Jonacatepec facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Jonacatepec de Leandro Valle is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos. It's the main city and administrative center for the area around it, also called Jonacatepec. In 2015, about 15,690 people lived in this area.

The name Jonacatepec comes from the Nahuatl language, an ancient language spoken in Mexico. It means "on the hill where there are onions." The second part, Leandro Valle, honors a local hero from Jonacatepec. He was a supporter of the Plan de Ayutla in 1857, which helped end the rule of a dictator named Antonio López de Santa Anna.

Jonacatepec covers about 98 square kilometers (38 square miles). This is about 1.97% of the total area of Morelos state. The city is located 1,290 meters (about 4,232 feet) above sea level.

History of Jonacatepec

Ancient Times

The first people to live in the Morelos area were the Olmecs, around 1500-900 BCE. They were connected to a place called Chalcatzingo. After the Olmecs, the Toltecs became important. You can still see ruins from their time at a site called Las Pilas, which was active from 500-650 CE.

Experts believe that the natural springs around Las Pilas were very important for the people living there. They built a clever system of channels to move water. This water was stored for dry times and sent to farm fields far away. This helped them grow more crops, which they could trade for things they needed. They also used the water for religious ceremonies and offerings to their dead. Interestingly, some people were even buried in these water channels!

Later, other groups like the Chichimeca and Tlahuica people moved into the area between 1100 and 1521. At that time, Xonakatepek (Jonacatepec) was part of a larger area controlled by Huaxtepec, which in turn was connected to the powerful city of Tenochtitlan.

Colonial Period

In 1558, a large church and monastery were built in Jonacatepec. It was dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo. The founders, Fray Jerónimo de San Esteban and Juan Cruzate, are buried under the church's altar. This monastery is famous for having the largest open courtyard (atrium) in all of Morelos. The monastery's living quarters are also very well-preserved.

During this time, many sugar mills, called trapiches, were built in eastern Morelos. They used water from the Amacuzac River. Two large sugar plantations, Santa Clara de Montefalco in Jonacatepec and Santa Ana Tenango in Jantetelco, grew very powerful.

The Santa Clara de Montefalco plantation started in 1616. It was rented by Pedro Cortés, who was the grandson of the famous conqueror Hernán Cortés. This plantation stayed in the same family for many years, even during the Mexican Revolution. In 1952, it was sold to a Catholic organization called Opus Dei.

The Santa Ana Tenango plantation began in 1589. Its first owner, Luis Rebolledo, built the first sugar mill there around 1640. Over time, these sugar plantations became very rich and powerful.

Early Independent Mexico

After Mexico became independent, Jonacatepec was officially recognized as a district in 1855. A few years later, in 1861, some people in Jonacatepec did not want to recognize Benito Juarez as president. They supported Porfirio Diaz instead. However, the rebels from Jonacatepec were defeated in a battle.

On October 17, 1861, Jonacatepec became one of the official districts of the State of Mexico. Then, on July 7, 1862, President Benito Juarez changed the town's name to Jonacatepec de Leandro Valle. This was to honor Leandro Valle, a local hero who had supported Juarez and died fighting for his cause. Morelos became its own state in 1869.

During the period known as the Porfiriato (1877-1911), the sugar plantations of Santa Clara and Tenango grew even larger and produced more sugar than ever before. Other plantations also did well. Jonacatepec itself prospered, but many people faced unfair treatment and lost their land. This led to a strong desire for change, which eventually sparked the Mexican Revolution. A group called the Club Leandro Valle was formed in Jonacatepec to oppose the re-election of the governor at the time.

20th and 21st Centuries

After the success of the Plan of Agua Prieta in 1920, General Francisco Mendoza was put in charge of eastern Morelos, with his base in Jonacatepec.

In 2017, Jonacatepec was badly damaged by an earthquake. While no lives were lost, about 700 homes were destroyed, and many others were damaged.

In 2018, Israel Andrade Zavala was elected as the mayor (Presidente Municipal) of Jonacatepec.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, Jonacatepec reported its first cases in late 2020. Vaccinations for older citizens began in March 2021.

Communities in Jonacatepec

The municipality of Jonacatepec had 15,690 residents in 2015. The largest communities are:

Jonacatepec de Valle: This is the main city and administrative center. It's about 97-119 km east of Cuernavaca and 132 km south of Mexico City.
Amacuitlapilco: Located 1.5 km from Jonacatepec, it has about 1,873 people. It's considered an Indigenous community with Tlahuica heritage. It has schools for different age groups, including two preschools that teach in Indigenous languages.
Tetelilla: About 8 km from Jonacatepec, with 3,182 people. It has a preschool, two elementary schools, and a middle school.
Tlayca: Located 4 km from Jonacatepec, with 506 people. It has a preschool and an elementary school.

Famous People from Jonacatepec

Leandro Valle (1833-1861): Although born in Mexico City, he spent his childhood in Jonacatepec with his father. He joined the military at a young age and fought in the Mexican–American War. He later supported the Liberal Party and the 1854 Plan de Ayutla, which helped remove Santa Anna from power. Valle became a general at 26 during the Reform War (1857-1860). The Liberals won this war, and Benito Juárez became president.
Agustín Aragón León (1870-1954): An educator and politician born in Jonacatepec. He promoted a way of thinking called positivism and founded a magazine called Positiva.

Attractions and Culture

In 2017, the local government created a plan to boost tourism in Jonacatepec. They want to highlight the historic center, the St. Augustine monastery, the Las Pilas archaeological site and water park, El Cristo del Mirador park, and local food. They hope Jonacatepec can become a "Magical Town," a special title for towns with unique charm.

Las Pilas Water Park and Ancient Site

Las Pilas is both a small water park and an ancient archaeological site. The water park has swimming pools and offers tours of the ruins.

The ruins at Las Pilas show evidence of a village from the 1st century BCE, but the most visible remains are from 500-650 CE. It was likely connected to Chalcatzingo, an important religious and trading center just 4 km away. The ancient site of Las Pilas had square buildings and a complex system of canals for irrigation. It seems this place was also important for worshipping water gods, possibly Tlaloc. This might explain why human burials were found in or near the channels, often in a unique lotus position.

Ex Convento de San Agustín

The monastery of St. Augustine of Hippo was founded around 1557 by Augustinian monks. By 1571, it oversaw nine other churches. It was used continuously until the mid-19th century. Over time, parts of it were used as a home for the priest, police barracks, a school, and even a theater. The large open courtyard (atrium) was used as a cemetery, a market, and a soccer field.

The huge size of the atrium suggests that many Indigenous people lived in the area around San Agustín Jonacatepec during the colonial period. Today, the traditional Onion Fair is held in this atrium. There are also several detailed tombs from the 19th century attached to the church. Some of these tombs have special symbols, suggesting a connection to Masonry, a fraternal organization.

Evidence shows that the bell tower and parts of the building were hit by bullets during the Mexican Revolution. Inside the church, there are two chapels and original wooden altarpieces. These are believed to have been carved by Higinio Lopez, a famous artist from that time.

The feast day of St. Augustine is celebrated on May 5, and the Onion Fair takes place on the second or third Friday of December.

Ex Hacienda de Santa Clara Montefalco

In 1616, Pedro Cortés, grandson of Hernán Cortés, leased a large area of land (over 860 hectares) to Pedro de Aragón. Two years later, he was allowed to plant sugarcane and build a sugar mill. Over the years, the hacienda changed hands within families. In 1708, Pedro de Segura inherited part of it and bought the rest. His nephew, Juan Francisco de Urtaza, later modernized the mill, making it a major sugar producer in eastern Morelos.

During the Mexican Revolution, the hacienda was burned, and only a few walls remained. In 1952, the owners sold the ruins to Opus Dei, a Catholic organization. They founded a school there in 1961, which still teaches students today. This hacienda is not open to the public.

Fairs and Festivals

Some of the main festivals in Jonacatepec include:

The Fair of the Pabellón on the fourth Friday of Lent.
The Fair of the Tamal on the fifth Friday of Lent.
The Battle of Puebla celebration on May 5, which includes a parade and theatrical shows.
The Fair of the Cebolla (Onion Fair) on the second or third Friday of December.

Dance and Music

The Tecuán is a traditional dance where a character wears old clothes, a mocking mask, and a hat, carrying a stuffed animal. While there isn't a specific music style for the municipality, Zeferino Torres Montiel wrote a famous song called Corrido de Jonacatepec.

Food

Popular foods in Jonacatepec include:

Green mole made with pipian (pumpkin seeds) and tamales de cenizas (ash tamales).
Red mole with turkey.
Cecina (thinly sliced dried meat) with cheese, cream, and green sauce made with guaje (a type of seed pod).
Goat barbecue and wild pigeons stewed in pipian or green sauce.

There are also many dishes made with onions, given the town's name!

Geography of Jonacatepec

Location and Size

Jonacatepec de Leandro Valle is located at 18.683° North latitude and -98.803° West longitude. It is 1,360 meters (about 4,462 feet) above sea level. The city is part of a volcanic mountain range called the Eje Neovolcánico. It is about 75.9 km (47.2 miles) east of Cuernavaca and 126.2 km (78.4 miles) south of Mexico City.

Jonacatepec shares borders with other municipalities:

To the north: Temoac and Jantetelco
To the south: Axochiapan
To the east: Jantetelco
To the west: Ayala and Tepalcingo

The total area of Jonacatepec is 90.3 square kilometers (34.9 square miles). This is about 1.9% of the state's total area.

Land and Water

The land around Jonacatepec de Leandro Valle changes a lot in height. Within 3 kilometers, the height can change by 265 meters. The most important high points are El Cerro Tenango (1,500 m) in the east and El Cerro Del Cuachi (790 m) and Cerro Colorado (600 m) in the west. About 14% of the area is hilly, while 86% is flat land or valleys.

Jonacatepec is part of the Rio Balsas river system and is within the Atoyac River basin. The River Amatzinac starts near Amayuca and later forms the River Tepalcingo.

Plants and Animals

The area around Jonacatepec is mostly covered with farmland (98% within 3 km). If you look further out (within 16 km), it's still mostly farmland (78%) but also has some trees (13%).

You can find many wild animals here, including skunks, coyotes, armadillos, badgers, squirrels, iguanas, rabbits, and ferrets. There are also snakes like rattlesnakes, and many birds like eagles, sparrows, magpies, pigeons, woodpeckers, and owls. Bats and hares also live here.

Common plants include guamúchil (which has small, red fruit), mezquite, amates (a type of fig tree), cazahuate, acacia, and copal (a tree resin traditionally used for incense).

Climate

In Jonacatepec de Leandro Valle, the rainy season is usually cloudy, while the dry season is partly cloudy and hot all year. The rainy season lasts from late May to early October, with July being the wettest month and December the driest.

Temperatures usually range from 11°C (52°F) to 32°C (90°F). It rarely drops below 8°C (46°F) or goes above 35°C (95°F). The warmest time is from late March to late May, and the coolest is from late November to late January.

The skies are generally clear from late October to late May. February 24 is usually the clearest day, while September 15 is the cloudiest. Winds mostly blow from the south from February to June, and from the east from June to February.

Natural Resources and Land Use

Jonacatepec has natural resources like lime mines on Del Cuachi hill and Kaolinite mines on Colorado hill. The soils in Jonacatepec are very fertile. About 2,055 hectares (5,078 acres) of land are used for forestry.