Atuntaqui, Imbabura Province, Ecuador

🇪🇨 Atuntaqui is a city in the Imbabura Province in the northern region of Ecuador. The city is located at an altitude of 2,400 metres (7,900 ft). Atuntaqui is located just 13 km (8.1 mi) from the larger city of Ibarra, north along the Panamerican Highway. Although the sector name is Antonio Ante, those who visit or have heard of it identify it more as Atuntaqui, a name that has acquired several meanings through history. According to Father Juan de Velasco, it is composed of two words - hatun (large) and taqui (drum), i.e. 'big drum'. Jacinto Jijón y Caamano identifies it as a 'land rich in truth'; González Suárez rejects this meaning and translates it as 'big barn'. Others call it 'place of the inn' or 'tightly closed town'.

Economy On August 13, 1868 Atuntaqui was partially destroyed by an earthquake that left thousands dead and homeless. After its reconstruction and its subsequent development, the textile factory, which set up an hydroelectric plant on the banks of the Ambi river and the arrival of the railway in the town of Andrade Marín, located 2.5 km east of Atuntaqui, became especially important. Since 2000, it has been noted for its textiles and crafts. Every year the Atuntaqui Expo takes place here in the Carnival holidays, a day on which the city hosts a large number of visitors (140,000 visitors in the 2009 edition), who come to make purchases.

Government The Local Government is the Municipal Council located in the Atuntaqui central square.

Economy: Tourist Industry Atuntaqui has great tourism potential, offering textiles, crafts, cuisine and culture, a varied and interesting mix to be enjoyed all year round.

Canton Antonio Ante Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in Imbabura Province. Its population at the 2001 census was 36,053. and increased to 43,518 in the 2010 census. The canton has an area of 79.79 square km (30.81 sq mi).

Its capital is the town of Atuntaqui, located 10 km (6.2 mi) east in straight line distance from the provincial capital of Ibarra. The province is in the Andes, the capital at an elevation of 2,405 metres (7,890 ft) above sea level.

Antonio Ante is divided into five parishes: Atuntaqui (Hauntaki), Imbaya (San Luis de Cobuendo), San Francisco de Natabuela (Natawila), San José de Chaltura, and San Roque.

Demographics Ethnic groups as of the Ecuadorian census of 2010: • Mestizo 77.6% • Indigenous 17.8% • White 2.5% • Afro-Ecuadorian 1.8% • Montubio 0.2% • Other 0.1%.