Cocula, Jalisco

Cocula on the map of Jalisco

Cocula is a city in the state of Jalisco in Mexico. It is located 56 km southwest of Guadalajara, on the National Road 80 in 1336 meters altitude. At the census in 2010 14.548 inhabitants were counted. Cocula is the administrative seat and largest town of the homonymous municipality Cocula.

Economy

Cocula is a growing area for sugar cane, corn, agave, sorghum, chickpeas, alfalfa and mangoes. It particularly pigs, poultry, goats and cattle are kept.

History

Cocula was originally Cocollán ( Cocolán ), which could be translated as wave space. Around the 12th century, some families of living in the Kingdom of Tonala coca tribe looked so exposed to significant hostility that they had to flee. A group led by Huehuetztlatzin Cocollán founded in what is now Acatlán de Juárez.

Cocollán was destroyed at the end of the 16th century. The population tried a few kilometers to settle in the area of ​​Tlajomulco, but was driven by the local tribes again. Finally, they settled the altitudes of a mountain near Cocollán and remained there until the arrival of the Spaniards.

In 1520 Cocollán was an independent city under the rule of Chief Citlali ( dt: The Star). Neighboring places like Acatlan, Villa Corona, Tizapanito, Xilotepetque and Tecolotlan were Cocollán tribute. 1521 captured the Spanish army under Alonso de Ávalos Cocollán and the surrounding cities and joined them together with the province Ávalos. Some years later - probably in 1532 - persuaded Franciscans, the indigenous population to resettle in a nearby valley, the place still is today. Today there are still remnants of the old city, which is called Cocula Vieja (Old Cocula ).

Culture

Cocula is also known as La Cuna del Mariachi called ( the cradle of Mariachi ), as it is believed that this kind of music in the 19th century originated here. Many of the most famous Mariachigruppen come from Cocula and environment.