Jalostotitlán

Jalostotitlán is a town and municipality located in the northeast corner of the state of Jalisco, Mexico, in a region known as Los Altos.

The municipality shares its border on the north with the municipality of Teocaltiche, the east with the municipality of San Juan de los Lagos, to the south with the municipality of San Miguel El Alto, to the southwest with the municipality of Valle de Guadalupe, and to the west with the municipality of Cañadas de Obregón.

The city is located in a midsection of the country, with semi-desert, arid lands to the north and more fertile lands to the south. Winters are relatively cold and summers are hot and rainy. The municipality also includes the towns of San Nicolás de las Flores, Teocaltitán de Guadalupe, San Gaspar de los Reyes and Mitic. In the center of town are the churches that originate from the 16th century, when the city was first founded. Jalostotitlan it's also known for its great religious center, El Señor de la Luz in the locality of Santa María de la O.

Etymology

"Jalostotitlán" means "Land Of Sandy Caves" in Nahuatl.

History

In 1164, the residents of the area (mostly from the Tecuexe and Caxcan tribes) resisted Aztec advances, who had just settled in nearby Teocaltiche for a period of 40 years before moving on to Tenochtitlán.

The Spaniards first arrived in the area during the conquest of Tonalá under Captain Pedro Almíndez Chirino with the 350 Spaniards and 500 Purépecha and Tlaxcaltecs under his control.

After a series of rebellions, the area was placed under the Spanish crown in 1541. The town of Jalostotitlán was founded by Fray Miguel de Bologna in 1544.

After the Mexican War of Independence, Jalostotitlán gained the status of a town in 1838. The municipality of Jalostotitlán was created on 21 May 1872.

Jalostotitlan is the location of sites associated with canonized Mexican Catholic priests Toribio Romo Gonzalez and Pedro Esqueda Ramírez, who were murdered by federal troops during the Cristero War or La Cristiada

Jalostotitlán was elevated to city status on 1 September 1970 and made the seat of the municipality.

Jalostotitlán is the birthplace of famed General José María González de Hermosillo, who fought in the Mexican War of Independence. The city of Hermosillo, Sonora is named in his honor. It is also the birthplace of famed poet Alfredo R. Plascencia Jáuregui.

Population

The population of the municipality of Jalostotitlán totaled 5,256 inhabitants according to the 2000 census. Of these, 2,200 reside in the municipal seat. Similar to the rest of the Los Altos region, Jalostotitlán did not retain a large indigenous population. Only two-tenths of one percent of inhabitants speak an indigenous language according to the census.

Economy

The main activities in the municipality are agriculture, cattle-farming and the services industry. In the past 15 years Jalostotitlán has become a relevant manufacturing center, producing shoes, leather goods and dairy products. One of the main sources of income for the families of the city, are the "remesas" or remittances of relatives that live abroad (mainly in the United States).

Annual Fiestas in Jalostotitlan

There are two fiestas that are celebrated in Jalostotitlán once a year. The "Carnaval" that is held early to mid-February and the other in August (August 1–

15) is the "Fiestas De La Virgen De La Asuncion" or "La Quincena", a religious festival. During the Carnaval there are lots of activities and events during the whole week. Carnaval has concerts, also known as "palenques". Bullfighting, cockfighting and parades are part of the activities. "Terrazas" or outdoor bars are found in the plaza accompanied with live bandas and mariachi music. The Fiestas in August include mariachi music, Caxcan native dances, allegoric and big-rig truck parades and at night a "Castillo" or tower with fireworks every night. People from United States (mostly from California and other western states) go there to visit families during these festivals.

Sources

• "Enciclopedia de los Municipios del Estado de Jalisco" (in Spanish).
• "Insituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática" (in Spanish).

Coordinates: 21°12′N 102°28′W / 21.200°N 102.467°W