Envision red volcanic rock. That rock is tezontle. Tezoyuca’s name comes from it. Tezoyuca means “Where the heart of tezontle is.” The name reflects the area’s orography. Red lava is like human blood.
Tezoyuca is a municipality in the State of Mexico. It covers 10.9 square kilometers. In 2005, Tezoyuca had a population of 25,372. Today, we will uncover some of its captivating history.
Imagine Tezoyuca long ago. It was a lakeside settlement near Texcoco. Two rivers provided water and resources. Animals and plants thrived here. Caves offered shelter. This made Tezoyuca habitable.
Parson places Tezoyuca as an organized society around 300 B.C. This was before Teotihuacan. The Chichimecas arrived in the 13th century. This marked a new era for Tezoyuca.
According to ancient chronicles, Tezoyuca was part of the Acolhua territory. It was likely occupied soon after the Chichimecas arrived. Nopaltzin led them. He was the son of Xólotl.
The first Chichimec capital was Tenayuca. It was founded around 1010. Later, the Chichimecas moved to the Texcoco region. They went to places like Tzinacanoztoc. This is now Campanotitla. They also settled Tetzcutzingo around 1126.
Quinatzin, the fourth Texcocan ruler, built the great city of Texcoco around 1290. Tezoyuca may have been founded when the Acolhua capital arose. It would have had its own location, population and basic political organization.
Techotlalatzin succeeded Quinatzin in the 13th century. He maintained power over surrounding towns. Ixtlilxochitl inherited the Texcocan dynasty. His father assigned him tributary towns including Tezoyocan. This confirms Tezoyuca was organized by 1301. It was part of the Acolhua or Texcocan dominion.
Tezoyuca was near the Papalotla and Teotihuacan rivers. These rivers provided ample water. This allowed for significant agricultural development. The Codex Mendoza mentions Tezoyuca paying tribute to Tenochtitlán.
In 2020, Tezoyuca had 47,044 residents. Women made up 50.6% of the population. Men accounted for 49.4%. The largest age groups were 15 to 19 years old. They were followed by 10 to 14 and 20 to 24 year olds.
About 1,000 residents speak an indigenous language. The most common were Náhuatl, Otomí, and Totonaco. In 2020, the average commute to work was 37.2 minutes. About 70.5% of people traveled less than an hour.
Tezoyuca’s history is rich. Its name reflects its geological origins. From ancient settlements to tributary towns, Tezoyuca has evolved. It continues to thrive in the State of Mexico. As you leave Tezoyuca remember its resilient spirit. Remember its contribution to Mexican history. Carry its story.