Zacapoaxtla
Encyclopedia
Zacapoaxtla is a city and seat of the municipality of Zacapoaxtla, in the Mexican state of Puebla
. The city has a population of 8,062 inhabitants, while the municipality has 49,242 inhabitants at the 2000 census. The name means place where straw is counted, and it originates from Nahuatl
roots: zacatl - straw
; pohuatl - to count; and tlān - place. The name comes from the tribute people had to pay, i.e. as bales of straw.
The BUAP has a Regional Section there, which offers degrees in law, business administration and psychology.
, between geographical coordinates 19° 44' 18 and 19° 59' 18 N latitude and 97° 31' 42 and 97° 37' 54 W longitude. Zacapoaxtla is bounded on the east by the municipalities of Tlatlauquitepec and Zaragoza
, on the north by Cuetzalan del Progreso, on the northwest by Nauzontla, on the west by Xochiapulco
, and on the south by Zautla. It has an area of 188.8 km², that makes it the 66th largest with respect to the other municipalities of the state of Puebla
.
The city of Zacapoaxtla is located on a mountainous terrain on the northern part of the state, on the morphological region known as Sierra Norte
or Sierra de Puebla, amidst the Sierra Madre Oriental
. The city is surrounded by three mountains: "Tres cabezas" (Three Heads), "Gran poder de Dios" (Great Power of God) and the "Apaxtepec", an extinct volcano.
The municipality of Zacapoaxtla is located within the Tecolutla river basin and belongs to sub-basin of the Apulco river.
background lived in this region. At the beginning of our era, almost the whole northeastern part of the now state of Puebla
belonged to Totonacapan
, and by the twelfth century this region was part of Chichimecatlalli, to which the Manor of Tlatlauhquitepec belonged, including Zacapoaxtla. Other versions indicate that around the year 1270, the Apaxtepec volcano erupted burying the town of Xaltetelli, thus giving origin to the town of Zacapoaloyan, nowadays Zacapoaxtla. In any case, the people who lived around were subdued under the rule of the Triple Alliance "Huey-Tlatocayotl", and brought under the rule of the Manor of Texcoco.
In 1524, after the Spanish conquest, Tlatlauhquitepec (along with Zacapoaxtla) was entrusted to Jacinto Portillo, Spanish conqueror who would later become a missionary of the Order of Friars Minor of St. Francis, known as Fra Cintos. Zacapoaxtla had its first, rustic, church in 1576 under the advocacy of Saint Peter that was later substituted by another during the first half of the 17th century.
The village obtained the category of town on 11 March 1826, after the end of the Mexican War of Independence
. On 1 April 1835, the town became seat of the municipality.
The town became widely known after the Battle of Puebla
on 5 May 1862, when Zacapoaxtlans fought bravely against the French army. The local population fought once more against the military intervention on 25 April 1863, at the convent of Saint Agnes in the city of Puebla. In 1864, General Fernando María Ortega, governor of the state of Puebla, declared the Town of Zacapoaxtla "La ciudad del 25 de abril" ("The City of April 25th") as a memorial to these events.
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
. The city has a population of 8,062 inhabitants, while the municipality has 49,242 inhabitants at the 2000 census. The name means place where straw is counted, and it originates from 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...
roots: zacatl - straw
Straw
Straw is an agricultural by-product, the dry stalks of cereal plants, after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw makes up about half of the yield of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has many uses, including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, thatching and...
; pohuatl - to count; and tlān - place. The name comes from the tribute people had to pay, i.e. as bales of straw.
The BUAP has a Regional Section there, which offers degrees in law, business administration and psychology.
Geography
The municipality of Zacapoaxtla is located in the mountains northeast of PueblaPuebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, between geographical coordinates 19° 44' 18 and 19° 59' 18 N latitude and 97° 31' 42 and 97° 37' 54 W longitude. Zacapoaxtla is bounded on the east by the municipalities of Tlatlauquitepec and Zaragoza
Zaragoza, Puebla
Zaragoza is a municipality in the Mexican state of Puebla, located at the following coordinates: N19 W97 46,229 33,346. Zaragoza was named after the city of Zaragoza, Spain, since among the first settlers of the place families were some of the city from Aragon...
, on the north by Cuetzalan del Progreso, on the northwest by Nauzontla, on the west by Xochiapulco
Xochiapulco
Xochiapulco is a municipio in the central Mexican state of Puebla.It is situated in the northeast part of the state, and lies some 193 km from the city of Puebla, the state's capital...
, and on the south by Zautla. It has an area of 188.8 km², that makes it the 66th largest with respect to the other municipalities of the state of Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
.
The city of Zacapoaxtla is located on a mountainous terrain on the northern part of the state, on the morphological region known as Sierra Norte
Sierra Norte de Puebla
The Sierra Norte de Puebla – known simply as the Sierra Norte by locals – is a mountain range that makes up the southern end of the Sierra Madre Oriental in central Mexico.-Mountain range:...
or Sierra de Puebla, amidst the Sierra Madre Oriental
Sierra Madre Oriental
The Sierra Madre Oriental is a mountain range in northeastern Mexico.-Setting:Spanning the Sierra Madre Oriental runs from Coahuila south through Nuevo León, southwest Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, and Hidalgo to northern Puebla, where it joins with the east-west running Eje Volcánico...
. The city is surrounded by three mountains: "Tres cabezas" (Three Heads), "Gran poder de Dios" (Great Power of God) and the "Apaxtepec", an extinct volcano.
The municipality of Zacapoaxtla is located within the Tecolutla river basin and belongs to sub-basin of the Apulco river.
History
Though there are only a few archeological references, it is known that Nahua-Chichimecas people with TotonacTotonac
The Totonac people resided in the eastern coastal and mountainous regions of Mexico at the time of the Spanish arrival in 1519. Today they reside in the states of Veracruz, Puebla, and Hidalgo. They are one of the possible builders of the Pre-Columbian city of El Tajín, and further maintained...
background lived in this region. At the beginning of our era, almost the whole northeastern part of the now state of Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
belonged to Totonacapan
Totonacapan
Totonacapan is the name given to a region located mainly in the northern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz. This region was originally comprised around the pre-Columbian city of El Tajín and later, during the Colonial era until our times, around the city of Papantla.Though it comprises a wide...
, and by the twelfth century this region was part of Chichimecatlalli, to which the Manor of Tlatlauhquitepec belonged, including Zacapoaxtla. Other versions indicate that around the year 1270, the Apaxtepec volcano erupted burying the town of Xaltetelli, thus giving origin to the town of Zacapoaloyan, nowadays Zacapoaxtla. In any case, the people who lived around were subdued under the rule of the Triple Alliance "Huey-Tlatocayotl", and brought under the rule of the Manor of Texcoco.
In 1524, after the Spanish conquest, Tlatlauhquitepec (along with Zacapoaxtla) was entrusted to Jacinto Portillo, Spanish conqueror who would later become a missionary of the Order of Friars Minor of St. Francis, known as Fra Cintos. Zacapoaxtla had its first, rustic, church in 1576 under the advocacy of Saint Peter that was later substituted by another during the first half of the 17th century.
The village obtained the category of town on 11 March 1826, after the end of the Mexican War of Independence
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
. On 1 April 1835, the town became seat of the municipality.
The town became widely known after the Battle of Puebla
Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862 near the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The battle ended in a victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces...
on 5 May 1862, when Zacapoaxtlans fought bravely against the French army. The local population fought once more against the military intervention on 25 April 1863, at the convent of Saint Agnes in the city of Puebla. In 1864, General Fernando María Ortega, governor of the state of Puebla, declared the Town of Zacapoaxtla "La ciudad del 25 de abril" ("The City of April 25th") as a memorial to these events.