forestry and fishing. 78% of households cook with firewood and 11% of them have their own car. 26% of the population self-identify within the Lenca ethnic group. The city has several banking agencies, restaurants, markets, the Doctor Juan Manuel Gálvez Hospital, university centers, secondary, primary and university schools, call centers, radio stations, local UHF television stations and clabe and various handicraft stores. This thanks to the socio-economic improvement by both national and foreign tourism. It also has a 1,300-meter long runway for aircraft, inaugurated on October 28, 2013. Demographics At the time of the 2013 Honduras census, Gracias municipality had a population of 47,622. Of these, 71.11% were Mestizo, 26.74% Indigenous (26.41% Lenca), 1.40% White, 0.74% Black or Afro-Honduran and 0.01% others. Geography Elevation ranges from roughly 800 meters at the town square to 2,870 meters at the peak of Montaña Celaque (also known as Cerro Las Minas). Climate is greatly influenced by elevation, with the low-lying portions having a wet-dry (monsoonal) pattern. Montaña Celaque is the highest mountain and largest cloud forest in Honduras, and is protected through Celaque Mountain National Park. Transportation Gracias serves as a transportation hub for the immediate region. The town is connected to the northern city of Santa Rosa de Copan by a paved 2 lane highway, and construction of a paved 2 lane highway to La Esperanza has been underway for several years. Economy Agriculture is both subsistence and export based. Agricultural crops vary with elevation and climate, with corn and beans grown at lower altitudes and fruits/vegetables grown at higher altitudes. The development of a tourist economy is seen as a driver of economic development. This tourism is based on the town's historic and natural attractions including colonial churches, Celaque Mountain and hot springs. See also San Cristóbal fortress (Honduras) References External links Photos of Gracias on Flickr Colosuca, Gracias and Surrounding Department's website Official Gracias and Surrounding Department's website Municipalities of the Lempira Department Populated places established in 1536 1536 establishments in the Spanish Empire