Tepechitlán facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tepechitlán
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Location within the state of Zacatecas
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Zacatecas' location within Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
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| State | Zacatecas | |
| Municipality | Tepechitlán | |
| Area | ||
| • Municipality | 584 km2 (225 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,700 m (5,600 ft) | |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Total | 8,972 | |
| • Demonym | Tepechitlense (Spanish) Tepechiteca (Nahuatl) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) | |
| Postal code |
99750,99753,99754,99760,99763,99755,99770,99773
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| Website | www.tepechitlan.com | |
Tepechitlán is a municipality (like a county) in the southwestern part of Zacatecas, a state in Mexico. It sits about 1700 meters (about 5,577 feet) above sea level. The whole area of the municipality is about 584 square kilometers (225 square miles).
It shares borders with several other municipalities. To the north is Tlaltenango de Sánchez Román. To the south is Teúl de González Ortega. To the east are Jalpa and Apozol. To the west, you'll find Atolinga and Florencia de Benito Juárez, plus the state of Jalisco.
Contents
History of Tepechitlán
The name Tepechitlán comes from the Caxcan language. The word "tepezil" means fertility, so Tepechitlán means "fertile land."
Early Inhabitants and Spanish Arrival
Before the Spanish arrived, the area was home to Amerindians from the Caxcan group. The town was first mentioned in Spanish records in 1537. At first, the town and its people were given to a Spanish official named Pedro de Bobadilla. This system was called an "encomienda."
Later, the "encomienda" was passed to his son, Francisco de Bobadilla. However, this system eventually ended. This happened because local groups kept fighting against the Spanish, especially during the Chichimeca War.
Becoming a Municipality
In the early 1600s, Tepechitlán was part of the neighboring area of Tlaltenango. Most people living there were indigenous, but some Spanish families started to settle after the Chichimeca War ended.
Tepechitlán officially became its own municipality in 1857.
Notable People from Tepechitlán
Mateo Correa Magallanes was born in Tepechitlán in 1866. He later became a saint, recognized by Pope John Paul II.
See also
In Spanish: Tepechitlán para niños
