Bolaños Municipality facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bolaños
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Location within the state of Jalisco
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 Bolaños Municipality
Location in Jalisco
Bolaños Municipality
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
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| State |  Jalisco |
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| Municipal seat | Bolaños | |
| Founded | 1548 (Toribio de Bolaños) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 866.5 km2 (334.6 sq mi) | |
| • Seat | 0.28 km2 (0.11 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 575 m (1,887 ft) | |
| Population
(2020 census)
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| • Total | 7,043 | |
| • Density | 8.1281/km2 (21.0517/sq mi) | |
| • Seat | 1,086 | |
| • Seat density | 3,880/km2 (10,050/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) | |
| Postal code |
46101
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| Area code(s) | (52) 437 | |
| Website | www.bolanoscolonial.com | |
Bolaños is a municipality, which is like a local government area, located in the northern part of the Mexican state of Jalisco. It's a place with a rich history and unique geography.
This area shares its borders with several other places. To the north, you'll find Mezquitic and Villa Guerrero. To the southeast, it borders Chimaltitán. The municipality of San Martín de Bolaños is to the south, and the state of Nayarit is to the southwest.
Contents
Exploring Bolaños: Geography and Climate
Bolaños is surrounded by mountains and semi-desert areas. Because of its location in a canyon, the weather here can be quite extreme.
What's the Weather Like in Bolaños?
During the summer months, from April to June, Bolaños is often one of the hottest places in Mexico. Temperatures can reach as high as 55 degrees Celsius (131°F) during the day. However, at night, the temperature can drop significantly, sometimes to only 7 degrees Celsius (45°F). In winter, it can get very cold, dropping to -27 degrees Celsius (-17°F), but daytime temperatures can still reach 27 degrees Celsius (81°F).
People of Bolaños: Population and Culture
Understanding the people of Bolaños helps us learn about its unique communities.
How Many People Live in Bolaños?
According to the 2005 census, Bolaños had a total population of 5,019 people. Out of these, 826 lived in the municipal seat, which is the main town where the local government is located. The rest of the people lived in other smaller communities within the municipality.
Interestingly, the largest community in Bolaños is not the municipal seat itself. It's a place called Tuxpán de Bolaños. This is an independent Wixárika, also known as Huichol, village with 944 inhabitants.
What About Indigenous Languages?
More than 48 percent of the people in Bolaños speak an indigenous language. Most of these are speakers of the Huichol language. They live in many different indigenous communities located within the municipality's borders, including Tuxpán de Bolaños.
What Do People Do for Work?
Many people in Bolaños work in different fields. The largest group, about 21 percent, works in agriculture and raising animals. The second largest group, 15 percent, works in industry and manufacturing. Mining is also important, employing about 13 percent of the working population.
A Look Back: The History of Bolaños
Bolaños has a long and interesting history, from ancient times to becoming a modern municipality.
Who Lived Here Before the Spanish Arrived?
Before the Spanish came, the area of Bolaños was home to the indigenous Tepecan people, also known as Tepehuan. In 1530, a Spanish captain named Pedro Almíndez Chirino, sent by Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, took control of the area. Soon after, the Huichol (Wixarika) people moved into the remote canyons and mountains of the region.
How Did Bolaños Get Its Name?
The municipality is named after Toribio de Bolaños. He was the first Spanish person to be granted land in this region. In 1548, he received a special right called an encomienda. This gave him control over the indigenous people in the area and the right to mine for silver.
The Rise and Fall of Silver Mining
The first mining operations didn't last long because of rebellions by the indigenous people. The area wasn't settled again until the early 1600s. At that time, Franciscan missionaries started a mission in Chimaltitán.
In 1730, a new vein of silver was found, and a new mining camp was set up. More silver discoveries followed, including places like La Cocina and El Barranco. Until 1780, Bolaños was one of the top three silver mining regions in New Spain, which was the name for Mexico under Spanish rule.
At its peak, the mining population in Bolaños reached over 1,500 mine workers, plus many others who supported the mines. In 1792, the mines produced a huge amount of silver. However, around 1830, silver production dropped sharply. This led to a difficult economic time for the entire region.
Bolaños Becomes a Municipality
After the Mexican War of Independence, Bolaños became part of the 8th canton of the state of Jalisco. On February 19, 1833, an official order made Bolaños a municipality.
Images for kids
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Architectural detail of an early colonial home in Bolaños
