Tecolotlán
Encyclopedia
Tecolotlán is a town and municipality
, in Jalisco
in central-western Mexico
. The municipality covers an area of 795.55 km².
As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 14,984.
conquered the area of San Buenaventura
. The area was places under the command of his trustees Pedro Gómez and Martín Monje.
The evangelization of the natives took place between 1525 and 1526. In 1825, Tecolotlán was composed of the people of Xuchitl and Ayotitlan and farms and ranches of San Juan Buenavista, Quila, Tenextitlán, Agua Caliente, Santa Maria, San Jose and Santa Rita. In 1599, the convent of San Agustin de Tecolotlán was founded.
A decree of July 9, 1835 formally established the municipality of Tecolotlán. However at this time the place was barely more than a small village and 2,600 huts were recorded in 1843. On June 23, 1844, town hall was renovated in Tecolotlán in compliance with the decree No. 5 of the State Congress passed on April 8 of the same year. On November 10, 1866, a battalion of 3 men faced a contingent of 1,500 men under Berthelin who died in battle.
The La Purísima Sanctuary is dedicated to the Virgin of Tecolotlán. It was built between 1821 and 1869.
The current Temple of La Santisima Trinidad dates from the 19th century and has a Three-foiled cusped arch with star and plant decorated pediment above. It was originally built as the Parish of San Agustin by the Franciscans in 1599, but when the church was rebuilt, it was dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
The Tecolotlan Cultural Center building was constructed in the mid 19th century by Serapio Perez. Architectural elements include arches with Corinthian style capitols that top the columns. The center hosts art exhibitions as well as exhibitions of fossils and other antiquities.
Carnaval is celebrated here with musical bands on the main square of town. Men serenade women, confetti is thrown and dances are held. The festival lasts ten days and also includes cockfights, fireworks and the crowning of a Carnaval Queen.
The patron saint festivities are celebrated from 20 to 30 August, to worship the patron saints of Tecolotlán: St. Augustine and Santa Rosa de Lima.
, Ameca
and San Martín de Hidalgo
, to the east by the municipalities of San Martín de Hidalgo
, Cocula
, Brizuela Atemajac and Chiquilistlan
, to the south by the municipalities of Chiquilistlan
, Juchitlán
and Tenamaxtle and to the west by the municipalities of Tenamaxtle and Atengo
. The municipality contains 47 localities, the most important being Tecolotlán (the capital), Tamazulita, Quila, Ayotitlán and Cofradía de Duendes.
The municipal area is made up of relatively flat areas but has some hilly areas to the north and southeast, ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 meters. The hills include El Huehuentón (at 2000 metres), El Pichacho (at 1,700 metres), and others such as Cerro del Colotepec, Salto Colorado, El Tecolote, El Carrizal, La Coronilla, La Ventana. Cuchillos, Prieto, and Picachitos. The municipality is covered with 30,900 hectares of pine and oak forests with some fruit trees. In the Sierra de Quila near the towns of Tenamaxtlan, Ameca, Atengo and San Martin Hidalgo, there is a tree named the Arbol de la Lira (Lyre Tree) with is approximately 600 years old. It is protected by the state environmental agency. The forest that surrounds the tree covers about 15,000 hectares and is guarded 24 hours a day. This forest is also home to the Cienega spring, which is surrounded by exuberant vegetation and has a monitoring station nearby. Animals that inhabit this region are deer
, badger
, raccoon
, wolf, fox
, coyote
, rabbit
and some small reptiles and a variety of birds. The main river is the Ferrería River, which has a number of tributary streams such as El Jabalí, Gallinero, Tamazula, Tecolotlán, Las Canoas, Colorado, Cofradía, Sauz and the Amarillo. The San Pedro Dam is located to the south of the municipality. Other water features include Presa El Pochote, Cascada Tecolotán, Salto de Santa Rosa, Salto de La Campana, Salto del Venado, Salto Seco and Salto de La Disciplina. Protected areas include La Ciénega, Las Juntas, Las Piedras de Quila and Sierra de Quila. There is also a notable palaeontological site at Gliptodonte; many unearthed artifacts are located within the "Museo Comunitario" in the main town.
The main religion is Roman Catholicism, and notable churches within the municipality include the Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón, Santuario de la Purísima, Capilla de San José, Ermita de San Genaro, Capilla de la Cruz Verde, Capilla del Señor del Socorro, Capilla de San José María Robles, Parroquia de la Virgencita.
The climate is moderately warm and semi-dry, and dry in the autumn and winter with an average annual temperature is 23 °C., with a maximum of 31°C. and minimum of 15 °C. The rainfall falls heaviest in June and July, and a total of 773.1mm is received annually on average. Prevailing winds approach from the south.
The economy is largely agriculturally based with some trade and services. Livestock reared include bovine, goat
, equine, pig
and bees and crops grown include corn
, chickpeas, alfalfa
, peach, avocado
, mango
and pitaya
s. There is also some manufacturing and mining activity, with lime and cement factories and mining of marble, limestone, barite, quartz and lime. There is also some fishing of carp
and bass
and logging of pine and oak. As of 2005 there was some 30,900 hectares of forest.The municipality produces basketry and pottery and clay pots, and wooden furniture. It produces mainly dairy products such as cheese and cream.
The main road in the municipality for transportation is via the Guadalajara
-Barra de Navidad
, 107 kilometers from the state capital. Urban and rural transportation takes place in rental and private vehicles. Most of the municipality’s attractions are natural with a variety of scenic landscapes, especially the Sierra de Quila. While not well developed, the area is suitable for ecotourism activities such as mountain biking, horseback riding, camping and other activities. There are two principle dams, the Presa del Ahogado and the Presa del Pochote. Both have facilities for camping and picnicking as well as water sports such as boating and fishing. The Presa del Pochote is popular with residents of the city of Guadalajara.
Municipalities of Jalisco
The Mexican state of Jalisco is divided into125 municipalities...
, in 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...
in central-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...
. The municipality covers an area of 795.55 km².
As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 14,984.
History
The name of Tecolotlán derives from the words "tecolote" (owl) and "tlan" (town), meaning "town of owls". The current coats of arms, formally approved of by the municipal council on 27 April 1999 ordinary, designed by Ernesto Garcia de Alba Cruz, has a figure of an owl on it with outstretched wings representing the municipality. At the base of the shield is the name of the municipality and its founding date of 1524 when conquistador Francisco CortesFrancisco Cortés
Francisco Cortés Juncosa is a Spanish field hockey goalkeeper. He plays club hockey for Club Egara, and was a member of the Men's National Team that won the silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, PR China.-References:**...
conquered the area of San Buenaventura
San Buenaventura
San Buenaventura is a town and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.It is located at , in the state's central region .There were 19,986 inhabitants in 2000.-External links:*...
. The area was places under the command of his trustees Pedro Gómez and Martín Monje.
The evangelization of the natives took place between 1525 and 1526. In 1825, Tecolotlán was composed of the people of Xuchitl and Ayotitlan and farms and ranches of San Juan Buenavista, Quila, Tenextitlán, Agua Caliente, Santa Maria, San Jose and Santa Rita. In 1599, the convent of San Agustin de Tecolotlán was founded.
A decree of July 9, 1835 formally established the municipality of Tecolotlán. However at this time the place was barely more than a small village and 2,600 huts were recorded in 1843. On June 23, 1844, town hall was renovated in Tecolotlán in compliance with the decree No. 5 of the State Congress passed on April 8 of the same year. On November 10, 1866, a battalion of 3 men faced a contingent of 1,500 men under Berthelin who died in battle.
The town
The town offers its residents the services of drinking water, sewerage, street lighting, markets, flea market, parking lots, cemeteries, roads, public toilets, social security, transit, parks and gardens, and sports centers. As of 2005, 89.6% of people have drinking water, 77.8% have proper sanitation and 97.5% have electricity. The town has a post office, telegraph, telephone, fax, radio and television.The La Purísima Sanctuary is dedicated to the Virgin of Tecolotlán. It was built between 1821 and 1869.
The current Temple of La Santisima Trinidad dates from the 19th century and has a Three-foiled cusped arch with star and plant decorated pediment above. It was originally built as the Parish of San Agustin by the Franciscans in 1599, but when the church was rebuilt, it was dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
The Tecolotlan Cultural Center building was constructed in the mid 19th century by Serapio Perez. Architectural elements include arches with Corinthian style capitols that top the columns. The center hosts art exhibitions as well as exhibitions of fossils and other antiquities.
Carnaval is celebrated here with musical bands on the main square of town. Men serenade women, confetti is thrown and dances are held. The festival lasts ten days and also includes cockfights, fireworks and the crowning of a Carnaval Queen.
The patron saint festivities are celebrated from 20 to 30 August, to worship the patron saints of Tecolotlán: St. Augustine and Santa Rosa de Lima.
The municipality
Tecolotlán is located in the midwest of the state at an altitude of 1285 meters above sea level. The municipality, which covers an area of 795.55 square kilometres is bordered on the north by the municipalities of AtengoAtengo
Atengo is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of ....
, Ameca
Ameca
Ameca may mean:Biology* Ameca, a monotypic ray-finned fish genus in the family Goodeidae, with the only species Ameca splendens...
and San Martín de Hidalgo
San Martín de Hidalgo
San Martín de Hidalgo is a city and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 324.57 km².As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 26,306; and the city had a population of 8,092....
, to the east by the municipalities of San Martín de Hidalgo
San Martín de Hidalgo
San Martín de Hidalgo is a city and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 324.57 km².As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 26,306; and the city had a population of 8,092....
, Cocula
Cocula
Cocula is a town and municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is located 35 miles southwest of Guadalajara, on Mexico Highway 80. It sits at an elevation of 4,460 ft . According to the 2010 census, the population of the municipality was 26,174 with 14,548 inhabitants living in city...
, Brizuela Atemajac and Chiquilistlan
Chiquilistlán
Chiquilistlán is a small town in the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is located in the Sierra Tapalpa mountains, at the foot of a hill called Chiquilichi, some 75 kilometres to the south-west of state capital Guadalajara....
, to the south by the municipalities of Chiquilistlan
Chiquilistlán
Chiquilistlán is a small town in the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is located in the Sierra Tapalpa mountains, at the foot of a hill called Chiquilichi, some 75 kilometres to the south-west of state capital Guadalajara....
, Juchitlán
Juchitlán
Juchitlán is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 403.88 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 5,282....
and Tenamaxtle and to the west by the municipalities of Tenamaxtle and Atengo
Atengo
Atengo is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of ....
. The municipality contains 47 localities, the most important being Tecolotlán (the capital), Tamazulita, Quila, Ayotitlán and Cofradía de Duendes.
The municipal area is made up of relatively flat areas but has some hilly areas to the north and southeast, ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 meters. The hills include El Huehuentón (at 2000 metres), El Pichacho (at 1,700 metres), and others such as Cerro del Colotepec, Salto Colorado, El Tecolote, El Carrizal, La Coronilla, La Ventana. Cuchillos, Prieto, and Picachitos. The municipality is covered with 30,900 hectares of pine and oak forests with some fruit trees. In the Sierra de Quila near the towns of Tenamaxtlan, Ameca, Atengo and San Martin Hidalgo, there is a tree named the Arbol de la Lira (Lyre Tree) with is approximately 600 years old. It is protected by the state environmental agency. The forest that surrounds the tree covers about 15,000 hectares and is guarded 24 hours a day. This forest is also home to the Cienega spring, which is surrounded by exuberant vegetation and has a monitoring station nearby. Animals that inhabit this region are deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, 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...
, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
, wolf, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, 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...
, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
and some small reptiles and a variety of birds. The main river is the Ferrería River, which has a number of tributary streams such as El Jabalí, Gallinero, Tamazula, Tecolotlán, Las Canoas, Colorado, Cofradía, Sauz and the Amarillo. The San Pedro Dam is located to the south of the municipality. Other water features include Presa El Pochote, Cascada Tecolotán, Salto de Santa Rosa, Salto de La Campana, Salto del Venado, Salto Seco and Salto de La Disciplina. Protected areas include La Ciénega, Las Juntas, Las Piedras de Quila and Sierra de Quila. There is also a notable palaeontological site at Gliptodonte; many unearthed artifacts are located within the "Museo Comunitario" in the main town.
The main religion is Roman Catholicism, and notable churches within the municipality include the Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón, Santuario de la Purísima, Capilla de San José, Ermita de San Genaro, Capilla de la Cruz Verde, Capilla del Señor del Socorro, Capilla de San José María Robles, Parroquia de la Virgencita.
The climate is moderately warm and semi-dry, and dry in the autumn and winter with an average annual temperature is 23 °C., with a maximum of 31°C. and minimum of 15 °C. The rainfall falls heaviest in June and July, and a total of 773.1mm is received annually on average. Prevailing winds approach from the south.
The economy is largely agriculturally based with some trade and services. Livestock reared include bovine, goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
, equine, pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
and bees and crops grown include corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, chickpeas, alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
, peach, avocado
Avocado
The avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
, mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
and pitaya
Pitaya
A pitaya or pitahaya is the fruit of several cactus species, most importantly of the genus Hylocereus . These fruits are commonly known as dragon fruit – cf...
s. There is also some manufacturing and mining activity, with lime and cement factories and mining of marble, limestone, barite, quartz and lime. There is also some fishing of carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
and bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
and logging of pine and oak. As of 2005 there was some 30,900 hectares of forest.The municipality produces basketry and pottery and clay pots, and wooden furniture. It produces mainly dairy products such as cheese and cream.
The main road in the municipality for transportation is via the Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
-Barra de Navidad
Barra de Navidad
Barra de Navidad is a small town located on the western coast-line of the Mexican state of Jalisco.The town of Barra de Navidad with a population of 7000+ is a small farming and fishing community located on the east end of the Bahía de Navidad, 60 km north of Manzanillo...
, 107 kilometers from the state capital. Urban and rural transportation takes place in rental and private vehicles. Most of the municipality’s attractions are natural with a variety of scenic landscapes, especially the Sierra de Quila. While not well developed, the area is suitable for ecotourism activities such as mountain biking, horseback riding, camping and other activities. There are two principle dams, the Presa del Ahogado and the Presa del Pochote. Both have facilities for camping and picnicking as well as water sports such as boating and fishing. The Presa del Pochote is popular with residents of the city of Guadalajara.
Notable people
- Juan Salvador Agraz - Engineer
- Esteban García de Alba -Politician
- Gabriel Agraz García de Alba -Historian
- Ruperto García de Alba -General and governor
- Ana Bertha LepeAna Bertha LepeAna Bertha Lepe is a Mexican actress and third runner up at the Miss Universe contest in 1953. She was born in Tecolotlán, Jalisco....
-actress and Miss MexicoMiss MexicoMiss Mexico may refer to:*Nuestra Belleza México , beauty pageant that chooses Mexico's representatives to Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International, among others....
in 1954. - Anacleto Vigil Saldana -Entrepreneur
- Victor M. Ramirez -Ex-President of Tecolotlan, business entrepreneur
- Miguel RamirezMiguel RamírezMiguel Ramírez Pérez , nicknamed "Cheíto", is a retired Chilean football defender. He was capped 62 times and scored 1 goal for the Chilean national team between 1991 and 2003, including three games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.-Career:...
- Notable Teacher - Salvador Ramirez -Teacher, Veterinarian, business owner
- Ricardo Ramirez Ruelas - Politian, Entrepreneur and Lawyer
- Raúl Silva Corona - Entrepreneur and Business owner