Santo Tomás de los Plátanos
Encyclopedia
Santo Tomás de los Platanos is a town and governmental seat of the municipality of Santo Tomás, located in the center-west of Mexico State, in Mexico
. It is approximately 185 km from Mexico City
, and 107 km from Toluca
..
name for the area was Caltepec, but as early as 1631, records referred to the village here as Santo Tomás, which the municipality is still called. Don Vasco de Quiroga added "de los Plátanos" to the name of the village because of all the banana plantations nearby, but the name was not official until 1975. Few records exist from the colonia period, but the area was under the jurisdiction of San Martín Otzoloapan
in the 19th century.
The current town of Santo Tomás de los Platanos (Saint Thomas of the bananas) was not the original seat of the municipality of Santo Tomás. The original Santo Tomás was flooded due to a hydroelectric dam that was built in 1945. This dam and its hydroelectric plant are of great economic importance to the region. Curiously, the church tower of the old town can still be seen rising above the water of the reservoir. The current Santo Tomas has a central garden surrounded by trees and a church.
The population of the town as of 2005 was 2,823 people.
It has a territorial extension of 110.91 square kilometers, and the population total for the municipality in 2005 was 8,888. It borders with the municipalities of Ixtapan del Oro
, Valle de Bravo
and Otzoloapan, as well as the state of Michoacán
to the west.
The climate of Santo Tomas de los Platanos is sub tropical, with a rainy season in summer. The principal ecosystems consist of varied vegetation, from lowland jungle, temperate forest and agricultural land, although many forests here have suffered damage. The fruits that are grown in Santo Tomas de los Platanos are lemons, oranges, papaya
s, bananas, mango
, coffee, sapodilla
, guava
, tamarind
, and chayote
s.
From 18 to 22 of December, the inhabitants of Santo Tomas celebrate the feast day of Saint Thomas the Apostle. On October 14, they celebrate the municipality's anniversary in 1870.
People of Santo Tomas produce stuffed animals, washcloths, tablecloths, and napkins. There are also bread bakeries. However, the primary economic activity is cattle-raising.
The typical food of Santo Tomas is turkey mole
and tamale
s, which are served in family gatherings, weddings and quinceañera
s.
Santo Tomas de los Platanos offers great views to its visitors, and a great option to practice rappeling, take long walks, and provides special places to camp and swimming.
The seat has 46 schools, which are attended by 128 teachers. For the rest of the municipality, it depends on state and federal support for the other 24 communities to teach kindergarten, elementary school, and high school, with 2,081 students in 155 groups with 97 classrooms. There is a technical school in the Casa de Cultura (House of Culture) called “Santiago Santana Avalos”. In Santa Barbara, there is televised high school for the students of that area. The illiteracy rate is about 18.53%, which is considered high.
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...
. It is approximately 185 km from 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...
, and 107 km 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...
..
The town
The NáhuatlNahuatl
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...
name for the area was Caltepec, but as early as 1631, records referred to the village here as Santo Tomás, which the municipality is still called. Don Vasco de Quiroga added "de los Plátanos" to the name of the village because of all the banana plantations nearby, but the name was not official until 1975. Few records exist from the colonia period, but the area was under the jurisdiction of San Martín Otzoloapan
Otzoloapan
Otzoloapan is a town and municipality located at the southeast of the State of Mexico. The name is from the Náhuatl 'Oceloapan' which means "river of lynxes". It is located in the southwest part of the state bordering the state of Michoacán.-The town:...
in the 19th century.
The current town of Santo Tomás de los Platanos (Saint Thomas of the bananas) was not the original seat of the municipality of Santo Tomás. The original Santo Tomás was flooded due to a hydroelectric dam that was built in 1945. This dam and its hydroelectric plant are of great economic importance to the region. Curiously, the church tower of the old town can still be seen rising above the water of the reservoir. The current Santo Tomas has a central garden surrounded by trees and a church.
The population of the town as of 2005 was 2,823 people.
The municipality
As municipal seat, Santo Tomás de los Plátanos has governing jurisdiction over the following communities: San José Barbechos (Los Barbechos), Cieneguillas, La Laguna, El Ocotal, Potrero de Abajo (Colonia Guadalupe), Potrero de Arriba (La Ceiba), Ojo de Agua, Rincón Grande, Salitre de Cal (El Zapote), Salitre Terreros, San Miguel San de Mialma, San Pedro el Chico, San Pedro el Grande, San Pedro Ixtapantongo (Ixtapantongo), Santa Bárbara, Poblado de Santo Tomás (El Puerto San Isidro), Tacuitapan, Pueblo Viejo, Rincón Vivero (El Maracaná), El Llano, Las Canoas, El Jocoyol (San José el Jocoyol), El Salitre Bramador, El Aguacate, El Anono, Potrero de Abajo (Granadillo), El Sifón, Las Fincas, El Pedregal, Rincón Chico, Los Nogales, El Aguacate, El Plan, and Frontón Vivero.It has a territorial extension of 110.91 square kilometers, and the population total for the municipality in 2005 was 8,888. It borders with the municipalities of Ixtapan del Oro
Ixtapan del Oro
Ixtapan del Oro is a town and municipality in the State of Mexico, in Mexico. The name “Ixtapan” comes from Nahuatl and means 'in the place of little salt'. "del Oro" is Spanish, meaning 'of the gold'. This name was added in 1894 when some veins of gold were found here.-The town:It is a small town...
, 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...
and Otzoloapan, as well as the state of Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
to the west.
The climate of Santo Tomas de los Platanos is sub tropical, with a rainy season in summer. The principal ecosystems consist of varied vegetation, from lowland jungle, temperate forest and agricultural land, although many forests here have suffered damage. The fruits that are grown in Santo Tomas de los Platanos are lemons, oranges, papaya
Papaya
The papaya , papaw, or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, the sole species in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae...
s, bananas, mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
, coffee, sapodilla
Sapodilla
Manilkara zapota, commonly known as the sapodilla, is a long-lived, evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. An example natural occurrence is in coastal Yucatan in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species...
, guava
Guava
Guavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
, tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
, and chayote
Chayote
The chayote , also known as christophene, vegetable pear, mirliton, pear squash, christophine , chouchoute , choko , starprecianté, citrayota, citrayote , chuchu , chow chow , cho cho , sayote ,...
s.
From 18 to 22 of December, the inhabitants of Santo Tomas celebrate the feast day of Saint Thomas the Apostle. On October 14, they celebrate the municipality's anniversary in 1870.
People of Santo Tomas produce stuffed animals, washcloths, tablecloths, and napkins. There are also bread bakeries. However, the primary economic activity is cattle-raising.
The typical food of Santo Tomas is turkey mole
Mole (sauce)
Mole is the generic name for a number of sauces used in Mexican cuisine, as well as for dishes based on these sauces...
and tamale
Tamale
A tamale — or more correctly tamal — is a traditional Latin American dish made of masa , which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating...
s, which are served in family gatherings, weddings and quinceañera
Quinceañera
Quinceañera , sometimes called "Fiesta de quince años", "Fiesta de Quinceañera", "Quince años" or simply "quince", is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of immigrants from Latin America...
s.
Santo Tomas de los Platanos offers great views to its visitors, and a great option to practice rappeling, take long walks, and provides special places to camp and swimming.
The seat has 46 schools, which are attended by 128 teachers. For the rest of the municipality, it depends on state and federal support for the other 24 communities to teach kindergarten, elementary school, and high school, with 2,081 students in 155 groups with 97 classrooms. There is a technical school in the Casa de Cultura (House of Culture) called “Santiago Santana Avalos”. In Santa Barbara, there is televised high school for the students of that area. The illiteracy rate is about 18.53%, which is considered high.
Important citizens
- The welterweight boxing champion of the world, "Pipino" CuevasJose CuevasJosé Isidro "Pipino" Cuevas González is a Mexican former world champion boxer at the welterweight division.-Professional career:...
was born in Santo Tomás de los Plátanos on December 27, 1957.