Cortés Department

It was created in 1893 from parts of the departments of Santa Bárbara and Yoro. The departmental capital is San Pedro Sula. Main cities also include Choloma, La Lima, Villanueva, and the sea ports of Puerto Cortés and Omoa. The Atlantic coast of the Department of Cortés is known for its many excellent beaches.

Cortés is the economic heartland of Honduras, as the Sula Valley is the country's main agricultural and industrial region. US banana companies arrived in the area in the late 19th century, and established vast plantations, as well as infrastructure to ship the fruit to the United States. San Pedro Sula attracted substantial numbers of European, Central American, and Palestinian and Lebanese immigrants. Industry flourishes in the department, and Cortés today hosts most of the country's assembly plants, known as maquilas.

Municipalities

1. Choloma
2. La Lima
3. Omoa
4. Pimienta
5. Potrerillos
6. Puerto Cortés
7. San Antonio de Cortés
8. San Francisco de Yojoa
9. San Manuel
10. San Pedro Sula
11. Santa Cruz de Yojoa
12. Villanueva