Espita is a town in Espita Municipality, Yucatan (Mexico) located on the Litoral Oriente (East Coast) or Region I of Yucatan. It has an average height of 27 meters and is located at a distance of 165 km from the Merida City, 80 km from Izamal, 58 km from Chichen Itza, 49 km from Valladolid, 35 km from Ek' Balam and 27 km from Tizimín. During pre-Hispanic times, the site where the town stands today was part of the province of the cupules, where later, with the arrival of the Spanish, was founded the present town and established the encomienda system in 1549. Since colonization vast buildings were built, among which stands the church dedicated to St. Joseph. In the nineteenth century, the town housed some of the most important maize haciendas in the state, due to its booming economy and the impulse to culture, Espita was considered one of the cultural centers of the Yucatan, and he was known by the nickname of "The Athens of Yucatan". Towards the second half of the twentieth century, the town experienced a decline in its development due in large part to the closure of the haciendas and the consequent decline of its economy. Today is the fourth most populous town in the eastern of Yucatan, only after Valladolid, Tizimín and Chemax. Toponimy There are several versions of the original name of the town, the most accepted argument that was called "x pit há", which literally means "bit water" in the Yucatec Maya language. The name Espita was given to the town by the Spanish while they were in the conquest of Yucatan. Espita name remained so for three centuries, until the September 15, 1876, when the town council changed the official name to Espita de Peniche Gutiérrez; same as, to date, completely not used in any official document. History Espita is an ancient town rich in traditions such as historical facts. During pre-Hispanic times, the site where now stands the town belonged to the province of the cupules. Espita, as such, was founded during the spanish conquest of Yucatan near the 1520s. In 1549 the spanish established the encomienda system in the town, a short time later after the founding of this population. During 1825 it became part of the party of Tizimin. Around November 30, 1840, was placed as head of the eponymous party created the same year. On February 15,