Tetecala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tetecala
City and Municipality
Tetecala de la Reforma
Country	Mexico
State	Morelos
Founded	1583
City	December 11, 1873
Municipal seat	May 17, 1930
Area
• Municipality	53.26 km2 (20.56 sq mi)
Elevation (of seat)	994 m (3,261 ft)
Population  (2010) Municipality
• Municipality	6,473
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Postal code (of seat)	62620
Area code(s)	751
Website	Official site : https://tetecala.gob.mx/

Tetecala is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos. It is also the main town of the surrounding area, called a municipality. The name Tetecala comes from an old language called Nahuatl. It means "place of stone houses."

The full name of the town is Tetecala de la Reforma. This is because important laws, known as the Laws of the Reforma, were signed there in the mid-1800s. In 2015, about 7,772 people lived in the municipality.

A Look Back at Tetecala

Ancient Times in Tetecala

Long ago, ancient groups like the Olmec, Chichimeca, and Tlahuica lived in the area where Tetecala is now. Scientists have found signs of their old settlements. This shows that Tetecala was an important place for people to pass through. It connected larger areas like Coatlán and Mazatepec.

Tetecala Under Spanish Rule

Tetecala was officially founded between 1521 and 1583. It first appeared on a map in 1583. By 1594, it was known as San Francisco de Tetecala. It became an important place for farming. Another nearby town, Cuautitla, was also founded around this time.

By 1746, Tetecala and its surrounding areas had many families. There were 266 families of native people and 32 families of Spanish and mixed-race people. The population grew a lot over the next 80 years. By then, about 4,040 people lived in Tetecala. They lived in the main town, five large farms called haciendas, and ten smaller ranches. In 1786, Tetecala became part of the State of Mexico.

The land around Tetecala was very rich and fertile. People in the 1600s and 1700s described the area as "very entertaining and fun."

Tetecala in the 1800s

In 1821, one of the last battles of the Mexican War of Independence happened in Tetecala. A fighter named Pedro Ascencio Alquicira attacked royalist troops. Ascencio was killed the next day.

The municipality of Tetecala was officially created on August 6, 1824. A count of the population in 1826 showed many different jobs. There were farm workers, farmers, craftspeople, and merchants. Tetecala had more businesses than other towns nearby, even if it had fewer people. People grew sugar cane, bananas, tomatoes, jicama, plums, watermelons, and corn.

In 1848, there was a peasant uprising in Tetecala and nearby towns. Farmers fought against the owners of the large haciendas. Tetecala supported Juan Álvarez during a time of big changes in Mexico called La Reforma (1854-1857). During the war that followed, many important leaders, including Benito Juarez, found safety in Tetecala.

The state of Morelos was created in 1869. On December 11, 1873, the town of Tetecala became a city. It was then given its full name: Tetecala de la Reforma.

The 1900s and Revolution

When the Mexican Revolution started in 1910, many rich landowners and merchants left Tetecala. Many local farmers joined the rebel forces led by Emiliano Zapata, known as Zapatistas. There was a lot of fighting during this time.

Later, from 1935 to 1936, a factory called "La Morelense" made alcohol and ice. There were also sugar and rice mills in the area. These mills closed down in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many workers lost their jobs and joined a movement led by Rubén Jaramillo. In 1962, Jaramillo and his family were killed. His body was brought to Tetecala for examination.

Tetecala Today

In August 2016, a new school opened in Mazatepec, near Tetecala. It is part of the Morelos State University. It started with programs in nursing and nutrition. A program for rural doctors began in 2018. The school had 208 students.

On September 19, 2017, a big earthquake hit the area. Six people in Tetecala sadly died.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico in 2020, schools and many businesses in Tetecala closed. By August 31, Tetecala had reported 13 cases of the virus. All 13 people had recovered, and there were no deaths from the virus in the town at that time.

Fun Things to See and Do

The church of San Francisco of Assisi is in the old part of Tetecala. It was built in the 1700s in a beautiful style called Neoclassic. There is also a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Candlemas from the same century. You can find an old fountain in front of another chapel.

The area along the Chalma River is very green and full of different fruit trees. Many animals live there too. You can also see old, grand houses. One of them is now the House of Culture and the public library. President Benito Juarez even stayed there in 1857!

In the municipality, there is a water park called "La Playa." It has five pools and offers special natural treatments. For a great view of the town, you can go to the top of "Las Cruces" hill. You can also visit old manor houses (Cascos de las Haciendas) nearby, like Santa Cruz Vista Alegre and Actopan.

Every Tuesday, Tetecala has a traditional market called a tianguis. It's a great place to find local goods.

Tetecala's Culture and Traditions

Tetecala celebrates several local festivals throughout the year. On February 2, they celebrate the Virgen de la Candelaria. Other festivals include St. Isidore the Laborer on May 15 in Actopan, and St. Ignatius of Loyola on July 31, also in Actopan. On September 29, they celebrate St. Michael the Archangel in Cuautitla. San Francisco de Asís is celebrated on October 4 in Tetecala. Finally, on December 12, the Virgin of Guadalupe is honored in the "El Paso" neighborhood.

Tetecala is known for its music. There are two brass bands, one in Cuautlita and another in Tetecala. Several famous performers and composers were born here.

Local crafts include making saddles and weaving baskets.

The food in Tetecala is delicious! You can try pozole made with corn or chickpeas, pork, chicken, or even shrimp. Other dishes include beef jerky with cream and cheese, or pork enchiladas. There's also green mole (a special sauce) with turkey, fish in mixiote (cooked in a special wrapper), and tamales. Clemole is a soup seasoned with wild plums and tamarind. Don't forget peppers stuffed with cheese and meat, and huazontles (a local plant). For sweets, try pumpkin, crystallized fruit, quince, and fruits in syrup. Cajeta (caramelized goat's milk), buñuelos (fried dough), and ice cream are also popular.

Around Tetecala

Tetecala de la Reforma is the main town. Parts of the city include El Charco, San Francisco Sarabia, and El Cerrito de las Cruces. The city is about 47 kilometers (29 miles) south of Cuernavaca. It is about 135 kilometers (84 miles) from Mexico City.

Cuautlita is a community about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) southeast of Tetecala. It includes the area called Colonia Mariano Matamoros.

Contlalco is located about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) south of Tetecala.

Actopan is very close to Tetecala, about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) to the west.