San Cristóbal Ecatepec
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| San Cristobál Ecatepec / Ecatepec de Morelos | |
| — Seat and Municipality of "Ecatepec" — | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Mexico |
| State | State of Mexico |
| Municipal seat | San Cristobál Ecatepec |
| Largest city | San Cristobál Ecatepec |
| Government | |
| - Municipal president | |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Website: (Spanish) | |
San Cristóbal Ecatepec de Morelos is a city in the State of México and the seat of the municipality of Ecatepec de Morelos; however, both the city and the municipality are simply known as "Ecatepec". The name "Ecatepec" is derived from Nahuatl, and means "windy hill". It was also an alternative name or invocation to Quetzalcoatl.[1] "Morelos" is the last name of the hero of the Mexican War of Independence (José María Morelos.)
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[edit] The city of San Cristóbal Ecatepec
The city is practically co-extensive with the municipality with the city's population of 1,687,549 being 99.9% of the total municipal population of 1,688,258.[2]
"San Cristobál" (Saint Christopher) is the city's patron saint, whose feast day is celebrated on July 25 of each year.[1]
Points of interest include the newest Catholic Cathedral in Mexico, Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, several colonial era churches and the colonal edifice Casa de los virreyes.[1]
[edit] History
Remains of earliest human inhabitation of the area have been found on the nearby Cerro (Hill) de Ecatepec. During the Aztec empire, the Mexicas used the town to control trade routes going north.[1]
Ecatepec was considered an "República de Indios" (Indian Republic) 1560, allowing the village to maintain a certain amount of autonomy and keeping the succession of tlatoani or chiefs. However, in the first part of the 17th century, this was changed to a mayorship, with the Spanish administrating, along with the communities of Zumpango and Xalostoc.[3]
On October 1, 1877, San Cristobál Ecatepec was declared a village and "de Morelos" was added to its name.[3]
The national hero José María Morelos y Pavón was executed in Ecatepec in 1815 by the Spanish during the Mexican war of independence. The house in which he was executed is now the Museo Casa de Morelos (Museum Hose of Morelos). Ecatepec was declared a city on December 1, 1980.[1]
In April 1995, the remains of a mammoth were found in Colonia Ejidos de San Cristóbal, where the ancient lakes of Xaltocan-Ecatepec and Texcoco came together and where the Aztecs build a dam to keep the fresh and salty waters separate. The bones have been tentatively dated to around 10,500 years B.C.[3]
[edit] The municipality of Ecatepec de Morelos
As municipal seat, San Cristobál Ecatepec has govening jurisdiction over the following communities: San Pedro Xalostóc, Santa Clara Coatitla (Coatitlán), Santa María Tulpetlac (Tulpetlac), Santo Tomás Chiconautla (Chiconautlan), Santo María Chiconautla (Nepohualco), Guadalupe Victoria (Tecpayocan Coatlalpan), San Isidro Atlauhtenco, Banco de Tepetate (La Tepetatera), Coanalco Buenavista, El Tejocote, Las Venitas, Tierra Blanca 2a. Sección (Ejido Ecatepec), andVista Hermosa:
The municipality borders with Tecámac, Nezahualcóyotl, Acolman, San Salvador Atenco, Tlalnepantla and Distrito Federal. The area of this municipality is 155 km² (59.85 sq mi).[3]
Most inhabitants commute to Mexico City for work, and recently the Mexico City metro subway system was extended into Ecatepec.
[edit] History
The area was initially settled by successive waves of Otomis; however, because of the later arrival of Toltec-Chichimecas that dominated the rest of the Valley of Mexico, this area eventually assimilated to the rest of the Valley, ending with its domination by the Aztec empire.[3]
The municipality was officially created on October 13, 1874.[1]
Ecatepec de Morelos had a 2005 census population of 1,688,258 inhabitants, which makes it the most populous municipality in the nation [1], as well as in the state.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Historia de Ecatepec. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
- ^ http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/default.asp?s=est&c=10395. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
- ^ a b c d e Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Estado de Mexico Ecatepec. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) name=Portal of Ecatepec de Morelos
- (Spanish) Ayunatmiento Constitucional de Ecatepec de Morelos Official website
