Tepatitlán de Morelos
Encyclopedia
Tepatitlán de Morelos is a city and municipality founded in 1883, in the central Mexican state of 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...

. It is located in the area known as Los Altos de Jalisco (Highlands of Jalisco), about 70 km east of state capital Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...

. Its surrounding municipality
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...

 of the same name had an area of 1,532.78 km² (591.81 sq mi). Its most distinctive feature is the Fine Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...

 Cathedral, pictured below, although it has many other attractive locations. Some of the most important ones are:
  • The kiosk that sits on the Plaza de Armas in downtown - of gracious and elegant design and ornamented with iron, it was built in France, and brought to the city.
  • The Temple of San Antonio - although it has a simple architectural design, it became famous when during the Cristero War (1926–1929), the federals and the religious would crossfire from the tower of the temple, to the towers of the San Francisco Church.
  • The city hall (presidencia municipal) is one of the most distinctive features in the city, built in neoclassic-baroque style.

The nickname of the city is "Tepa". It is also the largest producer of egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...

s in Mexico, the largest pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....

 producer in the state, and the primary milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...

 basin in the country, as well as a large producer of tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....

. The fleur-de-lys can be seen in a number of public spaces and buildings, including the Santuario de Guadalupe and the internationally famous Santuario del Señor de la Misericordia, which houses an oak-carved crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....

 that, according to the legend, was found by a poor farmer on the Cerro Gordo in 1835; every year from the 25 to the 30 of April, the city hosts the Feria Tepabril which celebrates the Señor de la Misericordia.

Fher, lead-singer/songwriter of the internationally recognised Mexican rock band Mana
Mana
Mana is an indigenous Pacific islander concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects. The word is a cognate in many Oceanic languages, including Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian....

, has mentioned in an interview for Latina Magazine, that he sampled the best tequila of his life in Tepatitlan. This is considered by some a snub to Tequila, Jalisco
Tequila, Jalisco
Santiago de Tequila is a town and municipality located in the state of Jalisco about 60 km from the city of Guadalajara. Tequila is best known as being the birthplace of the drink that bears its name, “tequila,” which is made from the blue agave plant, native to this area. The heart of the...

 (the city which bears the name of the drink).

Etymology

Tepatitlán means “Hard Stone Place”, in the Nahuatl
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...

 language. But recent artifactual discoveries indicate that the name may actually have a different meaning than the one that is conventionally accepted. The matter has yet to be settled conclusively by scholars and officials.

Señor de la Misericordia Patronage

According to popular legend, in 1835, Don Pedro Medina, a poor, old farmer, saw from the outside of his home in the countryside an intense light, coming from the Cerro Gordo. The first few days, he thought it must have been some kind of coal or wood furnace. But he kept seeing the light for a few more days, so he decided he would climb the mountain up to the place to see what was going on. When he finally got to the place where he had seen the light, he found nothing, until he turned his head towards an oak tree, and found in it, an image slightly reminiscent to a crucifix. He was so amazed, he decided it he wanted everyone to see his "Father" as he called it, and so, decided to chop the tree down, and take it into the city. Pedro Medina was a poor man, so to get it from up on the mountain, to his ranch, he had to ask his neighbor for a couple of oxen to bring it down. However, when they cut the image down, and attached it to the oxen, it would not move, so Medina told his "compadre" to turn the image face up, and as soon as they did this, the oxen moved with immense ease. In town, the adoration to the holy image grew so big, that Don Pantaleon Leal offered Don Pedro Medina his home as a shrine to the image. And after a few years, in 1831, the Shrine erected in his honor stands, and every year, the city fills with over 2 million visitors to adore him and ask him for favors. His feast is celebrated on the 30 of April, day on which he was brought into his current shrine, and grand festivities are held, for he is the patron of the city.

Demographics

The municipality has a population of 136,703, of which 104,377 (2009 estimate) live within the city limits of the municipal seat, Tepatitlán, and the rest in the outlying communities and ranches.The city is the state's sixth-largest community and serves as a significant city outside of the capital, providing the most important university in the region of Los Altos
Los Altos
Los Altos is the name of several places, including:* the former state of Los Altos, Central America, now divided between Guatemala and Mexico.* the city of Los Altos, California, in the United States....

, and an important economic and business center.
Around 81% of the population of the municipality is urban, concentrated mostly in the municipal seat, and other large towns.
The annual growth rate is at about 18.9%, placing among the fastest growing populations in the state of 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...

.

Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís

Of neoclassic style, with baroque reminiscence, this grand temple was built from 1742–1775, from piedra braza. It is topped with two slender, neoclassic towers, 63m in height each, and three airy domes, all of this designed by the tepatitlense mason, Don Martín Pozos; On the side of the facade, it has a curious architectural element: a semi-hexagonal pórtico, which was added as a support for the heavy and slender towers, which he was told, would fall if he did not add support. In the inside, it is embellished by the main altar, constructed entirely of white marble from Carrara and the sculptures of the four Evangelists, sculpted by the Italian architect, Augusto C. Volpi, of which the statue of St. John is detailed with such exquisite beauty, it doesn't stand any less than Michelangelo's David
David (Michelangelo)
David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created between 1501 and 1504, by the Italian artist Michelangelo. It is a marble statue of a standing male nude. The statue represents the Biblical hero David, a favoured subject in the art of Florence...

. Another great example of the local craftsmanship is the sculptural group of La Piedad, carved in oak wood by Agustín Espinoza, which has been compared, kept in due proportion, to Michelangelo's Pietà
Pietà (Michelangelo)
The Pietà is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. The statue was commissioned for the French cardinal Jean de Billheres, who was a representative in...

. One of the most remarkable facts of this church is its wall clock, located on the south tower, facing the Plaza de Armas, which has been giving the time to the residents 141 years non-stop.

Other Examples

The Santuario del Señor de la Misericordia, the temple of San Antonio, with a great history during the second Cristero War
Cristero War
The Cristero War of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government in power at that time. The rebellion was set off by the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and the expansion of further anti-clerical laws...

, the building that houses the City Museum, and various constructions of the XIX Century, are many other attractive sites in the city which are worth a visit.

Presidencia Municipal

It was in 1727, that the older "town hall" was expanded with the terrain donated by Mrs. Elena de la Rua, and after it started functioning as city hall, it was completely remodeled from 1905-1908 under the direction of Don Francisco de Paula Palomar, who designed it with a near-neoclassic style, mixed with French Baroque in its decor; and in 1954, it was added to the design its current aspect, so jolly, and unique in the 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...

. Of neoclassic style, the City Hall is regarded as one of the most beautiful of the region. It is a two story building that holds on the walls of the staircase, a mural of the history of the city, measuring 80m² Its three façades form a design of undeniable beauty which gives it is lordship and poise for City Hall.

Historical Timeline

  • 1530: Lead by Captain Pedro Almíndez Chirinos, a group of Spanish men arrive to the area previously inhabited by Otomí indians
  • 1742: Construction of the San Francisco Parish is begun in the middle of a settlement
  • 1811: On April 19, the peoples of the city endorse Rev. Ramos, who besieged the city of Tepatilán, fighting fiercely for eight consecutive hours against the so called "Faithful Royalists" after which he took the Plaza de Armas, which was named de Armas (of Arms) after this incident
  • 1824: On March 27, the state grants Tepatitlán the title of "Villa" (town)
  • 1835: Don Pedro Medina finds the miraculous image of the Señor de la Misericordia
  • 1864: On the first of January, Tepatitlán was invaded by the French troops of Zuavos Argelinos (from North Africa) who were led by General Bazaine, and destroyed part of the municipal Archive. Afterward, various groups, lead by the French Commanders Munier and Ceynet, fough fiercely against the guerrillas, who lead by Rafael "El Chivo" Nuñez, Mauro Vázquez, Lucio Benavides, Félix Pérez, Francisco Cabrera, and other leaders, fought for liberty from the French rule; especially Colonel José Antonio Rojas, who at the head of his 1,000 "Rojeño" riders took in one month four important plazas (quite apart from each other): Zacatecas
    Zacatecas
    Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....

    , Aguascalientes
    Aguascalientes
    Aguascalientes is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 11 municipalities and its capital city is Aguascalientes....

    , Ciudad Guzmán
    Ciudad Guzmán
    Ciudad Guzmán is a city in the Mexican state of Jalisco.It is located at , 124 km south of Guadalajara, at a height of 1,507 metres above sea level...

     and Tepic
    Tepic
    Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.It is located in the central part of the state, at.It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 meters, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco....

  • 1883: On September 20, decree no. 41 was published, whereby the "Villa" of Tepatitlán de Morelos was declared a city by the Governor of Jalisco
  • 1927 - 1929: Tepatitlán was witness and actor in the battles between Cristeros and Federals during the Cristero War
    Cristero War
    The Cristero War of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government in power at that time. The rebellion was set off by the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and the expansion of further anti-clerical laws...

    ; within its urban perimeter, the bloodiest battle of the whole war was fought, and on that sole day, the federal army lost more than 3,000 troops.

Climate and Vegetation

Tepatitlán enjoys a beautiful weather yearlong, and an amazing tranquility in these times of hurries, and this results in a quality of life that others envy.
Its lands are "skinny", as described by Agustín Yáñez
Agustín Yáñez
Agustín Yáñez Delgadillo was a notable Mexican writer and politician who served as Governor of Jalisco and Secretary of Public Education during Gustavo Díaz Ordaz's presidency...

, but have been transformed into productive due to the efforts of the citizens. The beautiful flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...

 includes trees such as ash, which grows in profusion, maroon 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...

, 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...

, licorice and some acacias. It is a paradise for citrus. the canyon of the Rio Verde, with its tropical climate at the bottom, about 500 mts. deep, contains deposits of hot springs and spectacular scenery, half-exploited by some resorts.
The fauna is somewhat reduced to common species such as rabbits, hares, some snakes, bobcats, coyotes, and some pumas, which seeing their lands being invaded, migrated to feed on the cattle
There is a relatively small amount of oaks
Oaks
-Horse races:"Oaks" is generally used to describe a Thoroughbred horse race restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Among the best-known races using the term are:*Epsom Oaks, The Oaks Stakes, at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, England; the original "Oaks" race...

, remnants of what was once "great oak-land", which disappeared consumed by coal furnaces.
It was announced in 2009, that the Federal Government will spend around 350 million pesos on the construction of the Centro Nacional de Recursos Genéticos which will be sort of a Noah's Ark. The center has space for up to three million species; it is expected that by the end of 2012, the center will house 136,850 species.

Government

The Government of the municipality of Tepatitlán de Morelos is organised into the H. Ayuntamiento (City Council), which is composed of 17 Members from the following agencies:
  • Presidential Coordination - C. Cecilia González Gómez
  • General Secretary - MD Jorge Luis Rodríguez Gómez
  • Higher Administrative Office
  • Municipal Public Services - David Elizalde Alatorre, BS
  • Urban Development and Public Works - Alberto Martín Martín, Arch.
  • Municipal Finances and Treasury - C. Cecilia González Gómez
  • Comptroller - C. Juana María Esquivias Pérez
  • Economic Promotion - María Eugenia Villaseñor Gutiérrez, BS
  • Purveyance - C. Arcelia Alcalá Cortés
  • Census and Licensing - M.V.Z. Arturo Pérez Martínez
  • Education and Culture - María Elena Telles Barajas, BS
  • Sports Fomentation - Gerardo Pérez Martínez, BS
  • Public Security - C. Cecilia González Gómez
  • Community Involvement - C. Lorena del Rocío Hernández Fernández
  • Roads and Traffic - L.N.I. Dora Eugenia González González
  • Civil Protection - Arch. Gilberto Casillas Casillas
  • Legal - MD Jorge Luis Rodríguez Gómez

Administrative Divisions

The municipality of Tepatitlán de Morelos is divided into 7 subdivisions: 6 Delegaciónes (delegations) and a Municipal Seat as follows:
Administrative Divisions
Name Population Titular/Delegado (Delegate)
Capilla de Guadalupe Delegation 12,147 Fernando Gutiérrez González
Capilla de Milpillas Delegation 4,908 Ignacio Villalobos Prado
Mezcala de los Romero Delegation 3,486 José Luis González Ruvalcaba
Pegueros Delegation 3,187 Crisóbal Gallardo Ulloa
San José de Gracia Delegation 7,132 Atanacio Navarro Castellanos
Tecomatlán Delegation 1,466 Francisco Mendoza Márquez
City of Tepatitlán de Morelos 104,377 Cecilia González Gómez

Education

As well as one of the most important cities in the state, it is one of the most educated: the literacy rate exceeds 97%. Located here is the State Agricultural University, a dependancy of the University of Guadalajara, founded 1994. The university offers 15 undergraduate level courses and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

 as follows: Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...

, Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...

, Bachelor of Laws semiescolarizado, Bachelor of International Business
International Business
International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...

, BS
BS
BS, B.S., Bs or bs may refer to:-Academics:*Bachelor of Science degree, also abbreviated BSc*Bachelor of Surgery*Behavioural sciences-Standards:*Venezuelan bolívar's currency sign*Bolivian boliviano's currency sign...

 of Accounting, Bachelor of Livestock Engineering Systems, Bachelor in Computer Engineering
Computer engineering
Computer engineering, also called computer systems engineering, is a discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering and computer science required to develop computer systems. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and...

, Bachelor of Agribusiness, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Nursing in Nutrition, Bachelor of Dentistry, Bachelor of Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...

, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, MS in Animal Nutrition
Animal nutrition
There are seven major classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, fiber, minerals, protein, vitamin, and water.These nutrient classes can be categorized as either macronutrients or micronutrients . The macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, fiber, proteins, and water...

, and Degree to Nursing.
The city also has 213 basic education
Basic education
Basic education refers to the whole range of educational activities taking place in various settings , that aim to meet basic learning needs. According to the International Standard Classification of Education , basic education comprises primary education and lower secondary education...

 schools, 35 secondary schools, and 13 "high schools.

Notable natives

  • Edgar Solis
    Edgar Solís
    Edgar Iván "Tepa" Solís is a Mexican professional footballer, currently playing as a midfielder for Club Deportivo Guadalajara. He made his debut on August 28, 2005 against Club Santos Laguna. A game which resulted in a 3-0 victory for Santos over Chivas. He has scored 3 goals in his whole career...

     - Mexican professional footballer known as "Tepa" Solis, currently playing as a midfielder for Club Deportivo Guadalajara
  • Jose Antonio Romero - President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation and Minister of the Interior (Interior) during the presidency of Anastasio Bustamante
    Anastasio Bustamante
    Anastasio Bustamante y Oseguera was president of Mexico three times, from 1830 to 1832, from 1837 to 1839 and from 1839 to 1841. He was a Conservative. He first came to power by leading a coup against president Vicente Guerrero...

  • Jose Gonzales - famous bullfighter known as "Carnicerito de Tepa"
  • Alan Estrada
    Alan Estrada
    Alan Estrada Gutiérrez is a Mexican actor, dancer and singer, known for his role as "Mario" in the Spanish musical Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar.- Career :...

     - Mexican actor, dancer and singer
  • Lupita González
    Lupita González
    Maria Guadalupe González Gallegos is a Mexican beauty pageant contestant. She was born in Tepatitlan de Morelos, Jalisco...

     - Miss Continente Americano 2008
    Miss Continente Americano 2008
    Miss Continente Americano 2008, the 3rd Miss Continente Americano pageant, was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador on September 6, 2008. Marianne Cruz, Miss Continente Americano 2007 from the Dominican Republic, crowned Lupita González from Mexico as the brand new Miss Continente...

  • Luis Padilla - Mexican soccer player (forward) known as "Cucho" Padilla. Currently playing for MNU college in the U.S.

Sister City

Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest, California
Ridgecrest, formerly known as Crumville, was incorporated as a city in 1913. It is located in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, California, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake . Ridgecrest is the only incorporated city along US 395 in Kern County...

, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Laredo
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...

, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...


External links

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