Jocotepec () is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 324.3 km2. As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 37,972.
History Perhaps as early as 100 BC, nomadic bands of people passed through the Lake Chapala Valley. Some moved on, others settled on the shore. Jocotepec, once Xuxutepeque, a small fishing village at the western end of the Lake, became a permanent home for the Nahua people in 1361. They built a temple to their god, Iztlacateotl, and practiced human sacrifice. The village became a trading and ceremonial site for the surrounding mountain area.
"Xuxutepeque was the name given Jocotepec by its first Nahua settlers. (The last of the nomadic bands to settle in this area were the Purépecha.) It became a permanent home for the Nahuas in 1361. Xuxutepeque later became "Xilotepec", meaning "Hill of ear of Corn". Finally, with the arrival of the Spaniards, led by Jacob Tepec, the settlement's name became "Jocotepec" and was interpreted as meaning "Hill of Guavas". (Guavas are a small bitter-sweet tasting fruit.) The meaning of Jocotepec is thus derived: Xoco-tepe-K, meaning Xoco (fruit); Tepetl (hill); and K (place)."June Nay Summers, Villages in the Sun, pp. 63,64.
In 1520, Captain Alonzo de Avalos was given this area as an encomienda (land grant). Chief Xitomatl, who then governed the area between Chapala and Jocotepec, submitted his territory to Spanish rule without a battle. In 1529, Jocotepec was formally founded, according to a title of property issued by Hernán Cortés, a copy of which can be found today in Jocotepec records.
Franciscan fathers then proceeded with conversion of the natives. Indigenous people's temples were destroyed and Catholic church foundations laid in their ruins. At that time, Jocotepec acquired its two religious protectors - Nuestro Señor del Monte and Nuestro Señor del Guaje.
The municipality of Jocotepec has a large variety of trees and plants, mostly located inside garden walls. The main plaza is surrounded by greenery, making it very inviting.
Vegetation is composed mainly of jacaranda, galeana, hule, pine, roble, cazuarina, mesquite, guamuchil, chaparrale, and encino. Fruit trees such as mango, avocado, lime, lemon and orange are also abundant.
In North Jocotepec, acacia, huizache and palo-bobos predominate, while in the south (lake) side, there are a few sauce trees and sabinos. Driscoll's grows strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries for export."Growing Community, Together," Driscoll's, 2026. Retrieved Feb 14, 2026.Martin, Philip and Agustín Escobar Latapí. "Jocotepec Berry Field Trip," Wilson Center, July 26, 2018. Retrieved Feb 14, 2026. Fields of corn and chayote are very common in this area.
Products of Jocotepec are mainly wool carpets in typical weaves and many colors, and the traditional serapes of this village. Another important industry is the fabrication of tiles, ready-made or made to the client's design. Wood and forged iron furniture can also be made to order. A large sweater factory is expected to soon start exporting. Recently, painting and music have been given a boost by local organizations promoting cultural events.
Jocotepec has two religious protectors: Nuestro Señor del Monte and Nuestro Señor del Guaje. A Fiesta Patronal (a religious celebration of these protectors) is held early in January. It lasts two weeks, and honors the first patron, the Lord of the Mountain, with daily masses, dances, cockfights, bullfights, parades and fireworks. Another fiesta, later in the year, honors Nuestro Señor del Guaje, but on a smaller scale.
The town has several sport recreation centers, two banks, and two gas stations.
Government Municipal presidents Term Municipal president Political partyNotes1932 Julián Ibarra PNR 1933 José María Aldrete PNR 1933 Vicente Urzúa Gutiérrez PNR 1934 Vicente Torres Olmedo PNR 1934 Ramón Castillo PNR 1935 Ignacio Aldana Cuevas PNR 1936 José Vergara Olmedo PNR 1937 ?? PNR 1938 ?? PRM 1939Alberto Balcázar Chavoya PRM 1940 Antonio Ramírez Ochoa PRM 1941 Irineo Álvarez Bizarro PRM 1942 Alberto Balcázar Chavoya PRM 1943-1944 Porfirio Encarnación PRM 1945-1946 Cirilo Cuevas Ornelas PRM 1946 Porfirio Mena PRI 1947 José Olmedo Valencia PRI 1948 Francisco Jara Ramírez PRI 1949 Donaciano Olmedo Núñez PRI 1949-1952 Vicente Torres Olmedo PRI 1953-1954 Jesús Navarro Chacón PRI 1955 Catarino Olmedo Pérez PRI 01/01/1956-31/12/1958 Andrés Vergara Olmedo PRI 01/01/1959-31/12/1961 Mario González Barba PRI 01/01/1962-1963 Juan José Cuevas PRI 1963-31/12/1964 J. Jesús Rodríguez S. PRI 01/01/1965-31/12/1967 Alberto García Ibarra PRI 01/01/1968-31/12/1970 Arnulfo Vergara Ramírez PRI 01/01/1971-31/12/1973 Jorge Ibarra Gálvez PRI 01/01/1974-31/12/1976 José Reyes Prado PRI 01/01/1977-31/12/1979 Carlos Rodríguez Mendoza PRI 01/01/1980-31/12/1982 Salvador Huerta Chacón PRI 01/01/1983-31/12/1985 María Guadalupe Urzúa Flores PRI 01/01/1986-31/12/1988 Genaro Navarro Hoyos PRI 01/01/1989-1992 Miguel Ibarra Ramírez PRI 1992-1995 César Ramón López Jara PRI 1995-31/12/1997 Lorenzo Camarena Martínez PAN 01/01/1998-31/12/2000 José Olmedo Alonzo PAN 01/01/2001-31/12/2003 Miguel Cuevas Jara PRI 01/01/2004-31/12/2006J. Jesús Palos Vaca PVEM 01/01/2007-31/12/2009Felipe de Jesús Rangel Vargas PAN 01/01/2010-30/09/2012 Mario Guadalupe Chávez Morales PAN 01/10/2012-30/09/2015 John Francis O'Shea Cuevas PRI PVEM Coalition "Compromise for Jalisco"01/10/2015-30/09/2018 Héctor Manuel Haro Pérez MC 15/10/2018-14/12/2020 José Miguel Gómez López PAN PRD MC Coalition "For Jocotepec to the Front". He applied for a temporary leave, because of ill health, COVID-1915/12/2020-2021 Juan José Ramírez Campos PAN PRD MC Coalition "For Jocotepec to the Front". Acting municipal president01/10/2021-30/09/2024 José Miguel Gómez López MC He was reelected on 06/06/2021
Notable people María Guadalupe Urzúa Flores (1912 – 2004), Municipal President of Jocotepec, from 1983 to 1985.
References
External links Fotos of Jocotepec