Atotonilco El Alto

Atotonilco El Alto
Municipality and city
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality in Jalisco
Atotonilco El Alto Location in Mexico
Coordinates:
Country	Mexico
State	Jalisco
Area
• Total	638.15 km2 (246.39 sq mi)
Population (2005)
• Total	51,798
Website	http://www.atotonilco.gob.mx

Atotonilco El Alto is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico in Los Altos (Jalisco) region. The municipality covers an area of 638.15 km².

Atotonilco (pronounced ah-toh-toh-NEAL-co) means "place of hot waters", in Náhuatl. "El Alto"("The High One") was later added in honor of those who died in the Cristero War in the early 1920s.

As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 51,798.

History

The town was first established by the Purépecha in late 1400, according to Purépecha myth. The region was conquered in June 1530 by the Nuño de Guzmán. Martin del Campo was the first encomendero and the evangelization of the region was entrusted to the Franciscans. Atotonilco in 1551 was given in encomienda to the conquistador Andrés de Villanueva. In November 1824 the State Congress ruled that the village of Atotonilco hereafter would have the title of town, and would also be the head of the department which includes Arandas and Ayotlán. On May 15, 1868 the governor of Jalisco, Antonio Gómez Cuervo, elevated the status of Atotonilco to a city, which it retains to this day.

Atotonilco El Alto municipality

has 112 towns. Atotonilco El Alto, Cienega del Pastor, Milpillas,La Santa Rosa, La Cofradia, San Francisco de Asís, Santa Elena, La Guadalupana, San Joaquin, El, Ojo de Agua de Morán, El Agua Caliente, El Nacimiento, San Jose del Valle, San Joaquin, San Antonio de Fernandez, Nuevo Valle, Margaritas, La Purisma, Los Adobes and mo

Facts about Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco

• Most played sport: Futbol and Charreria
• One of the best selling products are: Tequila.
• The holy patroness of Atotonilco El Alto is Our Lady of Los Altos.
• This was one of the places in highlands of Jalisco where the Cristero War took place during the 1920s.
• Most Imported products from Atotonilco El Alto are Patrón, Tequila Don Julio, Rompope Atotonilli and Tequila 7 Leguas Blanco.
• A 12 meter mural of an overlook of the town of Atotonilco is on display at Tacolicious restaurant, Palo Alto, California.

Taretan Water Park

In 1950, Taretan Water Park started functioning as a natural hot spring bath and an amusement place for families located at the sides of the Taretan River. Taretan was born in the highlands of Jalisco. It was remodeled in the mid-twenties and now it houses a stone statue of St. Michael Archangel the Patron Saint of Atotonilco. In addition, it also has several sheds with tables and chairs made out of stone, dressing rooms, and a playground for young children to play. This park is mostly known for its waters. Hispanic legend of this place claims that the waters in Taretan have healing properties.

Notable people

• Don Florencio Luna (?- 1903 ), Municipal president of Atotonilco El Alto.
• Venerable Maria Luisa de la Peña, Mexican Roman Catholic nun and Founder of Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles.
• José Trinidad Sepúlveda Ruiz-Velasco, Bishop of San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco.
• General Enrique Gorostieta was killed here during the Cristero War.
• Pedro Valle Navarro, Doctor.
• Los Calleyes y El Chiquirriquis, Best soccer players in their ERA
• Ma. Guadalupe Escoto, Educator.
• Pascual Navarro Muñoz, Doctor.
• Apolonio Galván Hernández, Licensed.
• Ignacio Contreras, Captain.
• Ventura Reyes y Zavala, Licensed.
• Miguel de Anda Jacobsen, Mexican academic, poet, writer, and orator.
• Fray Mariano Navarro Muñoz, Mexican Fray and Writer.
• Luis B. Cano Castellanos, Mexican Colonel.
• José Vizcarra, Mexican artist, his parents originally from Atotonilco el Alto.
• José Galindo, Mexican artist.

External links

• Atotonilco El Alto municipality
• Atoto Website
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