Huajuapan de León facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Huajuapan de León
Municipality and city
Cathedral of Huajuapan
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality in Oaxaca
Huajuapan de León Location in Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Oaxaca
Area
• Total	325.8 km2 (125.8 sq mi)
• City	15.61 km2 (6.03 sq mi)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	78,318
• Density	240.39/km2 (622.60/sq mi)
• City	56,163
• City density	3,597.9/km2 (9,318.5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)
Area code(s)	953
Website	http://www.huajuapandeleon.gob.mx

Heroica Ciudad de Huajuapan de León is a city and a surrounding area (called a municipality) in the northwestern part of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Its name, Huajuapan, comes from the Nahuatl language and means "River of the huajes" (a type of tree). The local Mixtec people call it Ñuu dee, which means "Place of Brave People."

This city is part of the Huajuapan District in the northern Mixteca Region. It is the sixth-largest community in Oaxaca by population, with 78,318 residents. The city is located where two important roads, Federal Highways 125 and 190, meet. In June 1843, the town was given an honorary Mexican status. This was to remember "The siege of Huajuapan," a battle during the Mexican War of Independence. The battle was won by Mexican rebels led by José María Morelos. The city was later named after Antonio de León, another hero from the War of Independence.

History of Huajuapan

One of the gravestones found in Tomb 5 at the Cerro de las Minas archeological site

The first people to live in this area were called the Ñuu Yate, or "ancient people." They settled where Huajuapan is today around 400 BCE. This early settlement had about 500 to 1,500 people. As the city grew, between 350 and 800 CE, it became much larger, with up to 300,000 people living in the valley.

The next important culture here was the Mixteca-Puebla, around 1200 CE. During this time, Huajuapan was a major center for trade, culture, and ceremonies in the valley.

Spanish Arrival and Founding the City

Shortly after 1521, the Spanish took control of this region. The first Spanish people to arrive were Francisco Orozco and two Augustinian friars, Fray Bernardino Minaya and Fray Gonzales Lucero. However, official Spanish records for this area only begin in 1542.

The Spanish town of Huajuapan was officially founded in 1561. This happened because the leaders in Mexico City wanted to organize the valley. Before this, the low parts of the valley were not well-governed, and travelers often faced bandits. People living in the hills were told to move to the valley floor to help establish the new city. During the time of Spanish rule, the local economy mainly depended on large farms called haciendas, which used the labor of the native people.

The Siege of Huajuapan

During the Mexican War of Independence, Huajuapan faced a long attack from rebel forces. This attack, known as the Siege of Huajuapan, lasted for 111 days! In June 1812, the town's resistance was finally broken by Coronel Valerio Trujano, with help from General José María Morelos. After Mexico gained independence, the village began to grow. It was renamed Huajuapan de León. In 1884, the town officially became a city.

Huajuapan was also an important administrative center. It was the main city for a district under the Oaxaca state constitution in 1825. Even after the state was reorganized in 1844 and 1858, Huajuapan remained an important district seat.

Geography and Climate

Huajuapan is the main city of the Huajuapan municipality, which covers an area of about 361 square kilometers (139 square miles). It is located in a rugged, mountainous part of Oaxaca called the Mixteca Baja. The climate here is dry for most of the year. In 1980, the area was hit by a major earthquake, which left 300 people homeless across Oaxaca.

What is the Climate Like?

Huajuapan de León has a warm humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.

What to See in Huajuapan

Model of a traditional Mixtec village council at the Regional Museum

In the heart of Huajuapan, you'll find the beautiful Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe). Right next to it is the Capilla del Señor de los Corazones (Chapel of Our Lord of the Hearts). The main town square, called the Antonio de León central plaza, is also nearby. It's a lovely place with trees, gardens, and an octagonal gazebo in the middle.

Not far from the town are the Cerro de las Minas, an ancient archeological site, and Las Campanas, which are interesting calcite rocks where water drips from a small stream.

Exploring the Regional Museum

The Museo Regional de Huajuapan (Regional Museum of Huajuapan) is a great place to learn about the Mixtec cultures that lived in this area long ago. It has many artifacts and exhibits.

Discovering Cerro de las Minas

Ceramics found at the Cerro de las Minas site

The hill known as the Cerro de las Minas overlooks the Huajuapan valley. It was once home to an ancient Mixtec community. This site is in a Mixtec area called Ñuiñe, or "lowland Mixtec."

The archeological site covers about 50 hectares (about 123 acres). It was mostly inhabited by the upper-class people of that time, and farms in the valley below supported them. The ceremonial area has three large mounds, each about eight meters (26 feet) high and forty meters (131 feet) wide. These mounds are lined up and separated by open platforms, stretching for a total of 180 meters (590 feet).

The site also has a Mesoamerican ballcourt, which is about sixty meters (197 feet) long and fifteen meters (49 feet) wide. The houses here had stone foundations and walls made of adobe or stone. Many human burials have been found within these foundations.

There's also a large plaza on the south side with a mass grave. In this grave, many native-designed pottery pieces were found. One special find was a colorful urn with an image of the god of wind or fire, wearing a brazier on its head. It sits on a platform with four symbols that show its location. This urn is now on display at the Museum of Oaxaca.

Archeologists believe the site had two main periods. The first, called Ñudee (the original Mixtec name for Huajuapan, meaning "place of the brave"), was from 400 BCE to 250 CE. The second, called Nuiñe, was from 250 to 800 CE. Artifacts show that during both periods, this settlement had strong connections with other Mixtec settlements in Oaxaca. The area started to decline after 800 CE, possibly due to conflicts with other lords. The region didn't grow much again until the Spanish founded their city here in the 1500s.

People of Huajuapan

Most people living in Huajuapan de León are of Mixtec descent. While the Mixtec language is not commonly heard in the city itself, it is still spoken in surrounding areas. The Mixteca region, where Huajuapan is located, has many people who move to the United States for work. The money they send back home is important for the local economy.

Festival of the Señor de los Corazones

Main altar of the Chapel of the Señor de los Corazones with image

The Festival of the Señor de los Corazones (Lord of the Hearts) celebrates a special event during the War of Independence. It remembers the 111-day siege that Huajuapan survived. A local man named José Remigio Sarabia Rojas managed to sneak past the enemy lines. He reached José María Morelos, a rebel general, and told him that Huajuapan needed help. Morelos sent General Miguel Bravo and Vicente Guerrero with thousands of soldiers.

To ask for help from above, Morelos asked his troops to pray for nine days (a novena). Legend says that the novena ended on July 23rd, the very day the rebels were able to break the siege and save Huajuapan.

How the Festival is Celebrated

The festival is celebrated every year on July 23rd. The novena begins on July 14th. Each day of the novena, there are processions organized by a special group. People carry an image of the Señor de los Corazones through the streets.

On July 23rd, the main day, there are cultural shows, artistic performances, fair rides, and fireworks. A special Mass is held to thank for the help received during the siege. On July 24th, there's one last big procession. The image is carried through the main streets from morning until afternoon, moving from the Chapel of the Sagrario to the cathedral.

Notable People from Huajuapan

• Ricardo Osorio, a famous soccer player.
• José López Alavés, who wrote the world-famous Mixteca song, was born in Huajuapan de León on July 14, 1889.

Education in Huajuapan

Main entrance of UTM

Huajuapan has a fairly low rate of people who cannot read or write (illiteracy) compared to other parts of Mexico and Oaxaca. About 6.8% of people are illiterate here. However, local numbers show that less than half of the people (47 out of 100) finish primary school. Only about 23% partly attend high school. These numbers are lower than the national average for finishing primary school, which is 7.34 years. The state average for Oaxaca is 5.29 years.

An important regional university, the Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca (UTM), has been operating in Huajuapan since 1991. Its goal is to help the area grow and develop.

See also

In Spanish: Huajuapan de León para niños