Metztitlán facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Metztitlán
Municipality and town
Seal
Metztitlán Location in Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Hidalgo
Municipal seat	Metztitlán
Area
• Total	814.7 km2 (314.6 sq mi)
Population  (2005)
• Total	20,123

Metztitlán is a town and one of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo, located in central-eastern Mexico. Its name in the Otomi language is Nziʼbatha. The municipality covers a large area of about 814.7 square kilometers.

In 2005, the total population of the municipality was 20,123 people.

History of Metztitlán

Ancient Times

Long ago, a very old human skeleton was found near the town of Fontezuelas. It was named the Fontezuelas skeleton. This skeleton was about 1.5 meters tall. It was found with a large, overturned shell from an ancient animal called a Glyptodon. People believe other humans likely placed the shell there.

Metztitlán Before the Spanish Arrived

Before the Spanish came to Mexico in 1519, Metztitlán was a strong and independent Otomi state. The powerful Aztec Empire could not conquer it. This small kingdom stayed independent because of the mountains around it.

Professor Michael E. Smith, an expert, explained why Metztitlán remained free. He said there were not many resources the Aztec Empire wanted in this area. The Aztec emperors might have decided that conquering Metztitlán was not worth the effort.

Later History

In 1811, there were two local uprisings in the city. These events led to the deaths of many people. Later, in 1869, Metztitlán officially became a municipality. This means it became a self-governing area with its own local government.

See also

In Spanish: Municipio de Metztitlán para niños