Janos, Chihuahua


Janos is a town located in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. It serves as the municipal seat of government for the surrounding Janos Municipality of the same name. As of 2010, the town of Janos had a population of 2,738.

History

Janos was founded around 1580 by Franciscan missionaries. It was subject to raids by Apache and Jumano Indians, and in 1680 the mission was completely destroyed in such a raid. As a result, in 1686 the Spanish governor ordered Captain Juan Fernández de la Fuente to send troops to Janos to establish a presidio. It was named Presidio de San Felipe y Santiago de Janos and in 1717 resettlement efforts resulted in the town being re-established with Janos and Jocomes Indians. This settlement offer was also open to Apache, but few took advantage of it. Over the next several years, the Spanish made a number of punitive raids against local Apache groups, both from the Janos Presidio and others in the area. When Hugo Oconor assumed command of the military in Chihuahua in 1772, he instituted large scale campaigns against the Apache. In 1789 Chief Squielnoctero and his family surrendered at Janos and with the peace agreement with Ojos Colorados in 1790, the area became relatively peaceful, the Apache having been seriously weakened by war and disease.

Climate

Janos has a semi-arid climate. Winters are cool and sunny with a January average of and temperatures regularly fall below freezing. Occasionally, the city can see 2 or 3 snowfalls per year. Summers are warm with June being the warmest month with an average of. Most of the precipitation falls during this time of the year, during the monsoon season. The highest recorded temperature was on August 21, 1979 and the lowest recorded temperature was on December 9, 1978.