Acatlán de Juárez
Encyclopedia
Acatlán de Juárez is a town and municipality
, in Jalisco
in central-western Mexico
. The municipality covers an area of 166.68 km².
As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 22,540.
In the year of 1550 the area for the first time attained the first level of a municipality, under the power of the viceroy of the New Spain
, Antonio de Mendoza
. During his rule he encountered discontent with people in Zacoalco de Torres
, Ahualulco
and Ameca
. In the first half of the 17th century the Augustinians built a temple dedicated to Santa Ana, known today as the " Parroquia de Santa Ana".
In 1825 the area fell under the canton of Sayula
. In 1858, Benito Juárez
, in his journey through these lands, stayed at the inn in the town of Acatlán de Juárez, owned by Miguel Gomez. During his short stay, he was killed at the hands of the conservatives, and died saving the pastor of the place, Meliton Gutierrez Vargas. On March 22 of 1906, by decree 1158, the name of the earlier village changed its name from Santa Ana Acatlan to Acaltán de Juarez, and acquired the title of a town.
state between the coordinates 20 º 14'30 "north latitude and 103 º 32'30" west longitude at an altitude of 1,393 metres above sea level.
The municipality is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Tala
and Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
, to the east by the municipalities of Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
, Jocotepec
and Zacoalco de Torres
to the south with the municipalities of Zacoalco de Torres and Villa Corona
, and to the west by the municipalities of Villa Corona and Tala.
Approximately 57% of the land area is flat, especially in the middle east, west and south of the municipality with its characteristic valleys. The primary agricultural areas at some 39% are located to the north and east, with altitudes of 1,400 and 1,500 m. There are some hilly areas accounting for just 4% of the land area which lies to the south-east and north-west at altitudes that reach the 2.200 m.
The municipality belongs to the hydrological basin known as Lerma-Chapala-Santiago. Its water resources are provided by the Acatlán River
and the springs El Cajón del Muerto and Charco Verde. In addition, several small streams flow in the rainy season, the Hurtado, Presa Chica and Bordo de San Gerardo.
The climate is dry with a dry winter and spring, semi-warm in the winter season. The average annual temperature is 20.5 °C, with an average annual rainfall of 714.7 mm and can reach up to 1.100, with the heaviest rainfall in July and August. Prevailing winds flow in the easterly direction.
, maize
, bean
s, peanut
s, sunflower
and tomato
. Livestock is also a main eocnomic activity with the rearing of cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits and hives. Sugar and alcohol production are of note. The town has a wide variety of commercial establishments and provides services to tourists.
under the state
and Federal
elections are held every 3 years, which elects the mayor and his cabinet. The current mayor is Luis Carrillo Bueno, an activist of the Mexican Labor Party
, and was elected in the elections of July 2 of 2006.
The municipality has 27 villages, the most important Acatlan de Juárez (town), Bellavista, El Plan, San Jose de los Pozos, San Pedro Valencia, and Villa de los Niños.
Much of the architecutre in the municipality is stone work dating back to the 1850s. The town contains the "Benito Juárez" arts and crafts museum. A religious festival is celebrated on July 26 n honor of St. Anne, the patron saint of the city. It is customary on December 11 each year to also light bonfires at night along the streets, to commemorate the vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe
to Juan Diego.
Local cuisine includes the Birria goat, Carnitas beef, pork and beans and sweets known as Encalada flour fritters and ponteduro. Guarapo, a fruit cane juice and fruit punch are common beverages.
Parks and reserves
Municipalities of Jalisco
The Mexican state of Jalisco is divided into125 municipalities...
, in Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
in central-western Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The municipality covers an area of 166.68 km².
As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 22,540.
History
The first settlers in the region were members of a tribe that was established in Cocula, They were defeated by the Purepecha in 1509.In the year of 1550 the area for the first time attained the first level of a municipality, under the power of the viceroy of the New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
, Antonio de Mendoza
Antonio de Mendoza
Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco, Marquis of Mondéjar, Count of Tendilla , was the first viceroy of New Spain, serving from April 17, 1535 to November 25, 1550, and the second viceroy of Peru, from September 23, 1551 to July 21, 1552...
. During his rule he encountered discontent with people in Zacoalco de Torres
Zacoalco de Torres
Zacoalco de Torres is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 491.27 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 25,529.To the east lies the largest lake in Mexico, Lago de Chapala....
, Ahualulco
Ahualulco de Mercado
Ahualulco de Mercado is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 134.22 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 21,465....
and Ameca
Ameca
Ameca may mean:Biology* Ameca, a monotypic ray-finned fish genus in the family Goodeidae, with the only species Ameca splendens...
. In the first half of the 17th century the Augustinians built a temple dedicated to Santa Ana, known today as the " Parroquia de Santa Ana".
In 1825 the area fell under the canton of Sayula
Sayula
Sayula is a town and municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco, approximately 100 kilometers south of Guadalajara. It is surrounded by smaller towns, such as Usmajac, San Andres, El Reparo, and Amacueca....
. In 1858, Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
, in his journey through these lands, stayed at the inn in the town of Acatlán de Juárez, owned by Miguel Gomez. During his short stay, he was killed at the hands of the conservatives, and died saving the pastor of the place, Meliton Gutierrez Vargas. On March 22 of 1906, by decree 1158, the name of the earlier village changed its name from Santa Ana Acatlan to Acaltán de Juarez, and acquired the title of a town.
Geography
Acatlán de Juárez is located in the centre of JaliscoJalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
state between the coordinates 20 º 14'30 "north latitude and 103 º 32'30" west longitude at an altitude of 1,393 metres above sea level.
The municipality is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Tala
Tala, Jalisco
Tala is a village and a municipality in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. It is a small town that has grown over the years....
and Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico in the state of Jalisco. It forms part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area and lies to the southeast of it...
, to the east by the municipalities of Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
Tlajomulco de Zuñiga
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico in the state of Jalisco. It forms part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area and lies to the southeast of it...
, Jocotepec
Jocotepec
Jocotepec is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 384.36 km². As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 37,972.-History:...
and Zacoalco de Torres
Zacoalco de Torres
Zacoalco de Torres is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 491.27 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 25,529.To the east lies the largest lake in Mexico, Lago de Chapala....
to the south with the municipalities of Zacoalco de Torres and Villa Corona
Villa Corona
Villa Corona is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 179.37 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 15,196....
, and to the west by the municipalities of Villa Corona and Tala.
Approximately 57% of the land area is flat, especially in the middle east, west and south of the municipality with its characteristic valleys. The primary agricultural areas at some 39% are located to the north and east, with altitudes of 1,400 and 1,500 m. There are some hilly areas accounting for just 4% of the land area which lies to the south-east and north-west at altitudes that reach the 2.200 m.
The municipality belongs to the hydrological basin known as Lerma-Chapala-Santiago. Its water resources are provided by the Acatlán River
Acatlán River
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
and the springs El Cajón del Muerto and Charco Verde. In addition, several small streams flow in the rainy season, the Hurtado, Presa Chica and Bordo de San Gerardo.
The climate is dry with a dry winter and spring, semi-warm in the winter season. The average annual temperature is 20.5 °C, with an average annual rainfall of 714.7 mm and can reach up to 1.100, with the heaviest rainfall in July and August. Prevailing winds flow in the easterly direction.
Economy
Agriculture is the primary activity in the municipality, with crops such as sugarcaneSugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s, peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s, sunflower
Sunflower
Sunflower is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence . The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads...
and tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
. Livestock is also a main eocnomic activity with the rearing of cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits and hives. Sugar and alcohol production are of note. The town has a wide variety of commercial establishments and provides services to tourists.
Government
The form of government is democraticDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
under the state
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
and Federal
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
elections are held every 3 years, which elects the mayor and his cabinet. The current mayor is Luis Carrillo Bueno, an activist of the Mexican Labor Party
Labor Party (Mexico)
The Labor Party is a nationally recognized political party in Mexico. It was founded on December 8, 1990. The party is currently led by Alberto Anaya....
, and was elected in the elections of July 2 of 2006.
The municipality has 27 villages, the most important Acatlan de Juárez (town), Bellavista, El Plan, San Jose de los Pozos, San Pedro Valencia, and Villa de los Niños.
Culture
 |
 |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady... |
Juan Diego |
|---|
Much of the architecutre in the municipality is stone work dating back to the 1850s. The town contains the "Benito Juárez" arts and crafts museum. A religious festival is celebrated on July 26 n honor of St. Anne, the patron saint of the city. It is customary on December 11 each year to also light bonfires at night along the streets, to commemorate the vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady...
to Juan Diego.
Local cuisine includes the Birria goat, Carnitas beef, pork and beans and sweets known as Encalada flour fritters and ponteduro. Guarapo, a fruit cane juice and fruit punch are common beverages.
Notable landmarks
Architecture- Parroquia de Santa Ana
- Museo de Artes y Oficios.
- Chorros de Santa Ana.
- Mesón de la Providencia.
- Museo Benito Juárez.
- Panteón Municipal.
Parks and reserves
- Cerro de la Coronilla.
- Mirador de Santa Cruz.
- Cerro de la Lima.
- Paseo del Río
- Presa del Hurtado.
Notable people
- Joaquín Baeza Agraz -doctor
- Francisco Melitón Vargas -pastor
- Ismael Baeza -writer
- Miguel Baeza Agraz -writer
- Basilio Rueda Guzmán.
- Carlos Augusto Ortiz -Athlete
- Jesús Huerta Leal, polítician