Ameca, Jalisco
| Ameca | ||
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| Municipality and City | ||
View of the main plaza of Ameca.
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 Location of the municipality in Jalisco |
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 Ameca
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| Coordinates: 20°33′N 104°2′W / 20.550°N 104.033°WCoordinates: 20°33′N 104°2′W / 20.550°N 104.033°W | ||
| Country |
 Mexico
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| State | Jalisco | |
| Settled | 1325 | |
| Established | 1522 | |
| Incorporated | April 22, 1833 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Municipality and City | |
| • Municipal President | Salvador Sigala Quintero | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 685.73 km2 (264.76 sq mi) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 57,340 | |
| • City | 36,156 | |
| • Demonym | Amequense | |
Ameca (Nahuatl: Amecatl "string of water") is a city and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 685.73 km². The city is bisected by the Ameca River which drains to the Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta. It is also approximately 83 km (approximately 50 miles) from the state capital and one of Mexico's largest commercial centers, Guadalajara.
The city is also the seat and largest city of the federal sub-division Región Valles, which compromises the municipalities situated on the central valleys of Jalisco.
As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 57,340, and the city had a population of 36,156, making it the 15th largest city of Jalisco in terms of population.
In the early 16th century Ameca was the center of the small kingdom of Ameca. This state was conquered by the Spanish in 1524. It was part of the alcaldia mayor of Autlan, New Spain during the Spanish colonial period.
The first of the conquerors who arrived in Ameca was the Spanish soldier Juan de Anesta in 1522, who arrived barefoot, alone and with his sword in hand. The natives received him alone because they thought he was the son of the sun, as their ancestors had predicted who would come to conquer and that all would be subject to him and pay tribute.
Juan de Anesta had reached Anesta Olid Colima; lived in Ameca 4 or 5 years, after which it was returned to Colima encomendero of Ameca.
In 1529, Fray Antonio de Cuellar with other friars and Spanish built an adobe chapel, the royal house, the square, jail, an inn and a few houses in what is now the city center.
In 1541, the Spanish started catechizing the natives by Fray Antonio de Cuellar, who died on August 12 of that year when he left Ameca, right in the great revolt against the Spanish that was unleashed by that time. He was attacked in the mountains of Etzatlán and killed by arrow wounds. In 1549, the town of Ameca was elevated to the status of city hall and fell within the territory of New Spain.
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Wikipedia