Jocotepec

Jocotepec
Municipality and town
Coat of arms of Jocotepec
Location of the municipality in Jalisco
Location of the municipality in Jalisco
Jocotepec is located in Mexico
Jocotepec
Jocotepec
Location in Mexico
Coordinates: 20°17′10.82472″N 103°25′49.404″W / 20.2863402000°N 103.43039000°W / 20.2863402000; -103.43039000
Country Mexico
StateJalisco
Government
 • TypeMunicipal
 • Municipal presidentJosé Miguel Gómez López, Citizens' Movement
Area
 • Total
324.3 km2 (125.2 sq mi)
 • Town5.61 km2 (2.17 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 census)[1]
 • Total
47,105
 • Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
 • Town
20,286
 • Town density3,600/km2 (9,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)
Websitejocotepec.jalisco.gob.mx

Jocotepec (Spanish pronunciation: [xokoteˈpek]) is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 324.3 km2. As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 37,972.[2]

History

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Perhaps as early as 100 BC, nomadic bands of Indians passed through the Lake Chapala Valley. Some moved on, others settled on the shore. Jocotepec, once Xuxutepeque, a small fishing village at the western end of the Lake, became a permanent home for the Nahua Indians in 1361. They built a temple to their god, Iztlacateotl, and practiced human sacrifice. The village became a trading and ceremonial site for the surrounding mountain area.

"Xuxutepeque was the name given Jocotepec by its first Nahua settlers. (The last of the nomadic bands to settle in this area were the Purépecha.) It became a permanent home for the Nahuas in 1361. Xuxutepeque later became "Xilotepec", meaning "Hill of ear of Corn". Finally, with the arrival of the Spaniards, led by Jacob Tepec, the settlement's name became "Jocotepec" and was interpreted as meaning "Hill of Guavas". (Guavas are a small bitter-sweet tasting fruit.) The meaning of Jocotepec is thus derived: Xoco-tepe-K, meaning Xoco (fruit); Tepetl (hill); and K (place)."[3]

In 1520, Captain Alonzo de Avalos was given this area as an encomienda (land grant). Chief Xitomatl, who then governed the area between Chapala, Jalisco and Jocotepec, submitted his territory to Spanish rule without a battle. In 1529, Jocotepec was formally founded, according to a title of property issued by Hernán Cortés, a copy of which can be found today in Jocotepec records.

Franciscan fathers then proceeded with conversion of the natives. Old Indian temples were destroyed and Catholic church foundations laid in their ruins. At that time, Jocotepec acquired its two religious protectors - Nuestro Senor del Monte and Nuestro Senor del Guaje.

The municipality of Jocotepec has a large variety of trees and plants, mostly located inside garden walls. The main plaza is surrounded by greenery, making it very inviting.

Vegetation is composed mainly of jacaranda, galeana, hule, pine, roble, cazuarina, mesquite, guamuchil, chaparrale and encino. Fruit trees such as mango, avocado, lime, lemon and orange are also abundant.

In North Jocotepec, acacia, huizache and palo-bobos predominate, while in the south (lake) side, there are a few sauce trees and sabinos. A large farm grows raspberries for export. Fields of corn and chayote are very common in this area.

Products of Jocotepec are mainly wool carpets in typical weaves and many colors, and the traditional serapes of this village. Another important industry is the fabrication of tiles, ready-made or made to the client's design. Wood and forged iron furniture can also be made to order. A large sweater factory is expected to soon start exporting. Recently, painting and music have been given a boost by local organizations promoting cultural events.

Jocotepec has two religious protectors: Nuestro Senor del Monte and Nuestro Senor del Guaje. A Fiesta Patronal (a religious celebration of these protectors) is held early in January. It lasts two weeks, and honors the first patron, the Lord of the Mountain, with daily masses, dances, cockfights, bullfights, parades and fireworks. Another fiesta, later in the year, honors Nuestro Senor del Guaje, but on a smaller scale.

The town has several sport recreation centers, 2 banks, and 2 gas stations.

Government

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Municipal presidents

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Term Municipal president Political party Notes
1932[4] Julián Ibarra PNR
1933 José María Aldrete PNR
1933 Vicente Urzúa Gutiérrez PNR
1934 Vicente Torres Olmedo PNR
1934 Ramón Castillo PNR
1935 Ignacio Aldana Cuevas PNR
1936 José Vergara Olmedo PNR
1937 ?? PNR
1938 ?? PRM
1939 Alberto Balcázar Chavoya PRM
1940 Antonio Ramírez Ochoa PRM
1941 Irineo Álvarez Bizarro PRM
1942 Alberto Balcázar Chavoya PRM
1943-1944 Porfirio Encarnación PRM
1945-1946 Cirilo Cuevas Ornelas PRM
1946 Porfirio Mena PRI
1947 José Olmedo Valencia PRI
1948 Francisco Jara Ramírez PRI
1949 Donaciano Olmedo Núñez PRI
1949-1952 Vicente Torres Olmedo PRI
1953-1954 Jesús Navarro Chacón PRI
1955 Catarino Olmedo Pérez PRI
01/01/1956-31/12/1958 Andrés Vergara Olmedo PRI
01/01/1959-31/12/1961 Mario González Barba PRI
01/01/1962-1963 Juan José Cuevas PRI
1963-31/12/1964 J. Jesús Rodríguez S. PRI
01/01/1965-31/12/1967 Alberto García Ibarra PRI
01/01/1968-31/12/1970 Arnulfo Vergara Ramírez PRI
01/01/1971-31/12/1973 Jorge Ibarra Gálvez PRI
01/01/1974-31/12/1976 José Reyes Prado PRI
01/01/1977-31/12/1979 Carlos Rodríguez Mendoza PRI
01/01/1980-31/12/1982 Salvador Huerta Chacón PRI
01/01/1983-31/12/1985 María Guadalupe Urzúa Flores PRI
01/01/1986-31/12/1988 Genaro Navarro Hoyos PRI
01/01/1989-1992 Miguel Ibarra Ramírez PRI
1992-1995 César Ramón López Jara PRI
1995-31/12/1997 Lorenzo Camarena Martínez PAN
01/01/1998-31/12/2000 José Olmedo Alonzo PAN
01/01/2001-31/12/2003 Miguel Cuevas Jara PRI
01/01/2004-31/12/2006 J. Jesús Palos Vaca PVEM
01/01/2007-31/12/2009 Felipe de Jesús Rangel Vargas PAN
01/01/2010-30/09/2012 Mario Guadalupe Chávez Morales PAN
01/10/2012-30/09/2015 John Francis O'Shea Cuevas PRI
PVEM
Coalition "Compromise for Jalisco"
01/10/2015-30/09/2018[5] Héctor Manuel Haro Pérez MC
15/10/2018-14/12/2020[6] José Miguel Gómez López PAN
PRD
MC
Coalition "For Jocotepec to the Front". He applied for a temporary leave, because of ill health, COVID-19
15/12/2020-2021[7] Juan José Ramírez Campos PAN
PRD
MC
Coalition "For Jocotepec to the Front". Acting municipal president
01/10/2021-30/09/2024[8] José Miguel Gómez López MC He was reelected on 06/06/2021

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ Citypopulation.de Population of Jocotepec municipality with localities
  2. ^ "Jocotepec". Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México. Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal. Archived from the original on May 26, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  3. ^ June Nay Summers, Villages in the Sun, pp. 63,64.
  4. ^ "Enciclopedia de los Municipios y Delegaciones de México. Jalisco. Jocotepec" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  5. ^ "IEPC Jalisco. Proceso electoral 2015. Anexo V. Jocotepec" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  6. ^ "IEPC Jalisco. Proceso electoral 2018. Anexo 4. Jocotepec" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Asume cargo como alcalde el síndico de Jocotepec. Por enfermedad, José Miguel Gómez López pidió licencia. Pie de foto: El presidente provisional, Juan José Ramírez, tomó protesta el pasado 15 de diciembre de 2020. Foto: Gobierno de Jocotepec" (in Spanish). 20 December 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Anexo II. Planilla Ganadora. Jocotepec. MC" (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Electoral y de Participación Ciudadana del Estado de Jalisco. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
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