The town is believed to have been founded by the Cocom who survived the destruction of Mayapan, in 1441. After the conquest the area became part of the encomienda system. The encomienda was established in 1549 for Martín de Luguízamo and was assigned in 1562 to Joaquín de Luguízamo. Juan Jiménez de Tejeda took over the encomienda in 1607 and in 1622, Gregorio de Cetina became encomendero, leaving the property in 1688 to Diego de Cetina. In 1693 the trust was the responsibility of Cristóbal Maldonado Jurado and a minor Fernando Maldonado. Andrés de Valdés later served as encomendero. Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821. On 8 September 1848, a group of Indians under the leadership of Cecilio Chí captured the town during the Caste War of Yucatán. Coronel Eulogio Rosado who was stationed in Mérida retook the village on the orders of the government. In 1923, Yaxcabá was designated as its own municipality.
Governance
The municipal president is elected for a three-year term. The town council has nine councilpersons, who serve as Secretary and councilors of education, security and roads, agriculture and policing, public lighting, legalities, cemeteries, health, and sports.
Communities
The head of the municipality is Yaxcabá, Yucatán. There are 66 different communities in the municipality, including Abán, Acapulco, Balam, Canakon, Cenote, Chanciteen, Chich, Chimay, Cholul, Chunchucmil, Cola Blanca, Huchin, Kankabzonot, Libre Unión, Miguel Hidalgo, Nicteil, Oxulá, Paraíso, Popola, Quintana Roo, Sacnité, Sahcabá, San Arturo, San Francisco, San Isidro, San José, San José I, San Juan de los Itzá, San Manuel, San Marcos, San Pedro, San Tomás, Santa Amelia, Santa Eugenia, Santa María, Santa Rita, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo, Sipché, Tahdzibichén, Teelhú, Tiholop, Tinucáh, Tixcacaltuyub, Tzupich, Tzutzuyub, Xabitita, Xanlá, Xíat, Xinchil, Xlapák, X-ochil, Xolobitancia, X-tosil, Xuul, Yokdzonot, Yoxunah. The significant populations are shown below:
Community
Population
Entire Municipality
14,802
Canakom
412 in 2005
Kancabdzonot
931 in 2005
Libre Unión
1739 in 2005
Santa María
225 in 2005
Tahdzibichen
1567 in 2005
Tiholop
1333 in 2005
Tixcacaltuyub
1899 in 2005
Yaxcabá
2799 in 2005
Yaxunah
590 in 2005
Yokdzonot
816 in 2005
Local Festivals
Each year in April is a fiesta held for the Holy Cross. From 20 to 29 June the town hosts a celebration in honor St. Peter and St. Paul and from 1 to 5 October there is a festival in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
Landmarks
Architectural
Church of St. Francis of Assisi from the colonial era
