety (Cwb)

Quetzaltenango (Spanish pronunciation: [keˌtsal.teˈnaŋ.ɡo], also known by its Maya name Xelajú [ʃelaˈχu] or Xela [ˈʃela]) is a municipality and namesake department in western Guatemala. The city is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2,330 meters (7,640 feet) above sea level at its lowest part. It may reach above 2,400 m (7,900 ft) within the city.

As of 2018, the city has a population of 180,706. 43% of the population was indigenous in 2014.^[3] The Municipality of Quetzaltenango consists of an area of 122 km² (47 sq mi). Municipalities abutting the municipality of Quetzaltenango include Salcajá, Cantel, Almolonga, Zunil, El Palmar, Concepción Chiquirichapa, San Mateo, La Esperanza, and Olintepeque in Quetzaltenango department and San Andrés Xecul in Totonicapán department.