Zapotlán el Grande
Encyclopedia
Zapotlán el Grande is a municipality in the Mexican state
of Jalisco
. There are several meaninings given to the root name of the "Zapotlán el Grande" "TzapoTl is the name given to all the round fruits from the general region. Another well known fact among the locals it states The full name Zapotlán means my round fruits in the ancient language. round sweet fruits not exactly zapotes as most people believe; however it means Guavas, Tunas, Tejocotes, Cherries found in this region and still found in the low wet valleys. A new theory of the name is Tzapot which ends with Tzapotlan and it refers to the goddess of medicine named Tzaputlatena.
In 1971 the figure shown below became part of the city of Zapotlán el Grande, shown as a tree with three branches, with round fruits at the end of each branch and at the trunk a pair of teeth simulating a human mouth. This oil painting was embraced by the city officials under the administration of Lic. Genaro Alvarez Lopez, who ordered this work of art to be displayed in the city hall. This work of art eventually became a representation of the city indicating its strong ties with its ancestors of Zapotlán el Grande; also known as Ciudad Guzmán or plainly just Guzmán.
s, this area was the pre-Columbian kingdom of Zapotlán
and was at different times under the domain of the nearby kingdoms of Colima
and Michoacán
.
Zapotlán el Grande was conquered in 1526. Many treasures and weapons are said to be buried throughout the town's old colonial homes, buildings, and farms.
In the mid-19th century, the name of the town was changed from Zapotlán el Grande to Ciudad Guzman, after the Mexican federalist insurgent Gordiano De Guzmán.
The valley of Zapotlán was discovered by Friar Juan de Padilla who arrived to Tuxpan in 1532 in which he found three small towns. The small towns were Tzapotlán, Tlayolan, Tenamaxcatitlan and Mochitla. Friar Padilla settled down in Tenamaxcatitlan where he taught the natives the Catholic doctrine. August 15, 1533 the Spanish crown recognized the Pueblo de Santa Maria de la Asunción de Zapotlán in the place called the Portal de Sandoval.
The city is located at 19°42′N 113°28′W, 124 km south of Guadalajara
, at a height of 1,507 metres above sea level. Its population totaled 93,609 in the 2005 census, ranking as the sixth-largest city in the state. Other geographical location explanations are as follows the city is located south-central in the state of Jalisco, west-central of Mexico. It is placed between the Sierra de Tapalpa and the Cerro del Tigre. Between Puerto Vallarta
and Guadalajara.
From the beginning of the last century this important agricultural region became known for its abundance of corn harvesting and the raising of cattle. This general area does have a noticeable French architecture influence. The Santa Catarina Hacienda one of the most popular natural sites located in the just few miles away from downtown Zapotlán. The very popular among the locals National Park of "El Nevado", located approximately 33 miles away southwest from the city. The most popular and eventful times to enjoy the "El Nevado" peak is at the beginning of January and ending towards the end of February.
Zapotlán el Grande has very diverse shopping from indigenous goods to modern everyday required goods.
Zapotlán el Grande has been celebrating the customs and religious beliefs of thanksgiving
adoring St Joseph for over 258 years. Senor Don José Prieto y Tovar committed himself to propagate the rituals of honoring the St. Joseph known in Spanish as "Senor San José" across America with the blessings of the archbishop Señor Don Geronimo Antonio de Obregón. Senor Obregón gave his superior permission on April 13, 1778 according to Cathedral of Nueva Granada, documentation located in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. This religious celebration gave birth to the "Fiestas de Octubre" begin on October 5-23. The "Fiestas de Octubre" offer sports activities, such as professional and amateur soccer, bull fighting till death, bicycle races, mariachi
band competitions, cockfighting until one bird dies or both, animal exhibits, horse racing, girl beauty contests, and carnival rides totaling 19 days of celebration.
Zapotlán el Grande is located at an elevation of 1530 meters above the sea level. It borders with six municipalities known as Gomes Farias towards the north, Tamazula de Gordiano towards the east, Zapotiltic is located on the southeast, Tuxpan
is located south, Zapotiltic de Vadillo towards the east with San Gabriel. The municipality of Zapotlán el Grande has an area of 295.29 square kilometers.
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
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...
. There are several meaninings given to the root name of the "Zapotlán el Grande" "TzapoTl is the name given to all the round fruits from the general region. Another well known fact among the locals it states The full name Zapotlán means my round fruits in the ancient language. round sweet fruits not exactly zapotes as most people believe; however it means Guavas, Tunas, Tejocotes, Cherries found in this region and still found in the low wet valleys. A new theory of the name is Tzapot which ends with Tzapotlan and it refers to the goddess of medicine named Tzaputlatena.
Name
History
Prior to the arrival of the European Spanish ConquistadorConquistador
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, this area was the pre-Columbian kingdom of Zapotlán
Zapotlán
Zapotlán refers to one of several locations in Mexico:*Zapotlán el Grande: city and municipality in the state of Jalisco Mexico.*Zapotlán de Juárez: city and municipality in the state of Hidalgo Mexico....
and was at different times under the domain of the nearby kingdoms of Colima
Colima
Colima is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and main city, Colima....
and 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...
.
Zapotlán el Grande was conquered in 1526. Many treasures and weapons are said to be buried throughout the town's old colonial homes, buildings, and farms.
In the mid-19th century, the name of the town was changed from Zapotlán el Grande to Ciudad Guzman, after the Mexican federalist insurgent Gordiano De Guzmán.
The valley of Zapotlán was discovered by Friar Juan de Padilla who arrived to Tuxpan in 1532 in which he found three small towns. The small towns were Tzapotlán, Tlayolan, Tenamaxcatitlan and Mochitla. Friar Padilla settled down in Tenamaxcatitlan where he taught the natives the Catholic doctrine. August 15, 1533 the Spanish crown recognized the Pueblo de Santa Maria de la Asunción de Zapotlán in the place called the Portal de Sandoval.
Demographics
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...
, at a height of 1,507 metres above sea level. Its population totaled 93,609 in the 2005 census, ranking as the sixth-largest city in the state. Other geographical location explanations are as follows the city is located south-central in the state of Jalisco, west-central of Mexico. It is placed between the Sierra de Tapalpa and the Cerro del Tigre. Between Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
and Guadalajara.
Tourism
Zapotlán el Grande has very diverse shopping from indigenous goods to modern everyday required goods.
Zapotlán el Grande has been celebrating the customs and religious beliefs of thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
adoring St Joseph for over 258 years. Senor Don José Prieto y Tovar committed himself to propagate the rituals of honoring the St. Joseph known in Spanish as "Senor San José" across America with the blessings of the archbishop Señor Don Geronimo Antonio de Obregón. Senor Obregón gave his superior permission on April 13, 1778 according to Cathedral of Nueva Granada, documentation located in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. This religious celebration gave birth to the "Fiestas de Octubre" begin on October 5-23. The "Fiestas de Octubre" offer sports activities, such as professional and amateur soccer, bull fighting till death, bicycle races, 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,...
band competitions, cockfighting until one bird dies or both, animal exhibits, horse racing, girl beauty contests, and carnival rides totaling 19 days of celebration.
Elevation
Tuxpan
Tuxpan is both a municipality and city located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The population of the city was 78,523 and of the municipality was 134,394 inhabitants, according to the INEGI census of 2005, residing in a total area of 1,051.89 km²...
is located south, Zapotiltic de Vadillo towards the east with San Gabriel. The municipality of Zapotlán el Grande has an area of 295.29 square kilometers.
Attractions
- "Fiestas de Octubre" 19 days of Fiesta time every October
- Museo Regional
- Santa Catarina
- "El Nevado" Mount icy Peak
- "Volcan de Fuego" Active volcano
- Casa de Artesanías Regionales (the official handicrafts shop)
External links
- Official website
- Tourist site
- Folkloric events
- links with Cornwall (Mineral del MonteMineral del MonteMineral del Monte is a small town and one of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo, in central-eastern Mexico, lying at an altitude of 2700 metres ....
) - The Cornish in Latin America
- Cornish Mexico
- Link to Sierra de Tapalpa