Quitupan

Infobox city
official_name = Quitupan|native_name =
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mapsize = 150px
map_caption = Quitupan
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Mexico
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Jalisco
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Irlando Contreras Aguilar(PRI)
established_title = Foundation
established_date = 1870
area_total_km2 = 187.9
area_total_sq_mi =
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area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2005
population_note =
population_total = 8,491
population_density_km2 = 13.77|population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = Central Standard Time
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = Central Daylight Time
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_m =
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Quitupan is a town and municipality located in the southeastern region of the Mexican state of Jalisco. [ [http://visita.jalisco.gob.mx/espanol/english/municipalities/quitupan.html Mexican Government Tourism Office's article on Quitupan] ] The name Quitupan comes from the word "Quitoa" or "Quitla," which means "place where declarations or treaties come from" or "place that is located above".

History

The formal indigenous foundation of the town precisely coincides with the establishment of a peace treaty between Tarascos (Spanish Soldiers) and natives, which occurred ten years before the arrival of the conqueror Hernán Cortés. A census taken in 1580 noted 30 integrated families.

The town was conquered by Alonso de Avalos, who nevertheless recognized the chieftainship of the original inhabitants. In 1522, Cortés dispatched one of his generals, Cristóbal de Olid to conquer Quitupan and surrounding areas. In 1530, Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán arrived to conduct a census of the native inhabitants and to impose a new order. The Evangelization of Quitupan was led by the Franciscans - in 1530, Friar Martin de Jesus began to preach, joined in 1532 by Friars Juan de Padilla and Miguel de Bologna. Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza then visited the area, under his appointment by King Charles V of Spain to pacify the various indigenous people of New Spain and to unify the territory, which was partially divided among competing conquistadors.

During the second half of the century, the region was beset by various armed confrontations between conservatives and liberals. Other historical landmarks include the Franciscan Intervention, the revolution of 1920 and the Guerra Cristera. On October 28th 1870 Quitupan was official recognized as a municipality of the state of Jalisco. Its first president was Francisco Lorenzo Gonzalez.

Geography and Environment

Quitupan is located in the southeast region of the state of Jalisco. The Northern latitudes measures 19º 39' 20" to 19 °58’ 10”, the Western longitude measures 102° 45’ to 103° 01’. It is 1,593 meters above sea level.

More than half of its surface (55%) is composed of rugged mountainous terrain, with altitudes reaching more than 1,800 to 2,100 meters above sea level. One quarter of the land (25%) forms part of the mountain range known as Mazamitla. Foothills cover another quarter of the surface (25%) with altitudes ranging from 1650 to 1800 meters. The rest of it surface (20%) are plains that measure in altitude of 1550 to 1650 meters.

Climate

The climate is semi-arid. Winters and Springs are dry and semi warm with little temperature change. The annual average temperature is 19ºC with a maximum of 26.71C. The rainy season begins in June and lasts until August with average precipitation of 807.3 millimeters.

Lakes and Lagoons

The Lagoon of the "Guadalupe", also known as "El Quiringual" because three quarters of the lagoon is in inhabited by the town "Quiringual".

References