Venadillo

Venadillo is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 13,266 as of 2024.^[1] Venadillo is 56 kilometres northeast of Ibagué.^[2]

Venadillo
Municipality and town
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Venadillo in the Tolima Department of Colombia.
Country	Colombia
Department	Tolima Department
Area
• Total	358 km2 (138 sq mi)
Elevation	349 m (1,145 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Total	19,586
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

History

The area where Vendillo was founded was historically inhabited by Citirques, Guambaimas, Colombaimas and Tolonies tribes of the Panche linguistic family and the Chocarí tribe of the Pijao. The name is derived from the local population of deer.^[3]

Venadillo was founded as a hamlet on 2 September 1560 by Bartolomé de Frías y Carvajal, as a deer husbandry site. The town was expanded in its second foundation on 29 November 1596 through Venadillo's first serving mayor, Juan García de Herrera. Its third and final foundation was in 1710 under Manuel Antonio Maldonado Martínez.^[1]

On 21 February 1863, Venadillo became a municipality, which went into effect on 1 January 1864.^[2]

In the main park, the statue "Los Venados" commemorates a local tribal chief, credited with domesticating the deer, and the namesake animal of Venadillo.^[3]

Administrative division

Venadillo's urban centre has twelve barrios. Its rural area is divided into three districts (Junín, Malabar, and Palmarosa), totalling 29 villages.^[2]

Economy

Venadillo's economy is primarily agricultural with the widespread farming of rice, corn, sorghum, and cotton.^[1] Venadillo also boasts a small tourist economy as a culinary centre for its distinct oatmeal and fritanga, lechona, buñuelos, guarapo, and whiskey.^[2]