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Ocotlán (Jalisco)

Ocotlán
Municipality and city
Coat of arms of Ocotlán
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality in Jalisco
Location of the municipality in Jalisco
Ocotlán is located in Mexico
Ocotlán
Ocotlán
Location in Mexico
Coordinates: 20°17′20″N 102°50′20″W / 20.28889°N 102.83889°W / 20.28889; -102.83889
Country  Mexico
State Jalisco
Area
 • Total 247.7 km2 (95.6 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 • Total 89,340
Time zone Central Standard Time (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) Central Daylight Time (UTC-5)

Ocotlán is a city and municipality in Jalisco, Mexico. Its industry includes furniture production.

Ocotlán means "near the pines" or "place of the ocote (pines)". Ocote is from Nahuatl ocōtl, Pinus montezumae, a species of pine.

Ocotlán was founded in 1530. Two main cathedrals line the plaza. One is the church named La Purisima ("The Most Pure"), which is one of the oldest buildings in Jalisco. The altar is dipped in gold. The other cathedral, more recent than La Purisima, was built in the late 1800s and dedicated to Nuestro Señor de Misericordia (Our Merciful Lord), which honors a vision of Christ seen after an extremely destructive earthquake.

The current municipal president is Lic. Absalón García Ochoa, from the National Action Party.

The town gained international attention after it was found out that Mexican federal police executed at least 22 of 42 accused gang members shot dead on a drug cartel ranch in 2015 and then moved bodies to create the appearance of a gun battle, that was faked.

On October 2, 1847, a large and powerful earthquake destroyed most of the city, including the original church. The following day, a Sunday, when the faithful were attending a Mass outside of the destroyed church, a vision of the crucifix was claimed to have been seen. It is said that they say the vision of Christ, which is why the people of Ocotlan celebrate this day with high regards. It is a recognized event, not to be forgotten. It has become a tradition passed from generation to generation, with celebrations taking place in Ocotlán and in different parts of the US, by those who have migrated to the US that are from Ocotlán, which continue the tradition of celebrating this holy and spectacular event.

Ocotlán borders Poncitlán and Tototlán and is only 50 min east-southeast from the city of Guadalajara. It is on the northeast end of Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest lake. As of the 2005/census, the city had a population of 81,165. The municipality of Ocotlán, which has an area of 247.7 km² (95.64 sq mi), had a population of 89,340. The proper gentilic for the inhabitants is Ocotlense. The altitude of the city is 5020 ft, and the time zone is 6 h behind UTC.


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