San José was located in the Cayo District, but today it would be the Orange Walk District.
In the early days, San Jose Yalbac was incredibly developed in its level of communication with the outside world: several books that came from the original settlement still boast international library stamps from elsewhere in America. The fact that villagers chose to carry these books with them on their hazardous journey to their new settlement reveals a commitment to education and respect for literacy.
Under the Honduras Land Titles Act of 1861, the British Honduras Company purchased around 1 million acres of land, which included the land where Settlement 484 and Settlement 234 and other Indian settlements were located.[1]
In 1882, Santiago Pech, the leader of the Icaiche Maya had elected an alcalde for San Jose Yalbac.[2]
In 1894, St. Peter Roman Catholic Church had 40 attendees.[3]