Matehuala

Matehuala
City and municipality
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Matehuala
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Matehuala
Matehuala is located in San Luis Potosí
Matehuala
Matehuala
Matehuala is located in Mexico
Matehuala
Matehuala
Coordinates: 23°39′10″N 100°38′40″W / 23.65278°N 100.64444°W / 23.65278; -100.64444
CountryMexico
StateSan Luis Potosí
Area
 • Municipality1,302 km2 (503 sq mi)
 • City23.20 km2 (8.96 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 census)[1]
 • Municipality102,199
 • Density78/km2 (200/sq mi)
 • City
86,686
 • City density3,700/km2 (9,700/sq mi)

Matehuala is a city in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, situated at an elevation of about 1,500 m. Matehuala is also the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the northern part of the state, on the border with the southwestern corner of Nuevo León. The municipality of Matehuala has a population of 102,199, and an area of 1,302 km2 (503 sq mi).

History

[edit]

Pre-Colonial

[edit]

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the Potosi Plateau region was inhabited by the indigenous Guachichiles, a group of Chichimeca peoples that occupied the southern and central portions of the Mexican Plateau.[2] A nomadic people, they generally lived in small mobile villages and were primarily hunter-gatherers, making them experts of the local herbs and vegetation in the arid region.

The Guachichiles were known as fierce warriors.[3]

Colonial

[edit]

Some sources claim that the name "Matehuala" was derived from a warning war cry of the Guachichiles that translates to "do not come [here]!"[4]

In the early 16th century, Spanish expeditions sought metals and mining opportunities in the Altiplano region. Captain Gabriel Ortiz de Fuenmayor and a contingent of soldiers, adventurers, and missionaries entered from Zacatecas, founding San Francisco de Matehuala in 1550. The Chichimec War erupted in 1549, lasting 40 years, causing the abandonment of Matehuala. Viceroy Luis de Velasco organized expeditions between 1551 and 1553 to end the war, using allies to settle for peace and create settlements.

The conflict continued until 1568 when frontier presidios were established. King Philip II sought peace negotiations, leading to conferences attended by indigenous leaders. In 1638, Matehuala's possession changed hands due to language barriers. By the 17th century, mineral discoveries boosted Matehuala's economy.

In 1706, the town's second founding occurred after a commission verified land ownership. In 1786, New Spain was divided into intendancies, including San Luis Potosí. In 1799, a parish was established in Matehuala, although conflicts between Spaniards and indigenous people resurfaced due to fees for newcomers. The mining boom in Real de Catorce led to economic growth in Matehuala. Finally, in 1808, Matehuala was designated a villa, marking a significant historical event.

Government

[edit]

Municipal presidents

[edit]
Term Municipal president Political party Notes
1896 Mariano Vázquez López
1939–1940 Octaviano Briones Cortez PRM
1940 Antonio Verástegui Cruz PRM
1940–1943 Nicolás López Loera PRM
1943–1945 Miguel Ángel Santos PRM
1945 Nicolás López Loera PRM
1945–1946 Horacio Medellín Cruz PRM
1946–1949 Roberto Alderete Aguilar PRI
1949–1952 Nicolás Sánchez Pérez PRI
1952–1955 Enrique de la Cruz Zepeda PRI
1955–1958[5][6] Santiago J. Vivanco Castillo PRI
1958–1961 Jesús Pérez Barba PRI
1961–1964 Antonio Nava Sánchez PRI
1964–1967 Adalberto Tamayo López PRI
1967–1970 Alfonso Dibildox Martínez PRI
1970–1973 Eduardo Rocha Pérez PRI
1973–1976 Tomás Zárate Sánchez PRI
1976–1979 José Mahbub Matta PRI
1979–1982 Antonio Ávila Lomas PRI
1982–1985 José Nava Sánchez PRI
1985–1988 Pascual Gallegos Montalvo PRI
1988–1991 Virgilio Castillo Andrade PRI
1991–1994 Paulino Martínez Carmona PRI
1994–1997 Justo Fernando Torres Rangel PAN
1997–2000 Raymundo García Olivares PRI
2000–2003 Gregorio Antonino Maldonado Vázquez PAN
2003–2006 José Everardo Nava Gómez PRI
PVEM
2006–2009 Víctor Manuel Mendoza Ramírez PAN
2009–2012 Francisco Javier Hernández Loera PAN
Panal
2012 Édgar Morales Pérez PRI
PVEM		 Municipal president-elect. Never in office. Was assassinated on 12 August 2012
2012–2015[7] Héctor Fermín Ávila Lucero PRI
PVEM		 Substitute. He was appointed municipal president by the City Council of Matehuala
2015–2018 José Everardo Nava Gómez PRI
PVEM
Panal
2018–2021[8] Roberto Alejandro Segovia Hernández PVEM
Panal
2021–11-11-2023[9][10] Iván Noé Estrada Guzmán PAN
PRI
PRD
PCP 		He was arrested on 11 November 2023 for abusive exercise of power and alleged links with drug barons
21-11-2023–2024[11][12] Franco Coronado Guerra PAN
PRI
PRD
PCP		 Acting municipal president
01-10-2024–[13] Raúl Ortega Rodríguez PAN
PRI
PRD

Notable people

[edit]

Notable buildings

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Citypopulation.de Population of Matehuala municipality with localities
  2. ^ Mellink, Eric; Riojas-López, Mónica E.; Rivera-Villanueva, José Antonio (2018-04-02). "Reconsideration of the nomadic condition of the southernmost Guachichiles based on the relationship with their environment". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 14 (1): 24. doi:10.1186/s13002-018-0223-x. ISSN 1746-4269. PMC 5880072. PMID 29609628.
  3. ^ Schmal, John P. (2004). "Los Antepasados Indígenas de los Guanajuatenses: A Look into Guanajuato's Past".
  4. ^ Post, The Mexico Daily (2021-08-08). "Matehuala, where the Guachichiles resisted the Spanish conquest - San Luis Potosi Post". Mexico Daily Post. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  5. ^ "Matehuala" (in Spanish). Enciclopedia de los Municipios y Delegaciones de México. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  6. ^ "National Institute for Federalism and Municipal Development (Inafed). On the left column, please click on "Información Histórica". Then, from the drop-down menu, select "Presidentes Municipales". Search for the state or federal entity and then the desired municipality. Estado de San Luis Potosí. Matehuala" (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Nombra Cabildo a nuevo alcalde en Matehuala, SLP" (in Spanish). 1 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Consejo Estatal Electoral y de Participación Ciudadana de San Luis Potosí, CEEPACSLP. Acta de cómputo municipal de la elección para el Ayuntamiento de Matehuala, 2018" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Consejo Estatal Electoral y de Participación Ciudadana de San Luis Potosí, CEEPACSLP. Acta de cómputo municipal de la elección para el Ayuntamiento de Matehuala, 2021" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Resultados Elecciones 2021: Alianza PT-PVEM gana mayoría de municipios en SLP. Matehuala → Iván Noé Estrada Guzmán". Alcaldes de México (in Spanish). 16 June 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Hoy, elegirán presidente municipal interino en Matehuala (Today, They Will Elect an Acting Municipal President in Matehuala)". Código San Luis (in Spanish). 21 November 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Franco Alejandro Coronado Guerra toma protesta como presidente municipal interino de Matehuala (Franco Alejandro Coronado Guerra Takes Oath as Acting Municipal President of Matehuala)" (in Spanish). Gobierno Municipal de Matehuala 2021-2024. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Integración del Ayuntamiento de Matehuala. 2024" (PDF) (in Spanish). CEEPACSLP. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matehuala.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matehuala&oldid=1251704957"