San Felipe del Progreso is a town and municipality in the northwest of the State of Mexico

Mexico (state)

México , officially: Estado Libre y Soberano de México is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of the United Mexican States. It is divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Toluca de Lerdo....

. It is in the western part of ths state, 59 km from the state capital of 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...

 and 72 km southwest of Atlacomulco

Atlacomulco

Atlacomulco is a city and municipality located in the northwest of the State of Mexico in central Mexico, 63 km from the state capital of Toluca. The name is derived from the Nahuatl phrase "atlacomulli" which means "where there are wells." The city, with a population of 20,477 is...

. In colonial times, the village was founded as "San Felipe" or "San Felipe Ixtlahuaca". Later it was called "San Felipe el Grande" and "San Felipe del Obraje". In the second half of the 19th century, it received its current name of "San Felipe del Progreso."

The town

There is indication of Mazahua

Mazahua

The Mazahua are an indigenous people of Mexico, inhabiting the northwestern portion of the State of Mexico and northeastern area of Michoacán, with a presence also in the Federal District owing to recent migration...

 presence in the area from the seventh century. However, they were constantly besieged by neighboring peoples. This area was conquered in 1379 by the P'urhépecha

P'urhépecha

The P'urhépecha, normally spelled Purépecha in Spanish and in English and traditionally referred to as Tarascans, are an indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of the Mexican state of Michoacán, principally in the area of the cities of Uruapan and Pátzcuaro...

 chiefs Acamapichtli

Acamapichtli

Acamapichtli was the first tlatoani, or ruler, of the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan, and founder of the Aztec imperial dynasty. He became ruler in 1375 and reigned for 19 years.- Family and early life :...

 and Tezozómoc

Tezozomoc

Tezozomoc Yacateteltetl , was a Tepanec leader who ruled the altepetl of Azcapotzalco from the year 1353 or Five Reed or Eight Rabbit until his death in the year Twelve Rabbit...

. The area came under Aztec

Aztec

The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...

 rule when Axayácatl

Axayacatl

Axayacatl was the sixth Aztec Emperor, a ruler of the Postclassic Mesoamerican Aztec Empire and city of Tenochtitlan, who reigned from 1469 to 1481.He is chiefly remembered for subjugating Tlatelolco, Tenochtitlan's sister city, in 1473....

 during his campaign to reach Tlalchimaloyan, now Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacán in 1474 and remained under Tenochtitlan's rule until the Spanish Conquest.

The Spanish took over the area around 1552, calling it “San Felipe el Grande”. By the time 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...

, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo

Miguel Hidalgo

Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor , more commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or simply Miguel Hidalgo, was a Mexican priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence.In 1810 Hidalgo led a group of peasants in a revolt against the dominant...

 y Costilla came to the town, it was known as “San Felipe del Obraje”. On January 1, 1826, San Felipe del Obraje was declared a municipality and on October 13, 1877, the village was renamed San Felipe del Progreso.

The population of the town as of 2005 was 4,001.

The municipality

The municipality has a territory of 856.05 km2, and a population in 2005 of 100,201. 24,723 of the municipality's inhabitants speak a native language, mainly Mazahua

Mazahua language

The Mazahua language is an indigenous language of Mexico, spoken in the country's central states by the ethnic group widely known as the Mazahua but who refer to themselves as Hñatho. Mazahua is a Mesoamerican language and shows many of the traits which define the Mesoamerican Linguistic Area...

. The male to female ratio of the town is 48% - 52%

The municipality borders the municipalities of Tlalpujahua

Tlalpujahua

Tlalpujahua is a town and municipality located in the far northeast of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. It is a former mining town, home of the Dos Estrellas Mine, which was the leading producer of gold in the early 20th century...

, El Oro

El Oro

El Oro may refer to:*El Oro Province, a province in Ecuador*El Oro Municipality, Mexico State, a municipality of Mexico State, Mexico*El Oro Municipality, Durango*El Oro District, a district of Antabamba, Peru...

, Jocotitlán

Jocotitlán

Jocotitlán is a town and municipality located in the northwestern part of the State of Mexico on the central highlands of the country of Mexico. The town is located at the foot of the Jocotitlán or Xocotépetl volcano, while most of the rest of the municipality is in the Ixtlahuaca Valley...

, Villa de Allende, Villa Victoria

Villa Victoria

Villa Victoria is a town and municipality in Mexico State in Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 424.03 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 77,819....

, Almoloya de Juárez, Ixtlahuaca, and with 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 its west.

Geography

The predominant weather is the mild with rains In the summer. The annual temperature varies between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius; with extremes of 2C and 28C. The rainy season is in July, August and September. In February and March, it is windy, while in December, January, and in February and March there can be some frost. In April and May temperatures are moderately warm.

Despite heavy logging, the municipality is heavily forested. Trees here include: oyamel, cedar

Cedar wood

Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...

, pine, holm oak

Holm Oak

Quercus ilex, the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It takes its name from holm, an ancient name for holly...

, strawberry trees, oaks, and ocote

Ocote

Ocote may refer to:*Pinus apulcensis*Pinus ayacahuite*Pinus cooperi*Pinus devoniana*Pinus durangensis*Pinus gordoniana*Pinus greggii*Pinus hartwegii*Pinus herrerae*Pinus jaliscana*Pinus leiophylla...

. Animals in the wild include: coyote

Coyote

The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...

s, trigrillos, vipers, chamaleons, buzzard

Buzzard

A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....

s, eagle

Eagle

Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...

s, badger

Badger

Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...

s, foxes, weasel

Weasel

Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....

s, squirrel

Squirrel

Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...

s, ferret

Ferret

The ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...

s, moles, ducks, barn owl

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...

s, hare

Hare

Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...

s, rabbits, armadillo

Armadillo

Armadillos are New World placental mammals, known for having a leathery armor shell. Dasypodidae is the only surviving family in the order Cingulata, part of the superorder Xenarthra along with the anteaters and sloths. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one"...

s, skunk

Skunk

Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...

s, tlacuaches, wildcats, quail

Quail

Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae...

 and turtledove

Turtledove

Turtledove may refer to:* Doves of the genus Streptopelia, in particular the European Turtle Dove * Harry Turtledove, a historian and author who writes historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy novels...

s. There is an area closest to the border with Michoacan that has been set aside as monarch butterfly

Monarch butterfly

The Monarch butterfly is a milkweed butterfly , in the family Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. Since the 19th century, it has been found in New Zealand, and in Australia since 1871 where it is called the Wanderer...

 sanctuary for their annual migration south in the winter. Unfortunately, much of this habitat was destroyed in a 1997 forest fire; however, the municipality has worked since then to rehabilitate the area.

Culture

The predominant religion is Catholicism with 90 percent of the communities. There are some exceptions like San Agustin Mextepec and Mayorazgo.

There are 50 high schools in the territory which have 4858 students. There are four high schools or preparatory schools which have 1014 students. There are only one level with specialization in primary education and 165 students. 26.41% of the population over 15 years are illiterate.

The Mazahua Ceremonial Center is located between Santa Ana Nichi-Fresno and “Nichi-San Antonio de las Huertas”. It is visited regularly, but especially on the first Sunday of each month. The ethnic Mazahua

Mazahua

The Mazahua are an indigenous people of Mexico, inhabiting the northwestern portion of the State of Mexico and northeastern area of Michoacán, with a presence also in the Federal District owing to recent migration...

 conduct their rituals and practice their customs, attracting tourism, both national and international to the area. There is a tourist centre with playground equipment, 96 white-tailed deer, 35 Andes cattle and other interesting animals. There are also a heliport, a museum, a craft center, board rooms, auditorium outdoors, craft workshops and roadways with beautiful flowers and plants among a forest of pines and oyameles.

Economic activities

Agriculture is the basic activity of San Felipe, growing corn, potato, zacaton

Zacatón

Zacatón is thermal water filled sinkhole belonging to Zacatón system - group of unusual karst features located in Aldama Municipality in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is the deepest known water-filled sinkhole in the world with a total depth of...

, beans, tomatoes, squash, wheat, oats, and barley are grown. Live-stock includes cattle, sheep, horses, poultry and rabbits, but these are strictly for auto-consumption.

There are a large number of sawmills with licenses to cut wood. There is a deposit of tezontle

Tezontle

Tezontle is a porous, extrusive, igneous, volcanic rock used extensively in construction in Mexico. It is usually reddish in color.-Uses:Tezontle can be mixed with concrete to form lightweight concrete blocks, or mixed with cement to create stucco finishes. Tezontle is often used as the top...

which is administered by the government of San Felipe. There are quarry deposits that have not been exploited, like sandbars, tepojal, etc.