| Jalostotitlán | |||
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| — Municipality and city — | |||
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| Location of the municipality in Jalisco | |||
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Jalostotitlán
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Mexico | ||
| State | Jalisco | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 427.06 km2 (164.9 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2005) | |||
| • Total | 28,462 | ||
The municipality of Jalostotitlán and its municipal seat of the same name are located in the Los Altos region of the Mexican state of Jalisco.
The municipality shares its border on the north with the municipaly of Teocaltiche, the east with the municipality of San Juan de los Lagos, to the south with the municipality of San Miguel El Alto, to the southwest with the municipality of Valle de Guadalupe, and to the west with the municipality of Cañadas de Obregón.
The city is located in a mid-section of the country, with semi-desert, arid lands to the north and more fertile lands to the south. Winters are relatively cold and summers are hot and rainy. The municipality also includes the towns of San Nicolás de las Flores, Teocaltitán de Guadalupe, San Gaspar de los Reyes and Mitic. The center of town are the churches that originate from the 16th century, when the city was first founded.
"Jalostotitlán" means "Land Of Sandy Caves" in Nahuatl.
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The population of the municipality of Jalostotitlán totaled 53,256 inhabitants according to the 2000 census. Of these, 20,201 reside in the municipal seat. Similar to the rest of the Los Altos region, Jalostotitlán did not retain a large indigenous population. Only two-tenths of one percent of inhabitants speak an indigenous language according to the census.
The main activities in the municipality are agriculture, cattle-farming and the services industry. In the past 15 years Jalostotitlán has become a relevant manufacturing center, producing shoes, leather goods and dairy products.
In 1164, the residents of the area (mostly from the Tecuexe and Caxcan tribes) resisted Aztec advances, who had just settled in nearby Teocaltiche for a period of 40 years before moving on to Tenochtitlán.
The Spaniards first arrived in the area during the conquest of Tonalá under Captain Pedro Almíndez Chirino with the 350 Spaniards and 500 Tarascan and Tlaxcaltecs under his control.
After a series of rebellions, the area was placed under the Spanish crown in 1541. The town of Jalostotitlán was founded by Fray Miguel de Bologna in 1544.
After Independence, Jalostotitlán gained status of town in 1838. The municipality of Jalostotitlán was created on 21 May 1872.
Jalostotitlan is the location of sites associated with cannonized Mexican Catholic priest Toribio Romo Gonzalez.
Jalostotitlán was elevated to city status on 1 September 1970 and made the seat of the municipality.
Fiestas are celebrated in Jalos twice a year; the first, in early to late February, is called "Carnaval", and the second, in August, is called "Fiestas De La Virgen De La Asuncion" or "La Quincena". Carnaval is typically an enjoyable time, with great weather. There are lots of activities and events during the whole week, day and night. "Carnaval" has concerts, also known as "palenque", Bullfighting as well as parades and "terrazas" in the plaza with Bandas and Mariachi. The Fiestas in August include singing the mariachi, Caxcan indians dance and a tower with fireworks on. When the fireworks are done the bells from the church starting ringing, as the Fiesta are also religious.People from United States (mostly from California and other western states) go there to visit family during the parties.