Aguascalientes

An emigration of Spaniards seated in the zone of Aguascalientes faced in its beginnings an inhospitable atmosphere given the geography of the place: semidry and barren climate in valleys, with trees of huizache and mezquite; nopales, teasel, sotol, duraznillo and palm.

And while wolves, coyotes, foxes, hares, quails and owls occupied those lands, in the mountains of Sierra Fría or Sierra del Laurel, deers, pumas and wild boars rounded among pines, holm oakes and cedars. Also, the proximity of those colonizers with chichimeca communities caused many years of sacking and confrontation, suffering assaults and robbery of harvests or cattle due to the indigenous hostility towards those Europeans.

The foundation of Aguascalientes obeyed to a necessity of the viceroyalty of New Galicia, so much that colinizers, harvests and cattle were safe from the hostilities of chichimecas or guachichiles. In addition the New Spain had the high-priority to maintain in order a route that communicated with the cities of Guadalajara or Zacatecas... and with the mines.

Aguascalientes was founded the 22 of October of 1575 like Villa of the Ascención, where a called fort Aguascalientes was located, by the captain Juan De Montoro Rodriguez and other people that came from Santa Maria de los Lagos, one of the first localities established in the zone. And today Aguascalientes greatly celebrates its 430th anniversary! The development of Aguascalientes always was joined with the wealth of Zacatecas, being initially a refuelling stop in the long journeys from Zacatecas to Mexico City or Guadalajara.