Zimapán

Zimapán (Otomi: Mabo̱za) is a town and one of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo, in central-eastern Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 860.9 km² (332.4 sq mi).

Zimapán
Municipality and town
Zimapán Municipality
Seal
Motto:  la ciudad mágica
Zimapán Location in Mexico Show map of Hidalgo Zimapán Zimapán (Mexico) Show map of Mexico
Coordinates: 20°44′N 99°23′W
Country	Mexico
State	Hidalgo
Municipal seat	Zimapan
Government
• Type	PAN-PRD
• Mayor	Alan Rivera Villanueva (2020-2024)
Area
• Total	860.9 km2 (332.4 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	39,927
Time zone	UTC-06:00
Postal code	42330[1]
Area code	754[2]

The name Zimapán derives from the Nahuatl words "cimatl", meaning "cimate" (a root used to ferment pulque) and "pan", meaning "inside or over"; which translates to "over the cimate" or "in the cimate".^[3][4]

As of 2020, the municipality had a total population of 39,927.^[5] Zimapán has a regional hospital and seven health centers. It also has 32 Casas de Salud, or health houses.^[6]

Los Mármoles National Park is located in the municipality, northeast of the town in the Sierra Madre Oriental.

History

The land was place for Otomi and Quinamí indigenous people, which later received influence from Olmecs and Nahuas.^[4] In 1522, after the Conquista, Spanish colonalists founded the city of Zimapán. Augustinian friars built the first church of Zimapán in the 18th century and later they built another, which building ended in 1822.^[6]

Vanadium was discovered by first time here in 1801 by Andrés Manuel del Río.^[7] During the Mexican Revolution, General Otilio Villegas won a battle for the "Carrancistas" in Zimapán.^[6]

The city was declared a "Pueblo Mágico" in 2018.^[7]