Acambay, Mexico State
Encyclopedia
Acambay is a town and municipio (municipality)
located in north of the State of Mexico. The township of Acambay is the municipal seat of the municipio of the same name.
s who founded a ceremonial center called Huamango
, which was occupied from 850 to 1350. It was the most important cultural center before the rise of the Tula
civilization. The area is now known as the San Miguel plateau. While the cause of the center's abandonment is not absolutely known, some legends indicate that it was destroyed by an earthquake, forcing the population to move. The nearby town of Benguitú, which was subsequently named Cabayé or Acambay was founded by the same tribe of Otomis soon after the abandonment of Huamango.
After the Spanish conqust, the area now known as Acambay was originally entrusted to Capt. Juan Jaramillo de Salvatierra, who belonged to Hernán Cortés
's army. Later the area was granted to Don Mateo de San Juan Chimalpopoca Izcóatl of San Miguel Cambay and descendent of Cuauhtémoc
. "Acambay" is derived from "San Miguel Cambay". The area was then evangelized by the Franciscans, building the parish church, and the monastery of San Miguel in 1623. The location of the Parroquia de San Miguel (Parish of Saint Michael) has been a church for the town since the 17th century; however, nothing of the original structure remains. In 1912, an earthquake devastated the town, and it, like everything else was completely rebuilt.
Aside from the town church, the Otomi
Ceremonial Center is without a doubt the most important venue in Acambay; it is influenced by Mexica
and Toltec
prehispanic cultures. It is located in the "Casa de Cultura Dr. Maximiliano Ruiz Castañeda"
Agostadero (San José Agostadero), Agua Limpia, Barrancas, Barrio de Candeje, Boshi Chiquito, Boshi Grande, Boshindo, Boti (Boti Agostadero), Botidi, Bovini, Buenavista, Cañada del Gallo, Cerrito de Tixmadeje, Chanteje, Conejeras, Dateje, Deshpe, Detiña (San Antonio Detiña), Detiña Ejido, Dongu (Dongu Centro), Dongu Barrio Dos, Dongu Barrio Uno, Dongu Puerto, Doxteje Barrio Dos, Doxteje Barrio Primero, Doxteje Centro, Ejido Tixmadeje, El Capulín (Barrio el Capulín la Loma), El Ermitaño, El Fresadero, El Medrano, El Pedregal Tixmadeje, Endeje, Esdoca, Gando, Ganzda, Hacienda Toto, Hondiga, Juando, La Caridad, La Cumbre, La Estancia Sector Dos, La Estancia Sector Uno (La Estancia), La Florida, La Huerta, La Laguna, La Loma (Santa María la Loma), La Manga, La Nopalera, La Palma, La Providencia Doxteje, La Soledad, La Teresa (Santa Teresa), La Terquedad, La Venta (Barrio la Venta), Las Arenas (San Agustín), Las Chivas (El Cerro), Las Golondrinas, Las Mangas, Las Pomas Ejido de Dateje, Las Trojes, Loma de Enmedio, Loma de San Ángel, Loma del Fresno, Loma Linda, Los Charcos, Los Pilares, Los Sauces, Los Toriles, Mado Sector Dos, Mado Sector Uno, Muyteje, Pathé, Pueblo Nuevo, Puentecillas, Rancho Castilla de las Águilas, Rancho la Venta, Rancho Lucero, Rincón de Juando, San Agustín la Loma, San Antonio las Palmas, San Francisco Shaxni, San Francisco Shaxni Ejido, San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso Yolotepec), San José Bocto, San Juanico Sector Dos, San Juanico Sector Uno, San Nicolás Acambay, San Pedro de los Metates, Santa María las Arenas, Santa María las Arenas Dos, Tixmadeje Barrio Dos, Tixmadeje Chiquito, Tixmadeje Grande (Santa María Tixmadeje). The total population of the municipality is 56,849.
It borders the state of Querétaro
and Aculco
to the north, to the east with Aculco
and Timilpan
, to the south with Timilpan, Atlacomulco
and Temascalcingo
, and to the west with Temascalcingo and the state of Querétaro
. The municipality covers an area of 492.13 square kilometres (190 sq mi), representing 2.21% of the state's territory.
The area is quite irregular, with hills, and steep mountainous formations, deep gullies and valleys. The mountains and plateaus occupy nearly two thirds of the total area of the municipality. Some of the most significant mountains include Las Palomas, El Colmilludo, San Antonio, Dongú, La Cumbre, and La Manga. The major river is called Las Adjuntas.
Farming is the most important activity in the municipality. The main crops are corn, potatoes, oats, beans, and vegetables. Almost every community raises domestic farm animals like cattle, horses, goats and pigs. Retail business is another economic activity including corner stores, open air markets, pharmacies, clothing stores, shoe stores, furniture shops, retail stores, fruit and vegetables stands.
There are 8,100 speakers of Otomi
and Náhuatl
, most of whom are located in ethnic communities outside the municipal seat, representing only 30% of the total population. The rest are monolingual Spanish speakers.
The municipality provides education to a total of 16,724 students at different levels of education imparted by 808 teachers in 222 schools.
The literacy rate has increased in recent years with 78% of the total population over 15 years able to read. It is predicted that this percentage will increase to 90%.
Of the total population residing in the town, 2.04% receive medical services by the IMSS
, 27.73% from ISSSTE
and 3.92% by ISSEMYM. The remaining 66.32% receive care from the private and public health as ISEM and DIFEM.
These are some of the regional holidays and celebrations:
Municipalities of Mexico
Municipalities are the second-level administrative division in Mexico . There are 2,438 municipalities in Mexico, making the average municipality population 45,616...
located in north of the State of Mexico. The township of Acambay is the municipal seat of the municipio of the same name.
History
The origins of Acambay date back to the settlement of the area by the OtomiOtomi people
The Otomi people . Smaller Otomi populations exist in the states of Puebla, Mexico, Tlaxcala, Michoacán and Guanajuato. The Otomi language belonging to the Oto-Pamean branch of the Oto-Manguean language family is spoken in many different varieties some of which are not mutually intelligible.One of...
s who founded a ceremonial center called Huamango
Huamango
Huamango is an early Postclassical archaeological located about 4 kilometers northwest of the modern city of Acambay in the State of Mexico....
, which was occupied from 850 to 1350. It was the most important cultural center before the rise of the Tula
Toltec
The Toltec culture is an archaeological Mesoamerican culture that dominated a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo in the early post-classic period of Mesoamerican chronology...
civilization. The area is now known as the San Miguel plateau. While the cause of the center's abandonment is not absolutely known, some legends indicate that it was destroyed by an earthquake, forcing the population to move. The nearby town of Benguitú, which was subsequently named Cabayé or Acambay was founded by the same tribe of Otomis soon after the abandonment of Huamango.
After the Spanish conqust, the area now known as Acambay was originally entrusted to Capt. Juan Jaramillo de Salvatierra, who belonged to Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
's army. Later the area was granted to Don Mateo de San Juan Chimalpopoca Izcóatl of San Miguel Cambay and descendent of Cuauhtémoc
Cuauhtémoc
Cuauhtémoc was the Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan from 1520 to 1521...
. "Acambay" is derived from "San Miguel Cambay". The area was then evangelized by the Franciscans, building the parish church, and the monastery of San Miguel in 1623. The location of the Parroquia de San Miguel (Parish of Saint Michael) has been a church for the town since the 17th century; however, nothing of the original structure remains. In 1912, an earthquake devastated the town, and it, like everything else was completely rebuilt.
Aside from the town church, the Otomi
Otomi people
The Otomi people . Smaller Otomi populations exist in the states of Puebla, Mexico, Tlaxcala, Michoacán and Guanajuato. The Otomi language belonging to the Oto-Pamean branch of the Oto-Manguean language family is spoken in many different varieties some of which are not mutually intelligible.One of...
Ceremonial Center is without a doubt the most important venue in Acambay; it is influenced by Mexica
Mexica
The Mexica were a pre-Columbian people of central Mexico.Mexica may also refer to:*Mexica , a board game designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling*Mexica , a 2005 novel by Norman Spinrad...
and Toltec
Toltec
The Toltec culture is an archaeological Mesoamerican culture that dominated a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo in the early post-classic period of Mesoamerican chronology...
prehispanic cultures. It is located in the "Casa de Cultura Dr. Maximiliano Ruiz Castañeda"
The municipality
As municipal seat, the town of Acambay has governmental jurisdiction over the following communities:Agostadero (San José Agostadero), Agua Limpia, Barrancas, Barrio de Candeje, Boshi Chiquito, Boshi Grande, Boshindo, Boti (Boti Agostadero), Botidi, Bovini, Buenavista, Cañada del Gallo, Cerrito de Tixmadeje, Chanteje, Conejeras, Dateje, Deshpe, Detiña (San Antonio Detiña), Detiña Ejido, Dongu (Dongu Centro), Dongu Barrio Dos, Dongu Barrio Uno, Dongu Puerto, Doxteje Barrio Dos, Doxteje Barrio Primero, Doxteje Centro, Ejido Tixmadeje, El Capulín (Barrio el Capulín la Loma), El Ermitaño, El Fresadero, El Medrano, El Pedregal Tixmadeje, Endeje, Esdoca, Gando, Ganzda, Hacienda Toto, Hondiga, Juando, La Caridad, La Cumbre, La Estancia Sector Dos, La Estancia Sector Uno (La Estancia), La Florida, La Huerta, La Laguna, La Loma (Santa María la Loma), La Manga, La Nopalera, La Palma, La Providencia Doxteje, La Soledad, La Teresa (Santa Teresa), La Terquedad, La Venta (Barrio la Venta), Las Arenas (San Agustín), Las Chivas (El Cerro), Las Golondrinas, Las Mangas, Las Pomas Ejido de Dateje, Las Trojes, Loma de Enmedio, Loma de San Ángel, Loma del Fresno, Loma Linda, Los Charcos, Los Pilares, Los Sauces, Los Toriles, Mado Sector Dos, Mado Sector Uno, Muyteje, Pathé, Pueblo Nuevo, Puentecillas, Rancho Castilla de las Águilas, Rancho la Venta, Rancho Lucero, Rincón de Juando, San Agustín la Loma, San Antonio las Palmas, San Francisco Shaxni, San Francisco Shaxni Ejido, San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso Yolotepec), San José Bocto, San Juanico Sector Dos, San Juanico Sector Uno, San Nicolás Acambay, San Pedro de los Metates, Santa María las Arenas, Santa María las Arenas Dos, Tixmadeje Barrio Dos, Tixmadeje Chiquito, Tixmadeje Grande (Santa María Tixmadeje). The total population of the municipality is 56,849.
It borders the state of Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
and Aculco
Aculco
Aculco de Espinoza is a town and the seat of the municipality called Aculco in Mexico State.-History:Aculco was founded approximately in 1110 A.D. by the Otomies, despite the fact that its name comes from Nahuatl...
to the north, to the east with Aculco
Aculco
Aculco de Espinoza is a town and the seat of the municipality called Aculco in Mexico State.-History:Aculco was founded approximately in 1110 A.D. by the Otomies, despite the fact that its name comes from Nahuatl...
and Timilpan
Timilpan
Timilpan is a town and municipality in Mexico State in Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 179.82 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 14,335.-References:...
, to the south with Timilpan, Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco
Atlacomulco is a city and municipality located in the northwest of the State of Mexico in central Mexico, 63 km from the state capital of Toluca. The name is derived from the Nahuatl phrase "atlacomulli" which means "where there are wells." The city, with a population of 20,477 is...
and Temascalcingo
Temascalcingo
Temascalcingo de José Maria Velasco is a town and seat of the municipality of Temascalcingo in the State of Mexico, Mexico. It is located in the northeast of the state. The temazcal was very common in Temascalcingo. The name Temascalcingo has its roots in Nahuatl. It means place of the little...
, and to the west with Temascalcingo and the state of Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
. The municipality covers an area of 492.13 square kilometres (190 sq mi), representing 2.21% of the state's territory.
The area is quite irregular, with hills, and steep mountainous formations, deep gullies and valleys. The mountains and plateaus occupy nearly two thirds of the total area of the municipality. Some of the most significant mountains include Las Palomas, El Colmilludo, San Antonio, Dongú, La Cumbre, and La Manga. The major river is called Las Adjuntas.
Farming is the most important activity in the municipality. The main crops are corn, potatoes, oats, beans, and vegetables. Almost every community raises domestic farm animals like cattle, horses, goats and pigs. Retail business is another economic activity including corner stores, open air markets, pharmacies, clothing stores, shoe stores, furniture shops, retail stores, fruit and vegetables stands.
There are 8,100 speakers of Otomi
Otomi language
Otomi is an Oto-Manguean language and one of the indigenous languages of Mexico, spoken by approximately 240,000 indigenous Otomi people in the central altiplano region of Mexico. The language is spoken in many different dialects, some of which are not mutually intelligible, therefore it is in...
and Náhuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
, most of whom are located in ethnic communities outside the municipal seat, representing only 30% of the total population. The rest are monolingual Spanish speakers.
The municipality provides education to a total of 16,724 students at different levels of education imparted by 808 teachers in 222 schools.
The literacy rate has increased in recent years with 78% of the total population over 15 years able to read. It is predicted that this percentage will increase to 90%.
Of the total population residing in the town, 2.04% receive medical services by the IMSS
IMSS
IMSS may refer to:* Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Florence, Italy* Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico* Integrated Maritime Surveillance Systems, an integrated network of coast-line radars...
, 27.73% from ISSSTE
Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers
The Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers is a governmental organization in Mexico that administers part of Mexico's health care and social security systems, and provides assistance in cases of disability, old age, risks in labor, and death...
and 3.92% by ISSEMYM. The remaining 66.32% receive care from the private and public health as ISEM and DIFEM.
These are some of the regional holidays and celebrations:
- San Sebastián Celebration held on January 20 featuring folk dances and the world famous dance of the “Moros & Christians”.
- A Spring Celebration held on the second Friday of LentLentIn the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
. It is a carnival celebrated with allegorical cars, music and dances.
- Corpus Christi Day celebrated on the first Thursday of June, gathering all the images from nearby communities, and the "Macheteros" and "Tixmadejé" dances are performed.
- The “Our Holy Father Jesus Party”, takes place on the first Sunday in August, and the main attraction is a firework display.
- The Feast of St. Michael is held on September 29. For this celebration certain religious displays are made of Moors, Christians and Sheppards. Dance parties are very common on this date along with the fireworks and live music.