Zacazonapan
Encyclopedia
Zacazonapan is a village and municipality near Mexico City
. The name comes from Náhuatl
and roughly translates to "in water of the meadows"
s who were conquered by the Aztecs, making the area a border zone between the Aztec Empire and Tarascan lands. After the fall of the Aztec Empire by the Spaniards, the area was subdued by Andrés de Tapia and Gonzalo de Sandoval
. They, among other conquistador
s they exploited the area's mineral deposits making it part of the “Real de Minas de Temascaltepec” (today Valle de Bravo
). Large hacienda
s dedicated to growing crops and raising cattle were established here as well. Evangelization was carried out by Franciscans, who were followed by Spanish families bringing sugar cane and fruit trees to plant. In 1521, Zacazonapan was included in the Indian Republic of Tmascaltepec. The modern village of Zacazonapan has its roots in a hacienda known as Santa Maria. It was very important to the development of the area because of the irrigation system it constructed on its lands, which constituted much of what is now the municipality.
The village of Zacazonapan originally belonged to the municipality of Otzoloapan
. After arriving in the late 19th century, and receiving a warm welcome, General Juan N. Mirafuentes started a movement to make the village a municipal seat separate from Otzoloapan. This was accomplished on April 5, 1879 with C. Juan de Dios Villafaña Salinas as the first municipal president.
The area saw fighting during the Mexican Revolution
, but many families hid or moved away during the conflict. During the Cristero War
, the area saw fighting as well including the capture and execution of three prominent Cristero priests.
As a municipal seat in the State of Mexico, Zacazonapan was remodeled by Carlos Hank González
in 1974.
The population of the modern town as of 2005 was 2,718.
The nearby ex-hacienda of Santa Maria, constructed in the 16th century was declared a historic monument by the National Institute of Anthropology and History
in 1994 as well as the house of Victoriano Arroyo Garibay, constructed in 1900 due to its architecture. There are also unexplored archeological sites in the surrounding municipality.
The town has a song written about it, written by Rubén Méndez del Castillo, which won second place in a song contest in the state capital of Toluca in 1972.
It is bordered by the municipalities of Otzoloapan, Tejupilco Temascaltepec and Valle de Bravo. The municipality has a territory of 67.14 square km.
The municipality borders the edge of the Sierra Madre del Sur
giving it an uneven landscape with elevations such as the Cerro(hill) de La Pila, Cerro Sombrero, and Cerro Pelón. However, to the north there are also notable cerros such as El Xomil, Peña Colorada, and Peñas del Fraile. The most important river is the Temascaltepec, because of its year-round flow and as it receives the seasonal flow from arroyos such as the Zacazonapan, La Papaya and San José. There is also a series of freshwater springs.
In the mid 20th century, the economy of the municipality was based on fishing, agriculture and the production of piloncillo, a sugar cane product used for seasoning. Agriculture (corn, tomato
and husk tomato
) and fish farming are still the main occupations. The only other significant economic activity, providing a significant number of jobs, is realized by Minera Tizapa, S.A. de C.V., which mines zinc, lead and copper, with small amounts of gold and silver.
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...
. The name comes from Náhuatl
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...
and roughly translates to "in water of the meadows"
The village
The area was settled by the MatlatzincaMatlatzinca
Matlatzinca is a name used to refer to different indigenous ethnic groups in the Toluca Valley in the state of México, located in the central highlands of Mexico. The term is applied to the ethnic group inhabiting the valley of Toluca and to their language, Matlatzinca.When used as an ethnonym,...
s who were conquered by the Aztecs, making the area a border zone between the Aztec Empire and Tarascan lands. After the fall of the Aztec Empire by the Spaniards, the area was subdued by Andrés de Tapia and Gonzalo de Sandoval
Gonzalo de Sandoval
Gonzalo de Sandoval was a Spanish conquistador in New Spain and briefly co-governor of the colony while Hernan Cortés was away from the capital .-Arrival in New Spain:Sandoval was the youngest of the lieutenants of Cortés. They arrived together in New Spain in 1519...
. They, among other conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
s they exploited the area's mineral deposits making it part of the “Real de Minas de Temascaltepec” (today 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...
). Large hacienda
Hacienda
Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities...
s dedicated to growing crops and raising cattle were established here as well. Evangelization was carried out by Franciscans, who were followed by Spanish families bringing sugar cane and fruit trees to plant. In 1521, Zacazonapan was included in the Indian Republic of Tmascaltepec. The modern village of Zacazonapan has its roots in a hacienda known as Santa Maria. It was very important to the development of the area because of the irrigation system it constructed on its lands, which constituted much of what is now the municipality.
The village of Zacazonapan originally belonged to the municipality of 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:...
. After arriving in the late 19th century, and receiving a warm welcome, General Juan N. Mirafuentes started a movement to make the village a municipal seat separate from Otzoloapan. This was accomplished on April 5, 1879 with C. Juan de Dios Villafaña Salinas as the first municipal president.
The area saw fighting during the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, but many families hid or moved away during the conflict. 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...
, the area saw fighting as well including the capture and execution of three prominent Cristero priests.
As a municipal seat in the State of Mexico, Zacazonapan was remodeled by Carlos Hank González
Carlos Hank González
Carlos Hank González , nicknamed El Profesor , was a Mexican politician and influential businessman. Originally a teacher, he was an entrepreneur who built political contacts along with a business empire, leading to various government and political positions at the state and national level...
in 1974.
The population of the modern town as of 2005 was 2,718.
The nearby ex-hacienda of Santa Maria, constructed in the 16th century was declared a historic monument by the National Institute of Anthropology and History
National Institute of Anthropology and History
The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia is a Mexican federal government bureau established in 1939 to guarantee the research, preservation, protection, and promotion of the prehistoric, archaeological, anthropological, historical, and paleontological heritage of Mexico...
in 1994 as well as the house of Victoriano Arroyo Garibay, constructed in 1900 due to its architecture. There are also unexplored archeological sites in the surrounding municipality.
The town has a song written about it, written by Rubén Méndez del Castillo, which won second place in a song contest in the state capital of Toluca in 1972.
The municipality
As municipal seat, the village of Zacazonapan is the governing authority for the following communities: Alcantarilla, La Cañada, Naranjo, El Potrero, Santa María, Tizapa, Temascal, Arrastradero, El Puente, El Puerto, and Cerro Pelón along with 15 unnamed settlements. The population of the entire municipality is 3,836.It is bordered by the municipalities of Otzoloapan, Tejupilco Temascaltepec and Valle de Bravo. The municipality has a territory of 67.14 square km.
The municipality borders the edge of the Sierra Madre del Sur
Sierra Madre del Sur
The Sierra Madre del Sur is a mountain range in southern Mexico, extending from southern Michoacán east through Guerrero, to the Istmo de Tehuantepec in eastern Oaxaca.-Geography:...
giving it an uneven landscape with elevations such as the Cerro(hill) de La Pila, Cerro Sombrero, and Cerro Pelón. However, to the north there are also notable cerros such as El Xomil, Peña Colorada, and Peñas del Fraile. The most important river is the Temascaltepec, because of its year-round flow and as it receives the seasonal flow from arroyos such as the Zacazonapan, La Papaya and San José. There is also a series of freshwater springs.
In the mid 20th century, the economy of the municipality was based on fishing, agriculture and the production of piloncillo, a sugar cane product used for seasoning. Agriculture (corn, 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...
and husk tomato
Physalis
Physalis is a genus of plants in the nightshade family , native to warm temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. The genus is characterised by the small orange fruit similar in size, shape and structure to a small tomato, but partly or fully enclosed in a large papery husk derived...
) and fish farming are still the main occupations. The only other significant economic activity, providing a significant number of jobs, is realized by Minera Tizapa, S.A. de C.V., which mines zinc, lead and copper, with small amounts of gold and silver.