Aculco

Aculco (de Espinoza)
—  Town & Municipality  —
Aculco (de Espinoza)
Coordinates: 20°05′54″N 99°49′37″W / 20.09833°N 99.82694°W / 20.09833; -99.82694Coordinates: 20°05′54″N 99°49′37″W / 20.09833°N 99.82694°W / 20.09833; -99.82694
Country	Mexico
State	State of Mexico
Founded
Municipal Status	1825
Government
– Municipal President	Francisco Javier Venancio Ramírez (2006-2009)
Area
– Municipality	492.13 km2 (190 sq mi)
Elevationof seat	2,450 m (8,038 ft)
Population (2005)Municipality
– Municipality	40,492
– Seat	1,624
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
Postal code (of seat)	50360
Demonym

Town of Aculco Camino Real de Tierra Adentro *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	Mexico
Type	Cultural
Criteria	II, IV,
Reference	1351
Region **	Latin America and the Caribbean
Coordinates	20°5′37″N 99°50′6″W / 20.09361°N 99.835°W / 20.09361; -99.835Coordinates: 20°5′37″N 99°50′6″W / 20.09361°N 99.835°W / 20.09361; -99.835
Inscription history
Inscription	2010 (34th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

Aculco de Espinoza is a town and the seat of the municipality called Aculco in Mexico State.

Aculco de Espinoza

History

Aculco was founded approximately in 1110 A.D. by the Otomies, despite the fact that its name comes from Nahuatl. After being a village inhabited by Otomies for long time, it became a region dominated by the Mexicas, who lived there many years before the founding of Tenochtitlan.^[1]

With the arrival of the Spanish, in 1540, construction on the church and the convent of San Jeronimo began. In November 1810, Miguel Hidalgo and his contingent, who began the Mexican War of Independence, arrived in the region. Aculco was also where insurgents, led by Don Miguel Hidalgo, lost a battle against the troops of Felix Ma. Calleja.^[1]

During the nineteenth century, the town hall and the first primary school in the region was constructed. Public baths and a municipal pool were also built.

Notable residents

• Lucas Magos Bárcenas y Cornejo
• Alfonso Díaz de la Vega
• Pablo de San Antonio Indio
• Juan García, Juan Nicolás
• Sotero González Mina
• Juan Maldonado Chemiso
• José Rafael
• José Trinidad
• Manuel Polo
• Abraham Alejandro Badillo Pérez
• Daniel Badillo Pérez
• Ernesto Badillo Pérez
• Ignacio Espinoza Martínez^[1]

Aculco

Aculco currently has a population of over 40,000 people.^[1] On February 19, 1825, it became a municipality. In 1914 and 1915, Aculco was the scene of clashes led by the revolutionaries’ carrancistas, villistas and Zapatistas.^[1]

Geography

The municipality of Aculco has a geographical extent of 484.7 squared kilometers.That represent the 2.18% of the State. It is located in Mexico State.^[1]

Aculco borders Polotitlán in the north, Querétaro in the south, and Acambay and Timilpan in the south.^[2] It is approximately 100 kilometers away from or over 1 hour from Toluca Toluca.

Climate

Aculco has a relatively cool, humid climate, with rain in the summer. The annual average temperature is of 13.2°C, with the lowest temperature occurring in the winter. The rain season starts at the end of March or beginning of April and lasts until October or November.^[1]

Demographics

According to INEGI, in 2005, Aculco has a population of over 40,000. The ethnic composition is mainly Otomi.^[1]

Over 16,000 people in the region is illiterate.^[3]

Economy

The main economic activity of Aculco is the ranching of animals like pigs and sheep. The municipality's principal products include milk, fur, wool and egg. Aculco's inner commerce principally occurs at the municipal market, while its outer commerce is with Toluca, Mexico City and Querétaro.

Another major economic activity of Aculco is the exploitation of natural resources like sand, with quarries present in the region.^[4]

Aculco is famous for the dairy products it produce. The municipality is also home to a metal structure manufacturing company.^[1]

Tourism

Aculco contains numerous geographic features suitable for tourism. Two cascades are located in the area: "Tixhiñu" and "la Concepción". Many rivers, including the Río Ñadó and Río Prieto also flow through the municipality.

In addition, Aculco is home to numerous historic sites, including the San Jerónimo and the "Garrido Varela" (a bullring)^[2], as well as the former residence of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Two busts are located in Aculco in the memory of Benito Juarez and Miguel Hidalgo.^[1]

Communities belonging to the municipality

Arroyo Zarco, Arroyo Zarco Ejido, Ñado Buenavista, Bañe, Bimbo, Decandeje, Ejido de Santa María Nativitas, Ejido de Totolopan, Ejido Decandeje (Chapala Ejido Decandeje), Ejido las Ánimas, Ejido San Joaquín Coscomatepec, El Azafrán (Santa Rosa el Azafrán), El Bonxhi, El Bosque, El Colorado, El Mogote, El Rincón, El Tixhiñu, El Zethe (Jazmín), Encinillas Ejido, Fondo, Gunyo Oriente, Gunyo Poniente (San José Gunyo), Higuerillas, Huizachal, Jurica, La Cofradía Grande, La Concepción Ejido, La Concepción Pueblo, La Cuesta, La Esperanza, La Estancia, La Pera, La Presita Segundo Cuartel, La Soledad Barrio, La Soledad Ejido, Las Lajas, Loma Alta Cabresteros, Loma Alta Ejido Bañe (Bañe Barrio CONASUPO), Los Ailes, Los Gavilanes, Presa del Tepozán, Rancho Chapala, San Antonio Arroyo Zarco, San Antonio el Zethe, San Antonio Pueblo, San Francisquito, San Jerónimo Barrio, San Jerónimo Ejido, San Joaquín Coscomatepec, San Lucas Totolmaloya, San Martín Ejido, San Pedro Denxhi, Santa Ana Matlavat, Santa Ana Oxtoc-toxhie, Santa María Nativitas, Santiago Oxtoc-Toxhie, Taxtho

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} "Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20070930023626/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/mexico/mpios/15003a.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Aculco". Archived from the original on 2007-09-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20070907005643/http://www.boonic.com/enciclopedia/62411.php. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 
3. ^ "Sitios de México". http://www.sitesmexico.com/directorio/m/municipio-aculco-mexico.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
4. ^ Gaspar Sampayo, Domingo. Monografía Municipal - Aculco. Mexico: Gobierno del Estado de Mexico. ISBN 968-841-079-9.