Huitzilac


Huitzilac is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos. It stands at and at an altitude of 2,561 m. above sea level.
The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. With a 2010 census population of 4,568 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city in the municipality, after the town of Tres Marias.
The municipality reported 19,231 inhabitants in the 2015 census.
The name is a Spanish-language adaptation of a Nahuatl toponym meaning "in the water of the humming-birds".

The municipality

The municipality is one of 17 municipalities that border Mexico City. It borders the capital city's southside boroughs of Milpa Alta and Tlalpan. Ulises Pardo Bastida of Juntos Haremos Historia was elected Presidente Municipal in the election of July 1, 2018.

Towns and villages

The largest localities are:
Name2010 Census Population
Tres Marías6,160
Huitzilac4,568
Coajomulco2,089
Real Montecassino364
Fraccionamiento Sierra Encantada349
Total Municipality17,340

History

During the Prehispanic era, Huitziclac was a part of the domain of Cuahanahuac. After the Conquest, it became a part of the Marquesado del Valle de Oaxaca. The town was an important stagecoach stop on the route from Mexico City to Cuernavaca, but this changed with the construction of the railroad in 1897.
During the Revolution, General Genovevo de la O fought against the government. Huitizlac was burned in April 1912, and de la O was able to mobilize 4,000 men plus artillery to join in the fight to liberate Cuernavaca. Thanks to the popularity of the Ejercicio Libertador del Sur in this region, Huitizalc and Santa María Ahuacatitlán were able to forget their old rivalries.
Iron crosses have been erected at Km 47 of the federal Mexico City-Cuernavaca highway to commemorate Francisco R. Serrano and his associates, Daniel and Miguel A. Peralta, Carlos Ariza, Carlos Vidal, Rafael Martínez de Escobar, Cecilio González, Enrique Monteverde, Alonso Capetillo Robles, Augusto Peña, Antonio Jáuregui, José Valle Arce, Octavio Almada, and Ernesto Noriega Méndez. On October 3, 1927, Serrano and his men were assassinated on the orders of PresidentAlvaro Obregon. Martín Luis Guzman describes the incident in his novel, La sombra del caudillo.
On June 18, 2019, twelve Federal Police agents were sentenced to 34 years of prison for the August 24, 2012 murder of two CIA agents in Tres Marias.
As of May 4, 2020, there were 505 infections and 59 deaths in the state of Morelos and four confirmed infections from the COVID-19 pandemic in Huitzilac. Schools and many businesses were closed from mid March until June 1. On June 2, Huitzilac reported eleven confirmed cases and three deaths from the virus; the reopening of the state was pushed back until at least June 13. Toxic medical waste was found at Km 49 of the Mexican Federal Highway 95D near the monument to Josė María Morelos y Pavón in Tres Marias; four toll collectors who work for Federal Roads and Bridges and Related Services, in Morelos have died from the coronavirus.

Tourist Attractions

The most important festival in Huitzilac is celebrated on March 19, in honor of the town's patron saint, San Jose. An image of St. Joseph disappeared from the church during the Mexican Revolution and was recovered on September 1, 1921, so there is a festival to remember this event. There are also celebrations during Holy Week and in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. The Holy Trinity is celebrated in Fierro del Toro on January 1. San Buen Aventura is celebrated on July 15 in Coajomulco. St. Joseph is also honored in Tres Marias on March 19.

Traditions

and cured fruit drinks are prepared in the area. Local craftsmen make wooden furniture. Chinelos dance at local festivals.

Physical Geography

Huitzilac has an area of 190 km2, which represents 3.84% of the territory in the state. The average altitude is 2,500 m above sea level.

Climate

The municipality has a subtropical humid climate with a well-defined winter. The average annual temperature is 12°C and the average annual precipitation is 1,358 mm.

Terrain

There are many mountain peaks in the area, 2,250 or more meters above sea level.
The Lakes of Zempoala and several intermittent streams.

Soil

;Land use:
;Land distribution:
The flora consists mostly of oak and pine forests. The fauna includes white-tail deer, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, volcano rats, mountain lions, quail, mountain hens, woodpeckers, blue magpies, goldfinches, rattlesnakes, garter snakes, frogs, and lizards. Trout live in the streams.