Nopaltepec, State of Mexico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nopaltepec
Municipality
Coat of arms
Nopaltepec Location in Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	State of Mexico
Municipal Seat	Nopaltepec
Populated by Chichimecas	1134
Part of the Great Otompan Mayoralty	1535
Municipality Founded	October 19, 1871
Elevation (of seat)	2,450 m (8,040 ft)
Population  (2005) Municipality
• Municipality	8,182
• Seat	3,224
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (US Central))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central)
Postal code (of seat)	55970
Website	http://www.nopaltepec.gob.mx/

Nopaltepec is a municipality located in the State of Mexico, Mexico. Its main town, also called Nopaltepec, is the second largest in the area. The name Nopaltepec comes from the Náhuatl language. It means "on nopal (paddle cactus) hill." The full original name was "Santa María de la Asunción Nopaltepec." However, since 1960, people mostly use just "Nopaltepec."

The Town of Nopaltepec

The town of Nopaltepec first appeared in official records around 1603. However, villages have existed in this area since ancient times, long before the Spanish arrived. It is also known by its longer name, Santa María de la Asunción Nopaltepec. In 1901, the local church, the Parish of Nopaltepec, was officially created. It was made bigger in 1932. In 2005, about 3,224 people lived in the town.

Exploring Nopaltepec Municipality

The largest town in the municipality is San Felipe Teotitlán. After that comes the main town of Nopaltepec. Other important towns include San Miguel Atepoxco and Santa Inés Amiltepec.

The municipality covers an area of about 87.94 square kilometers. In 2005, the total population was 8,182 people. Nopaltepec shares its borders with the municipality of Axapusco. It also borders the state of Hidalgo.

Geography and Water Sources

Nopaltepec is mostly a rural area. It has a flat landscape with some small hills. There are no natural lakes or rivers in the municipality. All the water used by the people comes from underground water sources called aquifers.

Plants and Animals of Nopaltepec

The plants in Nopaltepec are well-suited to its dry climate. You can find plants like pirúl (Peruvian peppertree) and mezquite (mesquite). Other plants include licorice root, sweet acacia, and date palm. There are also different kinds of maguey and nopal cactus. You might also see eucalyptus, camphor trees, and pine trees.

The wild animals living here include rabbits, hares, and squirrels. You might also spot skunks, cacomixtles, and tlacuaches (opossums). Lizards and different types of snakes, like rattlesnakes, also live in the area.

Economy and Local Activities

Farming is the main way people make a living in Nopaltepec. Farmers grow cactus fruit and basic grains, mostly for their own families to eat. Some people also raise fish in special farms. There isn't much livestock farming here. There are a few small workshops that make things like clothes, plastic items, and metal products.

Nopaltepec's Rich History

The villages in this area have a very long history. In ancient times, before the Spanish arrived, the Teotihuacan culture was very important here. Around the year 1134, a group of people called the Chichimecas moved here from northern Mexico. They took control of these villages.

Around 1200, Nopaltepec was part of the area ruled by Xaltoca. When Xaltoca's rule ended, a king named Xolotl brought this area together. It became part of a larger region that included Teotitlán and Atepoxco. During the time of the Aztec Empire, Nopaltepec was part of the Acolhua region.

After the Spanish Conquest, the area became part of a larger administrative region called the "alcaldia mayor" of Otompan. It stayed this way through the 1700s. Nopaltepec officially became its own municipality in 1871. It was first named Santa María de la Asunción Nopaltepec.

An important event in Nopaltepec's history was the Battle of Venta de Cruz. This battle happened in 1816 during the Mexican War of Independence.

See also

In Spanish: Nopaltepec (Estado de México) para niños