From Dozens of Farmers & Fishermen to Millions of Tourists: The Changing Face of the Isle Statistically
Residency statistics....
In 1592 and again in 1597, every human being on the islands of Isla Mujeres, Contoy, and Cozumel was seized and removed by Spanish conquistador Juan de Contreras and his men, including Maya rebels and Negroes from Guinea, who were hiding on the islands, fleeing from slavery.
Until the 1820's, when the Lafitte brothers were expelled, Isla Mujeres was a refuge for pirates. After that, the isle was only occupied a few months of the year by a handful of fishermen from the Yucatan peninsula and Cuba. A report in 1825 said there were about a dozen huts.
*Link to Pirate history article Link to Mundaca article ..
In 1842, a visiting American archeologist found the isle was vacant except for "two huts and a shelter made from branches, inhabited by three fishermen and two natives, who were fishing for turtles."
In August, 1850, the town of Dolores was founded by ~250 refugees from the Caste War, who had to reside on the land and farm it for six years to receive ownership.
Link to Article about the founding of the town. Link to Article about settlers founding town in Caste War.
In 1866, a census reported 468 inhabitants. (of whom nearly half were under 20 years of age).
Link to Article about the 1866 census.
In 1900, there were 651 inhabitants in the municipality.**
Link to Article from late 1800's. And another. And another.
In 1922, a hurricane left most of the ~1000 residents of the island homeless. It's reported that of their ~120 homes, 40 remained standing and only three were considered habitable.
Link to Article about the hurricane of 1922.
In 1960, the island population was still around 1000 inhabitants. 1071 people
Link to Article about Isla in 1960. Link to Article about isle pre-tourism. Link to Article about tourism mid 1900's.
In 1970, it increased by nearly 150%. 2663 people. (+1592)
In 1980, about 500 more inhabitants. 3164 people.
In 1990, the population more than tripled to 10,448 people. (+7284) (This coincides with a boom in tourism after 1980).
In 1995, it dropped by nearly 2000 to 8482 people. (-1966) (This corresponds to a decrease in tourism during this time period)
In 2000, it was back to 10,666 people. (+2184)
In 2005 it increased to 11,325 people. (+659)
In 2010 it increased to 12,642 people. (+1317)
These statistics (above) are just for the island and don't include the mainland part of the municipality & are from this Urban Development document. **The exception is the 1900 statistic.
In 2015, the entire municipality of Isla Mujeres had 19,469 people (making it the least populous municipality in Quintana Roo). (source) This compares to 16,203 in the entire municipality five years earlier, or an increase of +3266 people.
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Tourism statistics....
In 1970, 8100 foreign residents visited.
Last weekend, 20,000 passengers arrived in ONE day.
There are ~1.5 million MORE visitors annually vs 15 years ago.
In the past decade, the number of passengers arriving per year doubled from ~1.1 million to ~2.2 million. It is estimated that ~80% of them visit for the day, and don't stay overnight.
Passengers to Isla Mujeres
1970 8100 foreign tourists annually
2000 763,902
2005 1,126,115
2015 2,212,591
(source) (source) (source)
*Link to Tourism history article.
Migration....
"The municipality of Isla Mujeres, just like the state of Quintana Roo, has a strong migratory component with 54% of its inhabitants coming from another state outside Quintana Roo and just over 1% come from abroad. Since the population of the municipality mainly consists of the inhabitants of the island, this indicator establishes that more than half of the population of the Island is not native to the area".~~ Island Development Plan 2009-2030.
(The number of foreign residents appears to have increased considerably since that report was written a nearly a decade ago, and the significant migration from other states in Mexico appears to be continuing, imo.)
Old photos from Recuerdos de Isla Mujeres, current photos from Isla Mujeres al Dia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This blog is brought to you by....
MaraVilla Caribe Bed & Beach Three rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white sand beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, with kitchenettes & free WIFI. In the coastal neighborhood of Bachilleres, among upscale villas & boutique hotelitos, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate. Quiet & Private.
Free amenities such as hammocks, bikes, outdoor shower, portable beach chairs & beach towels, washer, loungers. Breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Upstairs room also available. Downtown is ~ a mile away; if you don't feel like walking or biking, flag a $2 taxi. Parking. You can enjoy the music & crowds downtown, then come home our quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres where you'll sleep to the sounds of the sea.. $275/$325/$425 wk $40/50/$65nt Monthly Discounts
In 1592 and again in 1597, every human being on the islands of Isla Mujeres, Contoy, and Cozumel was seized and removed by Spanish conquistador Juan de Contreras and his men, including Maya rebels and Negroes from Guinea, who were hiding on the islands, fleeing from slavery.
Until the 1820's, when the Lafitte brothers were expelled, Isla Mujeres was a refuge for pirates. After that, the isle was only occupied a few months of the year by a handful of fishermen from the Yucatan peninsula and Cuba. A report in 1825 said there were about a dozen huts.
*Link to Pirate history article Link to Mundaca article ..
In 1842, a visiting American archeologist found the isle was vacant except for "two huts and a shelter made from branches, inhabited by three fishermen and two natives, who were fishing for turtles."
In August, 1850, the town of Dolores was founded by ~250 refugees from the Caste War, who had to reside on the land and farm it for six years to receive ownership.
Link to Article about the founding of the town. Link to Article about settlers founding town in Caste War.
In 1866, a census reported 468 inhabitants. (of whom nearly half were under 20 years of age).
Link to Article about the 1866 census.
In 1900, there were 651 inhabitants in the municipality.**
Link to Article from late 1800's. And another. And another.
In 1922, a hurricane left most of the ~1000 residents of the island homeless. It's reported that of their ~120 homes, 40 remained standing and only three were considered habitable.
Link to Article about the hurricane of 1922.
In 1960, the island population was still around 1000 inhabitants. 1071 people
Link to Article about Isla in 1960. Link to Article about isle pre-tourism. Link to Article about tourism mid 1900's.
In 1970, it increased by nearly 150%. 2663 people. (+1592)
In 1980, about 500 more inhabitants. 3164 people.
In 1990, the population more than tripled to 10,448 people. (+7284) (This coincides with a boom in tourism after 1980).
In 1995, it dropped by nearly 2000 to 8482 people. (-1966) (This corresponds to a decrease in tourism during this time period)
In 2000, it was back to 10,666 people. (+2184)
In 2005 it increased to 11,325 people. (+659)
In 2010 it increased to 12,642 people. (+1317)
These statistics (above) are just for the island and don't include the mainland part of the municipality & are from this Urban Development document. **The exception is the 1900 statistic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 2015, the entire municipality of Isla Mujeres had 19,469 people (making it the least populous municipality in Quintana Roo). (source) This compares to 16,203 in the entire municipality five years earlier, or an increase of +3266 people.
The area of the island is 402.71 hectareas (1.56 sq mi) of which 22.84 are interior lagoons leaving a land area of 379.88 hectares (1.47 square miles.) So basically the area of the isle is about one and a half square miles.
Tourism statistics....
In 1970, 8100 foreign residents visited.
Last weekend, 20,000 passengers arrived in ONE day.
There are ~1.5 million MORE visitors annually vs 15 years ago.
In the past decade, the number of passengers arriving per year doubled from ~1.1 million to ~2.2 million. It is estimated that ~80% of them visit for the day, and don't stay overnight.
Passengers to Isla Mujeres
1970 8100 foreign tourists annually
2000 763,902
2005 1,126,115
2015 2,212,591
(source) (source) (source)
*Link to Tourism history article.
Migration....
"The municipality of Isla Mujeres, just like the state of Quintana Roo, has a strong migratory component with 54% of its inhabitants coming from another state outside Quintana Roo and just over 1% come from abroad. Since the population of the municipality mainly consists of the inhabitants of the island, this indicator establishes that more than half of the population of the Island is not native to the area".~~ Island Development Plan 2009-2030.
(The number of foreign residents appears to have increased considerably since that report was written a nearly a decade ago, and the significant migration from other states in Mexico appears to be continuing, imo.)
Old photos from Recuerdos de Isla Mujeres, current photos from Isla Mujeres al Dia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This blog is brought to you by....
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| View from the rooms. |
MaraVilla Caribe Bed & Beach Three rentals with large glass doors overlooking our white sand beach and the beautiful Caribbean sea, with kitchenettes & free WIFI. In the coastal neighborhood of Bachilleres, among upscale villas & boutique hotelitos, convenient to downtown or the colonias, yet separate. Quiet & Private.
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| Kitchen in a large studio. (Sur & Norte are identical) |
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| Kitchenette in small room, Medio. There's a table & chairs across from it & a double bed. |
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| A large slider opens from each of the 3 rooms onto the patio where each has a table & chairs, hammock & clotheslines. The BBQ is behind the pole, and the outdoor shower is outa the pic at left. |
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| Large studio (Norte), I'm standing in the kitchen. A queen & single bed. |
Free amenities such as hammocks, bikes, outdoor shower, portable beach chairs & beach towels, washer, loungers. Breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop terrace. Upstairs room also available. Downtown is ~ a mile away; if you don't feel like walking or biking, flag a $2 taxi. Parking. You can enjoy the music & crowds downtown, then come home our quiet neighborhood of Bachilleres where you'll sleep to the sounds of the sea.. $275/$325/$425 wk $40/50/$65nt Monthly Discounts
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| Large studio (Sur) with Queen & Single bed. Slider door & view are behind me. |
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