Tecolotlán


Tecolotlán is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 765.1 km2.
As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 14,984.
WWW tecolotlan.gob.mx

History

The name of Tecolotlán derives from the words "tecolote" and "tlan", meaning "town of owls". The current coat 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 Cortes conquered the area of San Buenaventura. The area was placed under the command of his trustees Pedro Gómez and Martín Monje.
The first efforts to convert the natives took place shortly after, between 1525 and 1526 under the direction of Friar Juan de Padilla. Construction of the Sanctuaria de la Purisima to this end was started in 1526. In 1599, the convent of San Agustin de Tecolotlán was founded.
In 1825, Tecolotlán included the towns of Xuchitl and Ayotitlan, as well as farmers and ranchers from San Juan Buenavista, Quila, Tenextitlán, Agua Caliente, Santa Maria, San Jose and Santa Rita.
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 only 2,600 homes were recorded in 1843.
On June 23, 1844, the 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.
Local legend states that during the Second Franco-Mexican War, The Free Battallion of Tecolotlán took part in the 1866 ambush of Imperialist forces under command of French Captain Alfredo Berthelin. The French were defeated and Berthelin killed.

The town

The town is fairly modern, and most of its residents have access to drinking water, sewage, and public restrooms. As of 2005, 89.6% of people have drinking water, 77.8% have proper sanitation and 97.5% have electricity.
The streets, markets, parking lots and sports centers in Tecolotlan are electrically lit. There are also gardens, cemetaries, and public parks. The town has a post office, telegraph office, telephones, fax, radio station and television station.
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 Pérez. Architectural elements include arches with Corinthian style capitols. The center hosts art exhibitions as well as exhibitions of fossils and other antiquities.
Carnaval is celebrated in Tecolotlan with music and dancing in the main square of town.
Men traditionally serenade women, invite them to dance, and confetti filled eggshells called cascarones are thrown. The festival lasts ten days and also includes cockfights, fireworks and the crowning of a Carnaval Queen.
The patron saint festivities are celebrated from August 20–30, to worship the patron saints of Tecolotlán: St. Augustine and Santa Rosa de Lima. Festivities also include carnival rides such as a ferris wheel, etcetera.

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 Atengo, Ameca and San Martín de Hidalgo, to the east by the municipalities of San Martín de Hidalgo, Cocula, Atemajac de Brizuela and Chiquilistlan, to the south by the municipalities of Chiquilistlan, Juchitlán and Tenamaxtlán and to the west by the municipalities of Tenamaxtlán and Atengo.
The municipality contains 47 localities, the most important being Tecolotlán, Tamazulita, Quila, Ayotitlán and Cofradía de Duendes.

Topography

The municipal area is in a valley between hills to the north and southeast, ranging from 1,200 to 2,400 meters. The hills include El Huehuentón, El Pichacho, and others such as Cerro del Colotepec, Salto Colorado, El Tecolote, El Carrizal, La Coronilla, La Ventana. Cuchillos, Prieto, and Picachitos.

Hydrography

A seasonally dry segment of the Tecolotlán river flows through the town of Tecolotlán. The largest river in the district 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 the El Pochote dam, Tecolotán waterfall, Salto de Santa Rosa, Salto de La Campana, Salto del Venado, Salto Seco and Salto de La Disciplina.

Flora and Fauna

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 which 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 vegetation and has a monitoring station nearby.
Animals that inhabit this region are deer, badger, raccoon, wolves, foxes, coyotes, rabbit and some small reptiles and a variety of birds.

Protected Areas

Protected areas include the La Ciénega spring, 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.

Climate

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 773.1 mm is received annually on average. Prevailing winds approach from the south.

Transportation

The main road in the municipality for transportation is via the Guadalajara-Barra de Navidad, 107 kilometres from the state capital. Private vehicles are the primary method of travel in the region.

Attractions

The area does not have a highly developed tourist industry, but opportunities for ecotourism activies such as mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping are available. The Sierra de Quila and other natural features provide scenic landscapes and views.
There are two principle dams with manmade lakes, the Presa del Ahogado and the Presa del Pochote. Both have facilities for camping and picnicking as well as docks for boating and fishing. The Presa del Pochote is particularly popular with residents of the nearby city of Guadalajara.

Religion

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.

Economy

The economy is largely based in agriculture and ranching. Livestock reared include beef, goats, horses, pigs and honeybees. Some of the regions livestock produce dairy products such as cheese and cream.
Fishermen catch carp and bass in the rivers and lakes.
Crops grown in the region include corn, chickpeas, alfalfa, peaches, avocado, mango and pitayas. As of 2005 there were approximately 30,900 hectares of forest. Some segments of these forests are logged for oak and pine wood.
The municipality produces basketry and pottery and clay pots, and wooden furniture.
There is also some manufacturing and mining activity, with lime and cement factories and mining of marble, limestone, barite, quartz and lime.

Notable people