Yautepec, Morelos facts for kids

Roadside scene in Yautepec de Zaragoza

Yautepec is a town and a surrounding area (called a municipality) in the middle of the Mexican state of Morelos. The main town in this area is called Yautepec de Zaragoza. It is located at 18°53′N 99°04′W / 18.883°N 99.067°W / 18.883; -99.067.

In 2020, about 105,780 people lived in the Yautepec municipality. This makes it the fifth-largest community in Morelos. The municipality covers an area of about 203 km² (78 sq mi). The town of Yautepec de Zaragoza itself had 44,353 people in 2020.

Other important towns in the municipality include La Joya (14,126 people), Cocoyoc (10,178 people), and Oaxtepec (7,097 people).

The name Yautepec comes from old words. Yautli means a bright plant with yellow flowers. Tepe-tl means hill, and Ko means a place. So, Yautepec means "On the hill of the pericón flower." In 1869, President Benito Juarez changed the town's name to Yautepec de Zaragoza. This was to honor General Ignacio Zaragoza, a hero who won the Cinco de Mayo battle against French forces in 1862.

Discovering Yautepec's Past

The famous love story of Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl is well-known. But did you know the princess's father wanted her to date the King of Yautepec? She even did so at least once!

Ancient History of Yautepec

Long ago, around 1500 BCE, the first farming communities in Mexico might have started in a place called Tamoanchan. Some people think this place was in Morelos. Even older remains of an elephant-like animal, about 6,000 years old, were found near Yautepec. You can see these remains at the Museo Regional Cuauhnahuac in Cuernavaca.

The very first people in the Yautepec area were the Olmec. They were nomads, meaning they moved around to hunt, fish, and gather food. Archaeologists have found an Olmec figurine from Atlihuayán, which is now in the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico City. Also, nine pyramids and a ball court were found in Itzamatitlán.

Yautepec and the whole Morelos Valley were influenced by bigger groups like the Teotihuacanos, Toltecas, and Nahuas. Later, the Tlahuica people, who spoke the Nahuatl language, made Cuauhnahuac (now Cuernavaca) their capital. They expanded their rule to other areas, including Yautepec. In 1389, the people of Yautepec fought against the Tlahuicas.

Around 1438, the Tlahuica lands were taken over by the Mexicas (Aztecs). They had to pay tribute to the Lord of Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma I, a Mexica ruler, conquered Yautepec. He also built a beautiful botanical garden in Huaxtepec (now Oaxtepec) between 1440 and 1469.

Spanish Arrival and New Ways

When the Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, arrived, they wanted to conquer the powerful city of Tenochtitlán. Taking over Morelos was part of their plan.

The local Indigenous groups were divided into two main areas: Cuauhnahuac and Huaxtepec. Cortés sent his soldiers to take towns like Ocuituco and Yecapixtla. In 1521, Cortés himself explored these lands. After some battles and peaceful surrenders, including Yautepec, Morelos came under Spanish control. Cortés made peace with the local leaders (called Caciques) before attacking Tenochtitlan.

After the military conquest, Dominican friars (religious brothers) arrived to teach Christianity. They started building the convent of the Ascension of the Lord in 1567. This large building is known for its simple and plain style. It has a long, narrow church and a simple bell tower. The friars' living area was also very simple, without any fancy decorations. There is also a large open chapel, which is now partly damaged but still beautiful.

Another important Dominican convent, Santo Domingo in Oaxtepec, was founded in 1533. It was the first one built by the Dominicans in Morelos. Both of these old monasteries were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites in 1994. They are part of a special route called the Ruta de los Conventos.

Before the Spanish arrived, cotton was the most important crop. But after the conquest, sugar cane became the main crop. Large sugar cane farms, called haciendas, like Cocoyoc and Atlihuayán, were built in the 1600s. The word Cocoyoc means "place of coyotes" in the Nahuatl language. The town of Cocoyoc was founded by the Tlahuicas in the 11th century.

After the conquest, Hernán Cortés became the Marquis of Oaxaca. He also married Isabel, who was the daughter of Moctezuma II. The Cocoyoc Hacienda grew over time. By 1698, it had a large amount of irrigated land, a house, a chapel, and a sugar mill. During the 1700s, Hacienda Cocoyoc was one of the most important sugar mills in Mexico.

Mexico's Independence and the 1800s

The sugar haciendas in Yautepec generally did well into the 1800s. The Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821) did not greatly affect the people of Yautepec directly.

After Mexico became independent, Yautepec was part of the State of Mexico. For over 40 years, Mexico faced many challenges. There were power struggles between groups who wanted a strong central government (conservatives) and those who wanted states to have more power (liberals). There were also foreign invasions.

In 1869, Morelos became its own state, and Yautepec became a municipality. The town of Yautepec changed its name to Yautepec de Zaragoza to honor General Ignacio Zaragoza, the hero of the Battle of Puebla. There is a statue of Zaragoza in the town center. Yautepec was also the first capital of the state of Morelos, starting on April 17, 1869. The first Governor of Morelos, Francisco Leyva, created a special institute for learning in Yautepec. A telegraph line was built between Cuernavaca and Yautepec in 1877.

Peace returned to Mexico under the rule of Porfirio Diaz. This brought good times for large landowners, like the Escandon family.

The famous actress Virginia Fábregas García was born in the Hacienda de Oacalco in Yautepec in 1871. She loved theater from a young age. The owner of another hacienda, Apanquetzalco, even built a theater in Yautepec where Virginia took her first steps as an artist.

Yautepec in the 1900s and 2000s

On September 19, 2017, an earthquake caused damage to the church in Yautepec. Sadly, one person also died.

In July 2018, Agustín Alonso Gutiérrez was elected as the Presidente Municipal (mayor) of Yautepec.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico in 2020, Yautepec, like other places, was affected. In March 2020, Mayor Agustín Alonso Gutiérrez announced that he and other town officials would donate half of their salaries. This money was used to buy food for families in Yautepec who needed help. The community worked together to support each other during this time.

Fun Things to Do and See in Yautepec

Yautepec has a warm climate and lots of clean water, which makes it a great place for water parks!

Water Parks in Yautepec

• Balneario Los Robles: Has swimming pools, a shallow pool for kids, a store, and green areas.
• Balneario Mares: Offers camping, green spaces, swimming pools, water slides, and a restaurant.
• Balneario Delfines Yautepec: Features swimming pools, a kids' pool, a restaurant, and cabins.
• Los Ciruelos: Has swimming pools, a kids' pool, and playgrounds.
• Balneario Santa Isabel, Tlaltizapán: Its spring water is warm (23 °C). It has pools, water slides, cabins, and even an artificial lake.
• Balneario Ejidal El Bosque, Oaxtepec: Some say this was the resting place of an ancient ruler, Moctezuma Iluhicamina. It has pools, a water slide, and even archaeological sites.
• Restaurante y Balneario Los Arcos: A water park with a restaurant.
• Balneario Chilsoleate, San Isidro: Offers camping, pools, water slides, a diving pool, and even ATV rides on weekends.
• Balneario Itzamatitlan, Itzamatitlán: Has an Olympic pool, a kids' pool, a restaurant, cabins, and a natural spring with warm water. The Yautepec River flows nearby.
• Parque El Jagüey, Los Caracoles, Ejido de Yautepec.
• Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Oaxtepec: This is a very big and modern water park with many exciting rides.

Old Buildings and Churches

Festivals, Music, and Crafts

Carnival (called Carnaval in Spanish) in Yautepec is a big celebration! It lasts for four days, usually from Friday to Monday. During Carnival, you can see exciting parades, listen to live bands, watch chinelos (special dancers in colorful costumes), and enjoy delicious food.

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See also

In Spanish: Municipio de Yautepec para niños