Santa María Chilapa de Diaz


Santa María Chilapa de Diaz is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.
It is part of the Teposcolula District in the center of the Mixteca Region.
The name Chilapa means "Water from chiles".

Geography

The municipality covers an area of 234.75 km2 at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea level.
The climate is mild, averaging about 17 °C.

Flora and fauna

Trees include oak, pine and pitch pine. Wild fauna include coyotes, snakes, lizards and scorpions.

Demography

As of 2005, the municipality had 484 households with a total population of 1,687 of whom 151 spoke an indigenous language.

Economy

Economic activity includes agriculture and some cattle ranching. There is a cooperative that processes sugar cane from the state of Veracruz for rum and brandy. In addition there is a factory making polyethylene products and a third dedicated to manufacture and marketing of raffia.

History

The foundation date of the town is unknown because it burned down in 1879 and all the original titles were lost.