Jalapa, Jalapa

Jalapa is a city in Guatemala. It is the capital of the department of Jalapa; it is also the municipal seat of that department's municipality of Jalapa.

By the shortest route, via Atlantic Highway, Jalapa is around 97 km from Guatemala City.

Population
As of 1850, the population of Jalapa was approximately 3,500. As of the 2018 census, the town's population reached 159,840.

Religion
Its cathedral Nuestra Señora de la Expectación is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalapa (Guatemala).

Climate
The city of Jalapa was built in a valley, surrounded by the Jumay volcano and the mountains of Alcoba and Arluta and the Jalapa Mountains. For this reason and its altitude, 1,362 meters above sea level, the weather is mild temperate.

Economy
The local economy is based on agricultural and livestock products. The department of Jalapa produces corn and beans which are the main diet of Guatemalans, but also produces fruits such as peaches, apples, blackberries, bananas, avocados and vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower, most of which are exported to El Salvador. Jalapa also produces dairy products and is famous for its cheese, especially queso seco ("dry cheese", a drier version of queso fresco) and mantequilla de costal ("sack butter"), which is produced mainly in Monjas, San Manuel Chaparrón, San Carlos Alzatate and Jalapa.