Tepetlaoxtoc de Hidalgo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tepetlaoxtoc (de Hidalgo)
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Town & Municipality
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | State of Mexico |
| Founded | 1114 |
| Municipal Status | 1820 |
| Elevation
(of seat)
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2,300 m (7,500 ft) |
| Population
(2005) Municipality
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| • Municipality | 25,523 |
| • Seat | 5,602 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
| Postal code (of seat) |
56070
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Tepetlaoxtoc de Hidalgo is a town in the State of Mexico, Mexico. It is also the main town of the Tepetlaoxtoc municipality. This area is home to an important archaeological site also called Tepetlaoxtoc.
The name Tepetlaoxtoc comes from the Náhuatl language. It means "in limestone caves." This name is used for the town, the municipality, and the ancient ruins. The part "de Hidalgo" was added to the town's name to honor Miguel Hidalgo. He was a hero who started the Mexican War of Independence. Tepetlaoxtoc de Hidalgo is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Mexico City.
Contents
The Town of Tepetlaoxtoc
A Look Back: The Town's History
Early Beginnings and Ancient Cultures
The area where Tepetlaoxtoc de Hidalgo stands is one of the oldest places where people lived in the Valley of Mexico. Long ago, during the time of the Teotihuacán civilization, it was part of a big city called Patlachique. Because of this, the area learned and improved upon the cultures and building styles of the Toltec and Chichimeca people. You can still see ruins from these ancient times today.
After the great cities of Teotihuacán and Tula fell, Tepetlaoxtoc was ruled by many other groups. Most of these groups were part of the Náhuatl (Aztec) culture. A Chichimeca leader named Xólotl invaded this area. His son, Nopaltzin, later found the ruins of the old Teotihuacán-era city.
From Aztec Allies to Spanish Rule
An old document called the Tepetlaoztoc Codex (also known as the Kingsborough Codex) was written in 1554. It says the ancient city was founded around 1114. However, another historian from Texcoco, Don Fernando de Alva Ixtlixóchitl, believed it was founded around 1207.
Tepetlaoxtoc was never officially part of the powerful Aztec Empire. But during the time of the famous Aztec ruler Nezahualcóyotl, the local leader, Cocopin, made an alliance. He married Nezahualcóyotl's daughter, Azcaxóchitl. After Cocopin died, Azcaxóchitl became the ruler of Tepetlaoxtoc. She was the only woman ever to rule this area!
After the Spanish arrived, the local leader, Tlilpotonqui, chose to be baptized and was called Don Diego. He was allowed to keep some control under Spanish rule. Don Diego ruled for over 70 years, but he had no children to take over. So, in 1593, the Spanish government took full control.
Modern Times and Challenges
In the early 1500s, a friar named Domingo de Betanzos built a small church and monastery here. It was called the monastery of Santa María Magdalena and became a parish in 1646. By the early 1800s, the town became an "ayuntamiento," which means it was a local government center.
Over the next century, the town grew in importance. The government of the State of Mexico even renamed it Villa de Tepetlaoxtoc de Hidalgo. But during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), the town faced a tough time. It was completely destroyed by the Zapatista army and was abandoned. Even though people eventually returned, the town never became as economically important as it once was.
In 2005, the town had a population of 5,602 people. It is located high up, at 2,300 meters (about 7,546 feet) above sea level.
The Municipality of Tepetlaoxtoc
Exploring the Region: Geography and Nature
The town of Tepetlaoxtoc de Hidalgo is the main center for the entire Tepetlaoxtoc municipality. This municipality includes many smaller communities. In 2005, the total population of the municipality was 25,523 people.
The municipality shares borders with several other municipalities in the State of Mexico, like Teotihuacán de Arista and Texcoco. It also borders the states of Tlaxcala and Puebla. The total area of the municipality is 172.38 square kilometers (about 66.56 square miles).
The land here is mostly hilly, especially in the western part, which is part of the Sierra Norte mountain range. Some of the highest points are Huilotepec (3,550 meters), Tlamacas (3,340 meters), and Montecillo-el Organo (3,100 meters). In 1977, the state government created a special protected area called the Parque “Sierra Patlachique” (Sierra Patlachique Park). This park covers 3,123 hectares within the municipality.
Economy and Ancient Sites
Most of the municipality's economy, about 90%, still relies on farming. Many people live on communal lands called ejidos and often have other jobs too. Even though there are ancient ruins, tourism has not really grown much here. Besides the main ruins near the town, there are other important archaeological sites like Texocotla, Texaxal, and Xoxoqui.
See also
In Spanish: Tepetlaoxtoc de Hidalgo para niños
