Magdalena Tequisistlán


Magdalena Tequisistlán is a town and municipality in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, located southeast of Mexico City.
It is part of the Tehuantepec District in the west of the Istmo Region.
The town was founded in 1410 under the present name. In the Chontal language it was known as "Maadú".
Older spelling variations include Tequixistlán.

History

The Tequistlatec language, now extinct, used to be spoken in Tequisistlán.

Environment

The municipality covers an area of 599.64 km2 at an altitude of 190 meters above sea level.
The climate is warm sub humid, with summer rains.
Flora include chepil, epazote, purslane, pine, oak, tepehuaje, pochote, and coconut.
Wild fauna include deer, skunk, opossum, coyote, armadillo, and wild boar.

People

As of 2005, the municipality had 1,524 households with a total population of 6,014 of whom 232 who spoke an indigenous language.
Some speak the highland version of Oaxacan Chontal.
The people grow corn, coffee and vegetables for personal consumption.
About 30% of the population is engaged in raising cattle.
Hunting and fishing are practiced for personal consumption.
There are large deposits of marble that are exploited by local cooperatives, employing 40% of the economically active population. Mezcal is made also to a lesser extent.
The town was the location of the murder of a police officer by an angry mob and the focus of a comic art piece by Steven Lasch called "Angry Mexico".

Communities

As municipal seat, Magdalena Tequisistlán has governing jurisdiction over the following communities: