San Pedro Soteapan, Veracruz, Mexico
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The municipio (municipality) of San Pedro Soteapan is a city/county complex within the Sierra Santa Marta, near Catemaco and Acayucan in southeastern Veracruz, southcentral Mexico.
Historically the city was mentioned as a province of Coatzacoalcos in 1580, but was only recognized as a Mexican municipio in 1831. The area in pre-Spanish days was an area of contention between the Aztec empire and its southern neighbors. Further warrior sentiments of Soteapan inhabitants led to numerous conflicts during the civil wars surrounding the defeat of the Mexican Porfiriato dictatorship in the early 1900's.
The area only recently obtained paved road access and is considered one of the most impoverished communities in Mexico. Its population is composed of mainly Popoluca speakers, with a smitten of Nahuatl. Nevertheless, Spanish is the predominant language.
Economically, Soteapan depends on small scale agriculture and cattle ranching. Touristically the area invites visitors to several waterfalls, views of the mountains and access to the upper reaches of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve.
As of 2000 the municipio counted 27,487 inhabitants, including 3,674 in the main city of Soteapan, within 528 square kilometers; incorporating much of the Volcano Santa Marta within the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas.
