Donato Guerra
Encyclopedia
Villa Donato Guerra is the municipal seat of the municipality called Donato Guerra in the State of Mexico, Mexico
. The area is also known as Malacatepec (meaning 'hill in the shape of a spindle
) and La Asunción Malacatepec. (Villa) Donato Guerra is located in the western part of the State of Mexico. In the region that is identified with Valle de Bravo
. It was named "Donato Guerra" in 1880 in honor of a distinguished soldier of the War of La Reforma
. It is located around 77 kilometers from Toluca
which is the capital of the state, on Federal Highway number 35 Mexico City
- Zitácuaro
.
territory until between 1474 and 1477 when it came under Mexica
domination. It remain mostly populated by Mexicas until 1604. Franciscan
friars constructed the Parish of Asuncion Malacatepec around 1550. As late as 1727, the town still had a commissioner of the Inquisition
, naming lawyer Jose Bernal and Mendoza in that year. In 1770, a land and natural resources dispute arose between the towns of La Asunción Malacatepec and San Lucas Texcaltitlán, versus the owners of the haciendas of La Asunción, San Felipe Neri, Joloxtoc, and Endo. The town was formally recognized as a ayuntamiento
in 1826 by the State of Mexico.
In the 2005 census, the village had only 921 people.
Villa Donato Guerra’s churches are St Martin Bishop, San Simon de la Laguna, San Francisco Mihualtepec,San Miguel Xooltepec and San Juan Xoconusco. The ruins of the Hacienda la Asuncion and Hacienda El Molino San Felipe Neri are examples of colonial constructions and are preserved as historical monuments.
On October 30, 1810, the Battle of Monte de las Cruces
took place with what is now the current municipality, where the forces of General Miguel Hidalgo triumphed. A number of Mazahuas took part in this battle as well with distinction.
The current municipality is officially formed in 1870.
45.29% of the territory is covered by forests. The main kinds of trees are pine, cedar
, eucalyptus
, ash, weeping willow, and oak
. These trees can be used to obtain wood. Trees that give fruit are: avocado
, chirimoya, walnut
, plum
, capulín
, tejocote etc. There are also some plants that can be used for medicinal purposes such as: epazote
, chamomile
, yerba buena
, wormwood, arnica
, juniper
, clover
, papalo, pig weed, and fennel
.
The main mammals that can be found are rabbits, coyotes, zool deers, zool hares, squirrels, rats, tlacuaches, cacomixtles, dogs, horses, cows, and pigs.
Avian life is constituted by huilotas, carpenter birds, tecolotes, owls, buzzard
s, falcons, orn ravens, and pigeons. Reptiles such as snakes (of various species), scorpions, iguanas and lizards are found as well.
.
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 area is also known as Malacatepec (meaning 'hill in the shape of a spindle
Spindle (textiles)
A spindle is a wooden spike used for spinning wool, flax, hemp, cotton, and other fibres into thread. It is commonly weighted at either the bottom middle or top, most commonly by a circular or spherical object called a whorl, and may also have a hook, groove or notch, though spindles without...
) and La Asunción Malacatepec. (Villa) Donato Guerra is located in the western part of the State of Mexico. In the region that is identified with Valle de Bravo
Valle de Bravo
Valle de Bravo is a town and municipality located in Mexico State, Mexico. It is located on the shore of Lake Avándaro, approximately 156 km southwest of Mexico City and west of Toluca on highways 15, 134 or 1...
. It was named "Donato Guerra" in 1880 in honor of a distinguished soldier of the War of La Reforma
La Reforma
La Reforma was a period halfway through the 19th century in the history of Mexico that was characterized by liberal reforms and the transformation of Mexico into a nation state...
. It is located around 77 kilometers from Toluca
Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
which is the capital of the state, on Federal Highway number 35 Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
- Zitácuaro
Zitácuaro
Zitácuaro is a city in the Mexican state of Michoacán. The city is the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of the same name, which lies at the extreme eastern side of Michoacán and borders on the adjacent state of México...
.
The town
The town lies at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. The area was MazahuaMazahua
The Mazahua are an indigenous people of Mexico, inhabiting the northwestern portion of the State of Mexico and northeastern area of Michoacán, with a presence also in the Federal District owing to recent migration...
territory until between 1474 and 1477 when it came under 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...
domination. It remain mostly populated by Mexicas until 1604. Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friars constructed the Parish of Asuncion Malacatepec around 1550. As late as 1727, the town still had a commissioner of the Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
, naming lawyer Jose Bernal and Mendoza in that year. In 1770, a land and natural resources dispute arose between the towns of La Asunción Malacatepec and San Lucas Texcaltitlán, versus the owners of the haciendas of La Asunción, San Felipe Neri, Joloxtoc, and Endo. The town was formally recognized as a ayuntamiento
Ayuntamiento
Ayuntamiento In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . is the general term for the council of a municipality, or sometimes the municipality itself, in Spain and Latin America. Historically Ayuntamiento was often preceded by the word excelentísimo , when referring to...
in 1826 by the State of Mexico.
In the 2005 census, the village had only 921 people.
Villa Donato Guerra’s churches are St Martin Bishop, San Simon de la Laguna, San Francisco Mihualtepec,San Miguel Xooltepec and San Juan Xoconusco. The ruins of the Hacienda la Asuncion and Hacienda El Molino San Felipe Neri are examples of colonial constructions and are preserved as historical monuments.
The municipality
As municipal seat, Villa Donato Guerra has governing jurisdiction over the following communities: Cabecera de Indígenas, Primer y Segundo Cuartel, San Martín, San Antonio Hidalgo, Batán Chico, Batán Grande, Mesas Altas de Xoconusco, El Capulín, Llano Redondo, Macheros, Barrio de Arriba, La Fundición, San José Tilostóc, Galeras, Ranchería de Santiago Huitlapaltepec, San Agustín de las Palmas, San Lucas Texcaltitlán, Santiago Huitlapaltepec, San Juan Xoconusco, San Martín Obispo, San Antonio de la Laguna, San Simón de la Laguna, San Francisco Mihualtepec, San Miguel Xooltepec.History
In 1569, the region of Malacatepec, is recognized as separate from Almoloya de Juarez. On April 8, 1604, Marques de Montesclaros by mandate of Pedro de Campos, signs the agreement that divides to the region of Malacatepec in two congregations, Asuncion Malacatepec and San José.On October 30, 1810, the Battle of Monte de las Cruces
Battle of Monte de las Cruces
The Battle of Monte de las Cruces was one of the pivotal battles of the early Mexican War of Independence. It was fought between the insurgent troops of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Ignacio Allende against the royalist troops of General Torcuato Trujillo in the Sierra de las Cruces mountains...
took place with what is now the current municipality, where the forces of General Miguel Hidalgo triumphed. A number of Mazahuas took part in this battle as well with distinction.
The current municipality is officially formed in 1870.
Natural geography
Donato Guerra is located in the region known as Sierra Mil Cumbres, with the peaks of this mountain area reaching 3,040 meters above sea level. At its southern border, begins tropical terrain.45.29% of the territory is covered by forests. The main kinds of trees are pine, cedar
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
, eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
, ash, weeping willow, and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
. These trees can be used to obtain wood. Trees that give fruit are: avocado
Avocado
The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
, chirimoya, walnut
Walnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
, plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
, capulín
Capulin
Prunus salicifolia , known as Capulin, is a species of cherry. It is similar to the Jamaica cherry. The capulin is often called the capuli, capoli, capulin, or capolin in both Mexico and Colombia...
, tejocote etc. There are also some plants that can be used for medicinal purposes such as: epazote
Epazote
Epazote, wormseed, Jesuit's tea, Mexican tea, Paico or Herba Sancti Mariæ is an herb native to Central America, South America, and southern Mexico....
, chamomile
Chamomile
Chamomile or camomile is a common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. These plants are best known for their ability to be made into an infusion which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey or lemon. Because chamomile can cause uterine...
, yerba buena
Yerba Buena
Yerba buena is a rambling aromatic herb of western and northwestern North America, ranging from maritime Alaska southwards to Baja California Sur...
, wormwood, arnica
Arnica
Arnica is a genus with about 30 perennial, herbaceous species, belonging to the sunflower family . The genus name Arnica may be derived from the Greek arna, "lamb", in reference to the soft, hairy leaves....
, juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
, clover
Clover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
, papalo, pig weed, and fennel
Fennel
Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...
.
The main mammals that can be found are rabbits, coyotes, zool deers, zool hares, squirrels, rats, tlacuaches, cacomixtles, dogs, horses, cows, and pigs.
Avian life is constituted by huilotas, carpenter birds, tecolotes, owls, buzzard
Buzzard
A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....
s, falcons, orn ravens, and pigeons. Reptiles such as snakes (of various species), scorpions, iguanas and lizards are found as well.
Population
In 1950, Donato Guerra had 10,514 inhabitants. 30 years later, in 1980, it had grown to only 13,671. However, the population census of 1990 registered 21,510 inhabitants. and in the last census in 2005 the total population for the municipality was 29,621. 74.05 % live in rural areas and 25.95 % live in urban areas.Economy
Since most people live in the rural areas, agriculture, both the raising of crops and livestock is the principal economic activity, with 9,016 hectares are devoted to the agricultural use. Principal livestock are cows, pigs, sheep, horses, hens, turkeys, beehives and rabbits. However, some industry exists in small factories, family workshops and craft cooperatives, clothes, shoes and bakeries.Chronology of the municipal presidents
Name Period Politic partid- Wenceslao Sáenz 1913
- Prospero María Yereno 1914-1916
- Wilebaldo Gómez 1917
- Pablo Reyes 1918
- Dario Reyes Barcenas 1919
- Antonio Usandizaga 1920
- José María Cambrón PML 1920
- Jorge Sánchez 1921
- Alberto Usandizaga PML 1921
- Jesús G. Avila 1922
- Antonio Usandizaga 1923
- Alberto Usandizaga 1924
- Anastacio R. Mendieta 1925
- José Félix Pliego 1926
- Guillermo Mendieta 1927
- Agustín Albarrán Fonseca 1928-1929 PNR
- Germán Reyes 1er. Regidor PML 1929 PNR
- Pedro Chamorro Mercado 1930-1931 PNR
- José García Argüello 1932-1933 PNR
- Agustín Albarrán Fonseca 1934-1935 PNR
- Armando Reyes J. 1936-1937 PNR
- Juan B. Bautista 1938-1939 PRM
- Jesús Mendieta 1er. Regidor PML 1939 PRM
- Manuel Reyes Muñoz 1940-1941 PRM
- José Mendieta Quintana 1942-1943 PRM
- José García Argüello 1944-1945 PRM
- Marcial Villegas Moreno 1946-1948 PRI
- Roberto Reyes Salguero PML 1948 PRI
- Jesús G. Avila 1949-1951 PRI
- Agustín Albarrán Fonseca 1952-1954 PRI
- Marcial Villegas Moreno (suplente) 1952-1954 PRI
- Lázaro Arriaga Escobar 1955-1957 PRI
- Agustín Albarrán Reyes 1958-1960 PRI
- Fidel Reyes Muñoz 1961-1963 PRI
- Roberto Reyes Salguero 1964-1966 PRI
- Agustín Albarrán Salguero 1967-1969 PRI
- Fernando Cuéllar Sánchez 1970-1972 PRI
- Arnulfo Villegas Jaramillo 1973-1975 PRI
- Santiago Avila Villegas 1976-1978 PRI
- Silvestre Torres Longares 1979-1981 PRI
- Prof. Elías Arzate Archunda 1982-1984 PRI
- Ing. Antelmo Mendieta Velázquez 1985-1987 PRI
- Arq. Héctor Jaime Sánchez García 1988-1990 PRI
- Germán Reyes García 1991-1993 PRI
- Ing. Lázaro Reyes González 1994-1996 PRI
- Arq. Jacobo Hernández Marín 1997-1998 PRI
- Prof. Ricardo Cruz Nieto PML 1998 PRI
- Prof. Mauro Noé Cuéllar Hernández 1998-2000 PRI
- Anselmo Vega Chico 2000-2003 PRI
- Tomás Octaviano Félix 2003-2006 PRD
- Arturo Piña García 2006-2009 PRD
Ethnic groups
The Mazahuas were the first group to inhabit the region of Malacatepec. In communities such as San Martín Bishop, San Simón de la Laguna, San Antonio de la Laguna, San Francisco Mihualtepec, San Miguel Xooltepec and Santiago Huitlapaltepec, indigenous language, food, customs and ethnicity are still preserved. Approximately 10.224 people speak MazahuaMazahua language
The Mazahua language is an indigenous language of Mexico, spoken in the country's central states by the ethnic group widely known as the Mazahua but who refer to themselves as Hñatho. Mazahua is a Mesoamerican language and shows many of the traits which define the Mesoamerican Linguistic Area...
.