Jerez de García Salinas
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| Jerez de García Salinas | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country |  Mexico |
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| State | Zacatecas | ||
| Municipality | Jerez de García Salinas | ||
| Founded | 1563 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Alma Avila Cortés | ||
| Area | |||
| - Municipality | 587.26 km² (226.7 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2005) | |||
| - Total | 56,980 | ||
| - Demonym | Jerezano | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | ||
| Postal code | 99-300 | ||
| Website: [1] | |||
The city and surrounding municipality of Jerez de García Salinas is located in the center of the state of Zacatecas, Mexico.
The municipality is bordered on the north by the municipality of Fresnillo, to the east by the municipalities of Calera and Zacatecas, to the south by Villanueva and Tepetongo and to the west by the municipalities of Valparaíso and Susticacán. It has an area of 1,521 km² (587.26 sq mi). Its largest other community is the town of Ermita de Guadalupe.
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[edit] Population
According to INEGI the 2005 census of Housing and Population, the municipality of Jerez de García Salinas had a population of 56,980 inhabitants. The population of the municipal seat, which shares the name of the municipality is considerably less, at 38,624 with the remaining 18,356 living in small towns and villages in within the municipal boundaries. The city is still the state's sixth-largest community, after the city of Zacatecas, Fresnillo, Guadalupe, Sombrerete and Rio Grande.
[edit] History
The area around Jerez de García Salinas was inhabited by the Zacatec and Guachichil ethnic groups prior to the arrival of the Spanish. These ethnic groups reacted in bellicose manner to the intrusion of the Spanish into their ancestral homelands. The groups, along with other Chichimeca ethic groups fought the Spanish in the Mixtón Rebellion in 1540 and the Chichimeca War beginning in 1546.
Jerez de García Salinas, was originally named Jerez de la Frontera after the town of the same name in Andalucía, Spain. The first attempt to found the town by the Spanish Crown was in 1563 to serve as a fortress on the northern frontier and guard against the incessant attacks by Chichimeca natives on the wagon trains that passed through the region en route between the mines in Zacatecas and the viceroyal capital in Guadalajara. These first attempts were unsuccessful and it was not until 1570 that the town's existence is first mentioned as being administered by the government in Tlaltenango. The following year the town was abandoned.
In 1572, the town was resettled by a group of captains waging war against the Chichimecs on the frontier. Among the founders were Pedro Carrillo Dávila, Pedro Caldera (father of Miguel Caldera), Hernán González, Cristóbal Caldera, Juan de la Torre and Rodrigo de Pinedo.
[edit] Culture and Attractions
Catholicism being the town's predominant religion, many of the town's festivities are associated with religious holidays. The city festivities are celebrated in September to celebrate Mexican Independence and the Virgin of Solitude (La Virgen de La Soledad) and the Guadalupana (Our Lady of Guadalupe) beginning December 12. Another major cultural event is Spring Break (El Festival de Primavera). Every year Spring Break is celebrated beginning Holy Saturday and continuing for Easter week and the week following, with Charreadas (Rodeos), traditional dances, horse races, and cultural festivities. The Parade of the Cowboys (Desfile de los Charros) on Holy Saturday is a never to be forgotten event which culminates with the burning of the Judas effigies (Quema de los Judas) in the early afternoon. The main street is closed to automible traffic and taken over by hundreds of horsemen. Spring Break has attracted tourists from all over Mexico and from residents in the U.S.A
Jerez de García Salinas was designated on July 13, 2007 a Pueblo Mágico. These magic towns (some 30 or so) are believed to present special customs, events, architecture and other regional attributes which are especially worthy of visits by tourists, whether national or international.
[edit] Notable People
- Ramón López Velarde, poet
- Francisco García Salinas, Governor of Zacatecas
- Ivan Garcia, Brother of Freddy Castroman, Kevin Colima, Erick Colima, and Jose Garcia
[edit] References
- Leonardo de la Torre Berumen, Xeres, descubrimento y fundacion
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
- Zacatecas Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México
[edit] External links
- Gobierno del Municipio de Jerez Official website
