Municipality of Magdalena (Jalisco)

The municipality of Magdalena is one of the 125 municipalities into which the Mexican state of Jalisco is divided. Located 78 kilometers northwest of Guadalajara.

Geography

Previously called xochitepec, a word derived from juchitepeco or xochptque which means “flowery mountain”. It acquired the name Magdalena because that is how the daughter of the Goaxicar chief who ruled this place before the Spanish conquest was baptized.

The municipality of Magdalena is located in the Valles Region of the State. It limits to the north with the municipality of Hostotipaquillo; to the south with San Marcos, Etzatlán and San Juanito de Escobedo; to the east with Tequila and to the west with the state of Nayarit. It has approximately 15 towns, the most notable being: Magdalena (municipal capital), San Andrés, La Quemada and La Joya.

Flora and fauna

Vegetation

The mountains and hills are covered with natural forests where pines, oaks, oaks and patches of pirul can be seen. The hills and some types of forests are covered with grasslands, where you can also find nopales, huizache, thorny and unarmed scrub.

Fauna

The fauna is represented by species such as deer, hare, rabbit, squirrel, some reptiles and other minor species.

Natural Resources

The natural wealth that the municipality has is represented by 7,900 hectares of forest where pine, oak, oak and pirul species predominate, mainly. Its mineral resources are deposits of opal, kaolin, lime, sand, silica quartz and talc.

Demography

According to the last census, carried out in 2010 by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography; The municipality of Magdalena has a population of 21,321 inhabitants, of which 10,583 are men and 10,738 are women.

Localities

The municipality has a total of 54 locations. The main towns and their population are the following:

History

Its inhabitants were Tecuexes and their main seat was on two islands within the lagoon, now dried up, of which they called the largest one Atitic.

When the Spanish arrived, the population of Magdalena already existed with the name of Xochitepec. It belonged to the Etzatlán lordship and was governed by Goaxicar, an Indian of talent and importance due to his courage.

In 1524, Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura conquered this region and upon receiving the obedience of Etzatlan, he sent for the chief Goxicar; The latter, fearful that the peninsulars would pass over to his town, preferred to go and pay tribute to them, although reluctantly. But then he began to scheme against the conquerors. He revolted in 1538 and was subdued by the Spanish. Goaxicar again, in 1541, took sides during the Mixtón War, allying itself with the indigenous people of Tequila, Ameca and Ahualulco, among other towns.

In 1530, Cristóbal de Oñate, sent by Nuño de Guzmán, arrived to conquer this region. The beauty and fertility of the province awakened in him the desire to add it to his territories and he let Juan de Escárcena know. but with integrity he resisted Guzmán's ambitions.

The Franciscans evangelized the region; In 1534 the friars came to found the convent of the Purísima Concepción de Etzatlán and catechize and baptize the aborigines. They asked Goaxicar to help them and when the church and convent of Etzatlán were completed, the natives returned to the two towns that were on the same number of islands in the lagoon. They called one Señor Santiago and the largest one San Juan Atlitic.

A waterspout devastated the towns, forcing the survivors to abandon the islands and settle the places called Santa María del Mezquital, Mezquicuatlán and Juchitepec in honor of the old chiefdom.

Being mayor of Etzatlán Francisco Martínez de la Mancha and therefore being in charge of Juchitepec; Fray Luis Navarro, built the church and the convent, dedicating them to Santa María Magdalena and Xuchitepec.

In 1825 it had a town hall and in 1838 the category of town. Since 1825 it belonged to the 5th canton of Etzatlán and in 1872 it became part of the 12th canton.

The decree that created this municipality is unknown but it already existed in 1837 as can be seen from the decree of March 13 of the same year. The Territorial and Political Division of the State of Jalisco, established in the decree of May 1, 1886, already mentions Magdalena as a municipality.

Economy

Agriculture

The crops of corn, cane, sorghum and chickpea stand out.

Livestock

Beef, dairy and working cattle, pigs, goats and poultry are raised for meat and pasture.

Industry

It is represented by workshops that exploit opal.

Mining

The main mineral resources that the municipality has refer to non-metallic minerals such as opal, kaolin, lime and sand; distinguishing the opal mines in the towns of San Andrés, La Quemada, Huitzizilapán, San Simón, Las Latillas, Juajical and Cobano.

Tourism

Visitors can admire in the municipality, the Chapel of the Purísima that dates back to the end of the XVI century; the temple of San Andrés in the town of San Andrés and the chapel of La Quemada. It is of special interest for those who visit the municipality of Magdalena to go to the workshops where opal is worked.

Museum

Interpretive Museum of the Agave Landscape and Mining, the first museum in the municipality that shows the history and traditions of Magdalena, has a collection of remains of Aztec vestiges and a contemporary art exhibition hall.

Education

The municipality has a community plaza that serves young people and adults who are educationally behind, and is located in the Magdalena DIF.

Trade

Businesses dedicated to the sale of basic necessities predominate and mixed businesses sell various items on a small scale.

Services

Financial, professional, technical, communal, social, personal, tourist, cultural and maintenance services are offered.

Chronology of Historical Events

• 1524 Francis Cortés de San Buenaventura conquers the cacicazgo of Xochitepec.
• 1604 Fundación del Convento de Santa María de Magdalena by the Franciscans.
• 1825 Magdalena had a town hall.
• 1837 The population of Magdalena was already in the category of municipality.
• 1872 The municipality belongs to the 12th canton of Tequila.
• 1911 On May 12, Don Leopoldo Leal spoke against the government of General Porfirio Díaz.
• 1913 Entrance of the revolutionary Julián Medina to Magdalena, who came to this place in search of volunteers and economic resources.
• 1918 The so-called Spanish influenza made real havoc in Magdalena, as in the whole country.
• 1923 General Alvaro Obregón, President of the Republic, made a visit to the then hacienda of the Quemada to inaugurate the entronque of the route of the South Pacific railway, which came from Nogales, with that of Guadalajara-La Quemada.
• 1924 On 2 April, the ejido of Magdalena was founded.
• 1929 On February 10, on the hill's skirt called "El Trapiche", a group of armed men commanded by the Tte was written by the Crysters. of Infantry Marciano Roberto Jaime Colunga.
• 1939 On 4 February, the limits of the municipality are amended by decree.
• 1944 On 27 July, the President of the Republic, Gral. Manuel Ávila Camacho carried out the only visit that a first president has made in Magdalena throughout his history.
• 1958 On 18 November, the limits of the municipality are reformed by decree number 7292.
• 2018 On July 1, Fabiola Pulido Franco is reelected as Municipal President, becoming the first in the history of Magdalena.