Queréndaro

Queréndarois amunicipalityin theMexican stateofMichoacán.The word Queréndaro is ofChichimecaorigin and means "place of rocks", from the great rock in the municipality known as "La Peña Rajada". It contains a cave with paintings that date from the pre-Hispanic era.

It is a township and municipality dedicated to agriculture, fishing, cattle breeding and bread making. The municipality produces corn, wheat,sorghum,various species ofchili pepper,beans, barley,alfalfa,andchickpeas,among others. It is recognized regionally for its Feria del Chile (Feast of the Chili Pepper), which is the main celebration of the municipality, celebrating the founding of the town.

Queréndaro is composed of other small towns or communities, including Pueblo Viejo and Rio de Parras, the two larger communities also referred to astenencias.The other communities include El Castillo, Milpillas, San Miguel Las Cuevas, El Rincon de Zetina, San Jose De La Cumbre, La Estancia, San Antonio Tiradores, each having a population from 250 to 1,000 individuals. Other smaller towns like Ojo de Agua Grande, Colonia Eusebio Luna (El Zocalo), El Panteon de las Agujas, El Nopal, Ojo de Agua Chico (Ojo de Agua Chiquito), Jauja, and Dolores have between 10 and 249 inhabitants. Numerous other small towns have fewer than 100 persons. The primary occupations are agriculture, fishing, cattle, pig, horse, and sheep raising.

History

Queréndaro was founded in the time of theTarascan state.During the colonial era, it was occupied byJesuits,who used it to support and maintain their order in the area. The land turned out to be suitable for farming, and, in addition, it was used as a rest area on the road betweenMoreliaand Mexico City. A nearby landholding named Otzumatlán legally became part ofZinapécuaroin 1831, became a municipality in 1921, and nowadays goes by the name Queréndaro.

Geography

Queréndaro is located in northern Michoacán at the coordinates 19º48 'north latitude and 100º53' west longitude, at a height of 1,840 meters above sea level. It borders the municipalities ofZinapécuaroto the east,Ciudad Hidalgoto the south, andIndaparapeoandAlvaro Obregónto the west. Its distance to the state capitalMoreliais 35 km.

Land area

Queréndaro's surface area is 234.43 km²and represents 0.39 percent of the state's total.

Weather

The climate of Queréndaro is temperate, with a rainy summer. It has an annual rainfall of 1165 millimeters, and temperatures range from 4.9 to 37.0°C.

Flora and fauna

Queréndaro's flora is formed by mixed forest with pine andailetrees, forest ofconiferswithoyameltree and pine, and prairies withnopal,cactus, tall grasses, huizache and diverse scrub. Its fauna consists ofarmadillos,coyote, hare, raccoon, opossum, skunk, hen of mount,mourning dove,duck, white fish, frogs and other species of birds and small fishes native to the lake, mountains rivers, creeks and ponds.

Tourism snd sport

Queréndaro has a spa (El Pedregal) named for the abundance of stones where it is located. There are also 2 soccer fields, 5 basketball courts, and a sports complex with an athletics track.^{[citation needed]}

Culture

Festivities and celebrations

March April – Holy Week, with staging of thePassion of Christ
April 10 – Celebration in honor of Jesus, Lord of Love.
May 15 – Celebration in honor ofSt. Isidore the Farmer.
August – Feast of the Chili Pepper (Second Week).
August 15 – Celebration in honor of the Virgin of the Assumption, who is the patron of the town, with music and fireworks.
September 15 and 16 – Celebration of the national holidays.
November 2 – Day of the Dead
December 12 – Celebration of theVirgin of Guadalupe,with dances, music, popular dances and fireworks.

Sources

Romero Flores, Jesús (1974).Nomenclatura Geográfica de Michoacán.Morelia, Mich., Investigaciones Lingüísticas. p. 52.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Romero Flores, Jesús (1975).Michoacanos Distinguidos.Morelia, Mich., Cuadernos de Cultura Popular. p. 43.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Carreño, Gloria (1989).El Pueblo que se Negó a Morir.México, D.F., Editorial, S.A. p. 121.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Tavera Alfaro, Javier; Martínez de Lejarza J.J. (1974).Análisis Estadístico de la Provincia de Michoacán.
Secretaría de Gobernación, Gobierno del Estado de Michoacán, Centro Nacional de Desarrollo Municipal, Centro Estatal de Estudios Municipales.Los Municipios de Michoacán.p. 532.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1990).Anuario Estadístico del Estado de Michoacán.Aguascalientes, Méx. p. 162.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1994).Anuario Estadístico del Estado de Michoacán.Aguascalientes, Méx. p. 393.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1996).Anuario Estadístico del Estado de Michoacán.Aguascalientes, Méx. p. 434.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1995).Resultados Definitivos Tabulados Básicos.Aguascalientes, Méx.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1983).X Censo de Población y Vivienda 1980 (Cartografía Geoestadística del Estado de Michoacán).Vol. I. México. p. 171.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1985).Síntesis Geográfica del Estado de Michoacán.Iztacalco, México, D.F. p. 315.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (1995).Resultados Definitivos Cálculos Básicos.
Dirección General de Inspección Fiscal.Estudio Histórico, Económico y Fiscal.Vol. Tomo I. Michoacán. p. 623.
UNAM (1979).Atlas Geográfico del Estado de Michoacán.p. 85.
Secretaría de Gobernación, Centro Nacional de Desarrollo Municipal (1993).Gobierno y Administración Municipal en México.p. 569.
Gobierno del Estado de Michoacán (1993).El Rumbo es Michoacán.p. 155.
Información proporcionada por cada uno de los H. Ayuntamientos del Estado de Michoacán, 1996-1998.