Jantetelco, officially Jantetelco de Matamoros, is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos.
The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. The municipality reported 17,238 inhabitants in the year 2015 census.
The name Jantetelco comes from Nahuatl words meaning "hill of adobe buildings" and should be spelled Xamtetelko." Remains of adobe foundations have been found at the entrance to the town. A 59 cm high goddess of corn, Xochiketzal, and a circular 15 cm by 25 cm garland and the sign for Xóchitl ("flower") have been found behind the church. Matamoros refers to Padre Mariano Matamoros, hero of the Mexican War of Independence.
History
During the prehispanic era, the area was part of Huaxtepec (Oaxtepec), and during the colonial era, it belonged to Cuautla de Amilpas. The village priest in 1811 was Mariano Matamoros, who joined José María Morelos in Izucar and during the Siege of Cuautla. On October 12, 1874, the town was renamed Jantetelco de Matamoros by Governor Francisco Leyva. In 1885 Matamoros's room was made a museum, called El Dormitorio.
While the September 7, 2017 earthquake caused little significant damage in Morelos, the Axochiapan earthquake twelve days later killed 74 people in Morelos and damaged nearly all the colonialera buildings. In Jantetelco, 281 homes were destroyed and 191 others were damaged.
Juan Felipe Dominguez Robles of Partido Humanista de Morelos (Humanistic Party of Morelos) was elected Presidente Municipal (mayor) in the election of July 1, 2018. On February 23, 2019, opponents of the construction of a thermoelectric plant in Huexca, Yecapixtla burned ballots that were slated to be used in a referendum on the proposed plant.
While the state of Morelos reported 209 cases and 28 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, as of April 27, 2020, no cases were reported in Jantetelco. Schools and many businesses were closed from mid March until June 1. Forty-one cases were reported in the municipality on December 27, 2020. Vaccinations for senior citizens (60+) are scheduled to begin on March 12, 2021.
Fifteen people died in Axochiapan, Jantetelco, and Tepalcingo due to adulterated alcohol on Mother's Day. The state office of DIF sent food and water to vulnerable groups of people in eight municipalities including Jantetelco on May 26.
Communities
Jantetelco is the municipal seat and has a population of 4,645. It is located at 1,430 meters above sea level, 75.3 km from Cuernavaca, and 130.2 km from Mexico City. Its main economic activities are agriculture (sorghum, corn, beans) and ranching (cattle, goats, poultry, and pigs). Principal festivals are June 29, in honor of San Pedro Apóstol and December 13, the uprising of Father Mariano Matamoros. Its main economic activities are agriculture (sorghum, corn, beans) and ranching (cattle, goats, poultry, and pigs). Clay pottery is produced. Santiago Apostle is honored on July 25. The community is Nahuatl in origin. It is mostly an agricultural community (sorghum, corn, beans) and livestock are raised. Tourism to the Chalcatzingo archaeological site and the sale of miniature cuescomates (traditional silos) are also important economic activities. San Mateo Evangelista is honored on September 21. Their main economic activities are agriculture (sugarcane, sorghum, corn) and livestock. The former hacienda of Tenango is a cultural attraction. Santa Ana is honored on July 26.
Flora and Fauana
Vegetation in Jantetelco is mostly low deciduous forest of warm climate: Jacaranda, tabachín, casahuate, ceiba and bougainvillea. Animals include raccoon, badger, skunk, armadillo, hare, common rabbit, coyote, mountain lion, weasel, cacomixtle, opossum, bat, chachalaca, magpie, buzzard, crow, and owl.