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The lands where this town stands were part of the territories inhabited by Chitareros and the fierce motilones. It was founded on November 5 and 6, 1829 by José María Estévez Cote, at that time Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Marta and traveled through Ocaña and other towns on a pastoral mission.

The Bishop chose and designated the places where the temple, the priest house and the town hall would be built; and later, actively supported by Tomás Aquino Bonet, José María Solano Pérez and José Barranco (who are also considered founders), and other people, they demarcated the perimeter of streets, races, avenues and squares.

On November 9, Monsignor Estévez Cote went to nearby Ocaña (which in those days was the head of the fourth Canton of Mompós providence), accompanied by Messrs. Bonet Solano and Barranco, in order to issue the corresponding act of foundation before the Mayor and Charter Judge, José Dionisio Núñez.

San José de Cote was the man who received the nascent town, in homage to the Bishop's mother, Mrs. Josefa Cote de Estévez.

The place where San José de Cote was born was known at that time as the ´´Llano del Tabacal´´. It belonged to the region called ´´Partido de la Sangre´´ and was part of the parish of Teorama, in the Mompós providence.

In 1830, its inhabitants decided to change its name to San José de Convencion in memory of the Convention of Ocaña that met between April and June 1828.





Full name: San José de Convencion

Foundation: November 5 and 6, 1829

Founder: Monsignor José María Estévez Cote

Population: DANE 2005 Census: 16,605 inhabitants.

Altitude: 1,055 meters above sea level

Area: 734 Km2

Climate: Average 23ºC

Distance to Cúcuta: 270 Km

Geographic coordinates: Longitude west of Greenwich 73º 21´, North latitude 8º 28´

Limits: North: Republic of Venezuela,

South: Ocaña,

East: Teorama,

West: El Carmen and the Department of Cesar



Administrative Division: Composed of 13 townships and 80 villages

Rivers: El Catatumbo, El Tiradera, Caño Rico, Presidente, Rio de Oro and San Miguelito

Western region

Economy:

Its main economic activity is agriculture and coffee, sugar cane, banana and cocoa stand out.

It is the first panela producer in the department

Bovine production is also important within the livestock sector, but also horses and donkeys are in good numbers.





March 16: Saint Joseph patron

July 26 to 31: panela festival

September 24 Day of Our Lady of Las Mercedes, patron of the district that bears her name.

September 29 Day of Saint Michael the Archangel patron of the Guamal district

November 4, 5 and 6 every 5 years the Feast of the Return is celebrated

November 11 Day of San Martín de Loba, patron of the Cartagena district



Tourist sites:

Bust of Monsignor José María Estévez Cote Founder of the Convention

Chapel of San Cayetano

House where Guillermo Quintero Calderón lived

El Chorrón Waterfall

Cave or Peña de los Indios

Los Libertadores Park

Holy Sepulcher donated by Nicolás Barranco in 1875

Monument to the Virgin of Carmen

Monument of Benito Ovalle, parish priest between 1897 and 1915

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