San Salvador Atenco

Infobox Settlement
official_name =
name = (San Salvador) Atenco
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settlement_type = Town & Municipality
total_type =Municipality
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = MEX
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = State of Mexico
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leader_title = Municipal President
leader_name = Rufino Saul Nopaltitla Sales (2006-2009)
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 968 BC
established_title2 = Municipal Status
established_date2 = after 1820
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population_as_of = 2005
population_footnotes = Municipality
population_note =
population_total = 42,739
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population_blank1_title = Seat
population_blank1 = 14,995
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timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
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latd=19 |latm=33 |lats=30 |latNS=N
longd=98 |longm=54 |longs=45 |longEW=W
elevation_footnotes = of seat
elevation_m = 2250
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postal_code_type = Postal code (of seat)
postal_code = 56300
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blank1_name = Demonym
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San Salvador Atenco is the municipal seat of Atenco, in the Mexican state of Mexico.The name "Atenco" comes from a Nahuatl phrase meaning "place on the edge of water". cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/mexico/mpios/15011a.htm |title=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico Estado de Mexico Atenco |accessdate=2008-09-07 ]

The town

Fifteen excavations have been done in this area, uncovering mammoth bones, stone tools and other artifacts showing human habitation from at least 7000 B.C. According to some traditions in the historico-mythical accounts of the 16th century Nahuas, early Nahuatl-speaking groups ("pre-Aztecs", called also Chichimeca) invaded the area from the north around 968 BC. There was supposedly an intermarriage with the last Toltec king Topiltzin. From this lineage came the king Nezahualcóyotl, one of the three founders of the Aztec Triple Alliance. Atenco became subject to Texcoco in 1428.

After the fall of Tenochtitlán to the Spaniards under Hernan Cortes, the Aztecs of this area continued to fight against the Spanish conquest, supporting the lord of Texcoco. However, this area fell to the Spaniards in 1521. After this the Spaniards imposed a tribute system and Spanish law onto the land and built the Chapel of Cristo de Esquipulas in 1571.

This chapel was built by the Franciscans for the purpose of evangelization. It is constructed of stone and "tezontle" (porous volcanic rock). Its gilded retablo is the original built with the chapel with its saint's day celebrated the second Monday after Carnaval

San Salvador Atenco received wide media coverage both in 2002 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2124177.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | In pictures: Mexican farmers riot ] ] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2128662.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexico airport stand-off ends ] ] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2128662.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexico airport stand-off ends ] ] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2169556.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexican farmers cheer airport victory ] ] and 2006, when it was the site of violent mass protests against the federal and local governments. The 2002 protests were against the planned construction of a new international airport for Mexico City. The construction of the airport was cancelled. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4974116.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexican police retake riot town ] ]

In 2006, violent clashes followed the expulsion of eight downtown flower vendors by the police. The latter confrontation marked the beginning of the 2006 Atenco Riots, which lasted over a week and resulted in over 100 arrests and numerous allegations of human rights abuses committed by the police against the local population. [http://www.cndh.org.mx/eventos/informes/atenco.htm CNDH - Eventos ] ]

The municipality of Atenco

As municipal seat San Salvador Atenco has governing jurisdiction over the following communities:

Chileleco (Ampliación Nexquipayac Chileleco), Colonia el Salado, Ej. San Salvador Acuexcomac (Ej. la Purísima), Ejido de San Cristóbal Nexquipayac, El Amanal, Granjas Ampliación Santa Rosa, Hacienda la Grande Fracción Uno, La Pastoría, Los Hornos (El Presidio), Nueva Santa Rosa, San Cristóbal Nexquipayac, San Miguel Arcángel (Tepecingo), Santa Isabel Ixtapan, and Zapotlán

The municipality borders the municipalities of Acolman, Tezoyuca, Texcoco, Chiautla, Chiconcuac and Ecatepec with a total area of 94.67 km2. This terretory lies on the Neovolcanic Axis that crosses Mexico. Even though the only elevations are in the south of the municipality (Huatepec and Tepetzingo hills), there is volcanic activity underground, under what was Lake Texcoco.

Most of the economic activity of the municipality is based on subsistence farming with a large percentage of its inhabitants owning farmland. Very little of the food grown is sold in markets.

External links

Kennis, AC. [http://www.greens.org/s-r/31/31-21.html Small Farming Community Successfully Struggles to Preserve its Way of Life Against the Forces of Neo-Liberalism] " in "Synthesis/Regeneration", Spring 2003.

References