Donato Guerra, State of Mexico
Donato Guerra is one of 125 municipalities in the State of Mexico, Mexico. It's municipal seat is the town of Villa Donato Guerra, which is the 13th largest town in the municipality of Donato Guerra. The area is also known as Malacatepec (meaning 'hill in the shape of a spindle) and La Asunción Malacatepec. (Villa) Donato Guerra is located in the western part of the State of Mexico. In the region that is identified with Valle de Bravo. The town was named in 1880 in honor of Donato Guerra, a distinguished soldier of the War of La Reforma. It is located around 77 kilometers from Toluca which is the capital of the state, on Federal Highway number 35 Mexico City - Zitácuaro.[1]
Donato Guerra | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
| Seal | |
| Coordinates: 19°18′30″N 100°08′32″W / 19.30833°N 100.14222°W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | State of Mexico |
| Municipal Status | 1861 |
| Government | |
| • Municipal President | Arturo Piña García (2006–2009) |
| Elevation (of seat) | 2,200 m (7,200 ft) |
| Population (2005) Municipality | |
| • Municipality | 29,621 |
| • Seat | 921 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
| Postal code (of seat) | 51030 |
| Website | http://www.donatoguerra.gob.mx/ |
The town edit
Villa Donato Guerra lies at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. The area was Mazahua territory until between 1474 and 1477 when it came under Mexica domination. It remain mostly populated by Mexicas until 1604. Franciscan friars constructed the Parish of Asuncion Malacatepec around 1550. As late as 1727, the town still had a commissioner of the Inquisition, naming lawyer Jose Bernal and Mendoza in that year. In 1770, a land and natural resources dispute arose between the towns of La Asunción Malacatepec and San Lucas Texcaltitlán, versus the owners of the haciendas of La Asunción, San Felipe Neri, Joloxtoc, and Endo. The town was formally recognized as an ayuntamiento in 1826 by the State of Mexico.[1]
In the 2005 census, the village had only 921 people.[2]
Villa Donato Guerra’s churches are St Martin Bishop, San Simon de la Laguna, San Francisco Mihualtepec, San Miguel Xooltepec and San Juan Xoconusco. The ruins of the Hacienda la Asuncion and Hacienda El Molino San Felipe Neri are examples of colonial constructions and are preserved as historical monuments.[1]
The municipality edit
The municipality of Donato Guerra has governing jurisdiction over the following communities: Cabecera de Indígenas, Primer y Segundo Cuartel, San Martín, San Antonio Hidalgo, Batán Chico, Batán Grande, Mesas Altas de Xoconusco, El Capulín, Llano Redondo, Macheros, Barrio de Arriba, La Fundición, San José Tilostóc, Galeras, Ranchería de Santiago Huitlapaltepec, San Agustín de las Palmas, San Lucas Texcaltitlán, Santiago Huitlapaltepec, San Juan Xoconusco, San Martín Obispo, San Antonio de la Laguna, San Simón de la Laguna, San Francisco Mihualtepec, San Miguel Xooltepec.
History edit
In 1569, the region of Malacatepec, is recognized as separate from Almoloya de Juarez. On April 8, 1604, Marques de Montesclaros by mandate of Pedro de Campos, signs the agreement that divides to the region of Malacatepec in two congregations, Asuncion Malacatepec and San José.
On October 30, 1810, the Battle of Monte de las Cruces took place with what is now the current municipality, where the forces of General Miguel Hidalgo triumphed. A number of Mazahuas took part in this battle as well with distinction.
The current municipality is officially formed in 1870.[1]
Natural geography edit
Donato Guerra is located in the region known as Sierra Mil Cumbres, with the peaks of this mountain area reaching 3,040 meters above sea level. At its southern border, begins tropical terrain.[1]
45.29% of the territory is covered by forests. The main kinds of trees are pine, cedar, eucalyptus, ash, weeping willow, and oak. These trees can be used to obtain wood. Trees that give fruit are: avocado, chirimoya, walnut, plum, capulín, tejocote etc. There are also some plants that can be used for medicinal purposes such as: epazote, chamomile, yerba buena, wormwood, arnica, juniper, clover, papalo, pig weed, and fennel.[3]
The main mammals that can be found are rabbits, coyotes, zool deers, zool hares, squirrels, rats, tlacuaches, cacomixtles, dogs, horses, cows, and pigs.[3]
Avian life is constituted by huilotas, carpenter birds, owls, buzzards, falcons, orn ravens, and pigeons. Reptiles such as snakes (of various species), scorpions, iguanas and lizards are found as well.[3]
Population edit
In 1950, Donato Guerra had 10,514 inhabitants. 30 years later, in 1980, it had grown to only 13,671. However, the population census of 1990 registered 21,510 inhabitants.[1] and in the last census in 2005 the total population for the municipality was 29,621.[2] 74.05% live in rural areas and 25.95% live in urban areas.[1]
Economy edit
Since most people live in the rural areas, agriculture, both the raising of crops and livestock is the principal economic activity, with 9,016 hectares are devoted to the agricultural use. Principal livestock are cows, pigs, sheep, horses, hens, turkeys, beehives and rabbits. However, some industry exists in small factories, family workshops and craft cooperatives, clothes, shoes and bakeries.[1][4]
Chronology of the municipal presidents edit
NamePeriodPolitic partid
- Wenceslao Sáenz1913
- Prospero María Yereno1914-1916
- Wilebaldo Gómez1917
- Pablo Reyes1918
- Dario Reyes Barcenas1919
- Antonio Usandizaga1920
- José María Cambrón PML1920
- Jorge Sánchez1921
- Alberto Usandizaga PML1921
- Jesús G. Avila1922
- Antonio Usandizaga1923
- Alberto Usandizaga1924
- Anastacio R. Mendieta1925
- José Félix Pliego1926
- Guillermo Mendieta1927
- Agustín Albarrán Fonseca1928-1929PNR
- Germán Reyes 1er. Regidor PML1929PNR
- Pedro Chamorro Mercado1930-1931PNR
- José García Argüello1932-1933PNR
- Agustín Albarrán Fonseca1934-1935PNR
- Armando Reyes J.1936-1937PNR
- Juan B. Bautista1938-1939PRM
- Jesús Mendieta 1er. Regidor PML1939PRM
- Manuel Reyes Muñoz1940-1941PRM
- José Mendieta Quintana1942-1943PRM
- José García Argüello1944-1945PRM
- Marcial Villegas Moreno1946-1948PRI
- Roberto Reyes Salguero PML1948PRI
- Jesús G. Avila1949-1951PRI
- Agustín Albarrán Fonseca1952-1954PRI
- Marcial Villegas Moreno (suplente)1952-1954PRI
- Lázaro Arriaga Escobar1955-1957PRI
- Agustín Albarrán Reyes1958-1960PRI
- Fidel Reyes Muñoz1961-1963PRI
- Roberto Reyes Salguero1964-1966PRI
- Agustín Albarrán Salguero1967-1969PRI
- Fernando Cuéllar Sánchez1970-1972PRI
- Arnulfo Villegas Jaramillo1973-1975PRI
- Santiago Avila Villegas1976-1978PRI
- Silvestre Torres Longares1979-1981PRI
- Prof. Elías Arzate Archunda1982-1984PRI
- Ing. Antelmo Mendieta Velázquez1985-1987PRI
- Arq. Héctor Jaime Sánchez García1988-1990PRI
- Germán Reyes García1991-1993PRI
- Ing. Lázaro Reyes González1994-1996PRI
- Arq. Jacobo Hernández Marín1997-1998PRI
- Prof. Ricardo Cruz Nieto PML1998PRI
- Prof. Mauro Noé Cuéllar Hernández 1998-2000PRI
- Anselmo Vega Chico2000-2003PRI
- Tomás Octaviano Félix2003-2006PRD
- Arturo Piña García2006-2009PRD
Ethnic groups edit
The Mazahuas were the first group to inhabit the region of Malacatepec. In communities such as San Martín Bishop, San Simón de la Laguna, San Antonio de la Laguna, San Francisco Mihualtepec, San Juan Soconusco, San Miguel Xooltepec and Santiago Huitlapaltepec, indigenous language, food, customs and ethnicity are still preserved. Approximately 10.224 people speak Mazahua.[1]
Education edit
In Donato Guerra, there are 36 kindergartens, 38 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 1 high school, and there are 284 teachers that attend these schools. However, there are 5,728 inhabitants that have not received any schooling, of which 1,613 are children and 4,115 are adults.[1]