Xalisco

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Xalisco (hah-LEES-ko) is a city and its surrounding municipality of the same in the Mexican state of Nayarit. The city had a population of 29,547 in the 2005 census, and is the second-largest community in the state. The municipality has an area of 290.6 km² (112.2 sq mi) and a population of 42,893. The municipality lies adjacent to the south side of Tepic, the state capital, and is part of the Tepic metropolitan area.

1 Location
2 Population
3 Geography
4 Economic Activity
5 Tourist Sights
6 Government
7 Sister Cities
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Location

Formerly known as Jalisco this municipality is located 6.4 km. southwest of Tepic at an elevation of 2,210 meters (municipal seat). In the north it bounds the municipality of Tepic, in the south the municipalty of Compostela; in the east the municipality of Santiago Ixcuintla and in the west the municipality of San Blas. See Map of Nayarit The total area is 290.60 square kilometers, which represents 1.05 % of the total area of the state. In area it is the smallest of the 20 municipalities that make up the state. See Municipalities of Nayarit.

[edit] Population

The main population centers are: Xalisco, the municipal seat with 29,547 inhabitants in the 2005 census; Pantanal 2,770; Testerazo (El Refugio) 2,266; Emiliano Zapata (Majadas) 1,605; Aquiles Serdán 986; Colonia Salvador Sánchez Vázquez 981; and La Curva 770. These settlements hold 90.75% of the population; the remaining 9.25% lives in 37 smaller settlements.

The population has been increasing. In 1995 it was 34,575 inhabitants; while in 1990 there were 26,722 inhabitants. The average annual growth rate in that period was 4.7%, the second highest in the state.

Population in 1960: 10, 183
Population in 1970: 13, 815
Population in 1980: 19, 705.

The population density in 2005 was 147.6 inhabitants per square kilometer.

[edit] Geography

Over half of the muniicipal territory is mountainous with one peak, Cerro Alto reaching 2,240 meters. There are several small rivers and streams of short length. The climate is hot semihumid and semihot subhumid depending on the elevation. The average annual rainfall is 1,232 mm. and the average annual temperature is 23°C.

In the upper elevations there are still conifers and oaks, but overforestry and long years of wood gathering for cooking have seriously depleted the natural cover. There are still deer, badgers, armadillos, and javalis in more remote locations.

[edit] Economic Activity

Due to the proximity to Tepic the economy is less agriculturally based than many municipalities in the state. According to the 1990 census 38.30% of the economically active population was in the agricultural sector; 21.90% in manufacturing; and 36.10% in the services sector.

According to the 1990 census the planted area was 15,687 hectares, of which 14.21% were seasonal and 82.65% yearly. Among the most important crops were: rice, corn, avocados, lemons, oranges, bananas, coffee, cherries, and sugarcane.

In the hotel sector there were 10 establishments in 1990, 8 of which were ranked with 4 stars.

[edit] Tourist Sights

In the town there are the ruins of a colonial hacienda and a museum with pre-Colombian artifacts. The most important festival is that of Asunción de la Virgen María, celebrated on 15 August, at the beginning of the corn harvest. It is also known as the “La Feria del Elote”, or Corn Fair.

Locals visit the natural swimming pool of Los Rosales.

[edit] Government

The local government consists of a mayor or Presidente Municipal, a legal advisor called a síndico, and 10 councilmembers. All are elected for a period of three years. The first mayor held office in 1917, after the Mexican Revolution. The current mayor is Juan Fernando Carrillo Noyola, finishing the mandate of 2003-08.