Mariano Balleza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariano Balleza
(San Pablo Balleza)
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Town
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Mariano Balleza is located within Balleza Municipality
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 Mariano Balleza
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Chihuahua |
| Municipality | Balleza |
| Founded (mission) | 1640 |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,087 |
Mariano Balleza is a town located in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is quite close to the border with another state called Durango. This town is important because it serves as the main administrative center, or "municipal seat," for the larger area known as Balleza Municipality.
In 2010, the town had a total population of 2,087 people. This was a slight increase from its population of 1,990 people in 2005.
Contents
History of Mariano Balleza
Early Missions and Conflicts
The area around Mariano Balleza has a long history. In 1607, a man named Juan Fontes started the very first Jesuit mission here. A mission is like a special church settlement built to teach people about Christianity. This mission was for the Tarahumara people, who are an Indigenous group.
However, this first mission had to be left behind. This happened during a war in 1616. The Tepehuan people, another Indigenous group, fought against the Spanish.
Founding the Settlement
The town we know today as Mariano Balleza was officially started in 1640. It began as another Jesuit mission. Its original name was San Pablo Tepehuanes. The Jesuits wanted to teach the local Tepehuan people about their religion. This mission was one of the earliest ones built in that part of New Spain. New Spain was the name for the Spanish colony that included much of Mexico.
Renaming the Town
Many years later, in 1830, the name of the town was changed. The State Congress (which is like the state government) decided to rename it. They chose the name Mariano Balleza to honor a hero.
This hero was Fr. Mariano Balleza. He was a priest who fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo in the Mexican War of Independence. This war was when Mexico fought to become free from Spanish rule. Even today, some people still informally call the town San Pablo Balleza, remembering its original name.
See also
In Spanish: Balleza para niños
