Cocula
Encyclopedia
Cocula is a town and municipality
in the Mexican
state of Jalisco
. It is located 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Guadalajara
, on Mexico Highway 80. It sits at an elevation of 4,460 ft (1,350 m). According to the 2010 census, the population of the municipality was 26,174 with 14,548 inhabitants living in city. Other importants towns in the municipality are Cofradía de la Luz, La Sauceda, and Santa Teresa.
or Cocolán, which has been interpreted to mean "ondulated place." Around the 12th century, some families of the Coca tribe who inhabited the Kingdom of Tonalá were forced to flee the area due to hostility towards them. A group guided by Huehuetztlatzin founded Cocollán in today's Acatlan de Juarez area.
Cocollán was destroyed at the beginning of the 16th century. They tried to establish themselves in the Tlajomulco area a few miles from there but were expelled by the local tribes. They ended up occupying the top of a mountain close to the original Cocollán site were they remained until the arrival of the Spaniards.
By 1520, Cocollán was an independent city under the rule of Chief Citlali (The Star). It had some tributary towns under its control like Acatlan, Villa Corona, Tizapanito, Xilotepetque and Tecolotlán. In 1521, the Spanish army under Alonso the Avalos conquered Cocollán and surrounding towns and incorporated them into the Avalos Province. A few years later, Franciscan
monks persuaded the indigenous inhabitants of the city to relocate to a valley nearby, which is its present location. This is believe to have happened in 1532. There are still remains of the old city, which is referred to as Cocula Vieja (Old Cocula).
," given that mariachi music originated there in the 19th century. As one enters or exits Cocula, two large arches, featuring two guitars or violins, bear the inscription "Bienvenidos a Cocula, Cuna Mundial del Mariachi." Many well known mariachi groups have come from Cocula and surrounding areas. A famous Mexican Artist named Jorge Negrete
sang a song called "Cocula" that talks about this town and how mariachi
originated there.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the Mexican
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...
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 35 miles (56 km) southwest of 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...
, on Mexico Highway 80. It sits at an elevation of 4,460 ft (1,350 m). According to the 2010 census, the population of the municipality was 26,174 with 14,548 inhabitants living in city. Other importants towns in the municipality are Cofradía de la Luz, La Sauceda, and Santa Teresa.
Economy
The Cocula region is primarily an agricultural land, growing anything from corn, agave, sorghum, chickpeas, alfalfa and mangoes. To a lesser degree, some livestock are also raised, in particular pigs, poultry, goats, and cattle. Cocula City is also the head of the local commerce, with a wide range of specialized retailers from food, clothing, shoes, to construction materials, and is also the primary center for general services such as banks, hospitals, car repair shops and other services within the region.History
Cocula was called originally CocollánCocollán
Cocollán was an independent Nahua cacicazgo situated in central Jalisco, founded sometime near the 12th century by Huehuetztlatzin. Cocollán's tributaries were Santa Ana Acatlán, Tizapanito , Xilotepetque, Tecolotlán, Atengo, and Tenamaxtlán.The city of Cocollán was destroyed in the 16th century,...
or Cocolán, which has been interpreted to mean "ondulated place." Around the 12th century, some families of the Coca tribe who inhabited the Kingdom of Tonalá were forced to flee the area due to hostility towards them. A group guided by Huehuetztlatzin founded Cocollán in today's Acatlan de Juarez area.
Cocollán was destroyed at the beginning of the 16th century. They tried to establish themselves in the Tlajomulco area a few miles from there but were expelled by the local tribes. They ended up occupying the top of a mountain close to the original Cocollán site were they remained until the arrival of the Spaniards.
By 1520, Cocollán was an independent city under the rule of Chief Citlali (The Star). It had some tributary towns under its control like Acatlan, Villa Corona, Tizapanito, Xilotepetque and Tecolotlán. In 1521, the Spanish army under Alonso the Avalos conquered Cocollán and surrounding towns and incorporated them into the Avalos Province. A few years later, 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....
monks persuaded the indigenous inhabitants of the city to relocate to a valley nearby, which is its present location. This is believe to have happened in 1532. There are still remains of the old city, which is referred to as Cocula Vieja (Old Cocula).
Culture
Cocula is referred to as "La Cuna del Mariachi," or "The Cradle of MariachiMariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
," given that mariachi music originated there in the 19th century. As one enters or exits Cocula, two large arches, featuring two guitars or violins, bear the inscription "Bienvenidos a Cocula, Cuna Mundial del Mariachi." Many well known mariachi groups have come from Cocula and surrounding areas. A famous Mexican Artist named Jorge Negrete
Jorge Negrete
Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
sang a song called "Cocula" that talks about this town and how mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
originated there.
External links
- Official Municipal Government Website (Spanish)
- Cocula, Wikipedia Spanish