Costa Chica of Guerrero - History

History

Archeological excavation in the region has been spotty with only preliminary evaluation starting from the 1930s, so information on the pre Hispanic history of this area is limited. Sites have been identified in the municipalities of Azoyú, Juchitán, Marquelia, Ometepec, San Luis Acatlán and Tecoanapa. Highland sites include Piedra Labrada, Los Zapotales, La Mira, Arcelia del Progreso and Yoloxóchitl all above 650 meters above sea level. Hill sites include Capulín Chocolate, El Pericón, Tecuantepec, El Limón, Horcasitas, Chinantla, San Luis Acatlán and Zoyatlán. Those by the ocean are generally near the mouths of rivers and include Las Arenillas and El Alto. Horcasitas and San Luis Acatlán are notable because they are built on natural elevations to avoid seasonal flooding from the San Luis River. Arcelia del Progreso, Marquelia and Yoloxóchitl show Olmec influence. Much of the region was part of a Mixtec province called Ayacatla, which had its capital in Igualapa. In addition to the four found today, there were other indigenous groups, such as the Yopenahuatlecs in what is now Marquelia, but they disappeared over the colonial period at the indigenous population shrank.

During the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, Pedro de Alvarado conquered the area in 1522, founding the town of Acatlán the same year. In 1531, a Tlapanec uprising forced most of the residents to flee and during the rest of the 16th century much of the indigenous population disappeared due to disease, war and overwork. In Xochistlahuaca there were about 20,000 indigenous in 1522 but by 1582, there were only 200.

The area became important starting in the 16th century for ranching, exporting meat, hides and wool. Soon after, the area became inhabited by Africans and Afro-Mexicans. During the colonial period, the Spanish brought about 20 million African slaves to Mexico over three centuries. Most landed in Veracruz. However, escaped slaves began to make their way to the then isolated Costa Chica region where they found refuge. Spanish landholders gave them protection in return for cheap labor, mostly tending cattle and curing leather. Over time, there was significant interracial mixing among Europeans, indigenous and Africans. While Catholicism was required by authorities, in smaller communities such as San Nicolas and Colorado, magical practices have survived to cure illness and resolve problems. Xochistlahuaca became an administrative and religious center in 1563, which the way it was during the height of the Mixtecs. It has remained an important religious center to this day.

In 1813, José María Morelos y Pavón came through the region, entering from Oaxaca to take the area during the Mexican War of Independence on his way to Acapulco. At the end of the war, the region became part of the Capitanía General del Sur, with Vicente Guerrero as its head. In 1824, the Ometepec area was part of the state of Puebla .

In 1878, the Casa Miller was founded in Cuajinicuilapa which transformed the economy of the area. The enterprise consisted of a soap factory, the raising of cattle and the growing of cotton, owing about 125,000 hectares. Products were shipped from Tecoanapa to market.

Land redistribution in ejidos occurred in the 1930s. During the colonial period, the Amuzgos and other indigenous had their land taken from them and were forced to pay rent where they lived. They began to fight to take the land back in 1920, which resulted in the establishment of an Amuzgo ejido in 1933. This ejido was then recognized as the municipality of Xochistlahuaca in 1934.

Highway 200, built through the region in the early 1960s, made this area’s economy more commercial. It also brought in new residents and the population grew. Population growth precipitated the need to subdivide areas into new municipalities. Marquelia was made a municipality in 2002 and Juchitán became one in 2004.

The last major earthquake in the region occurred on 20 March 2012, and was 7.4 on the Richter scale. It was centered near Ometepec and was the strongest since the 1985 quake. It was preceded by at least 16 quakes of over 5.0 in the same spring. Municipalities in the region that suffered damage include Ometepec, Xochistlahuaca, Copala, Cruz Grande and Marquelia. Most of the serious damage from this quake occurred in the Costa Chica region, with over 900 homes made inhabitable.

From the late 20th century to the present, crime has been a problem for the region, including a growing problem with drug trafficking despite the increased presence of military and federal police. Most municipalities do not have the resources to police the very rural, mostly indigenous areas, which has led to the creation of various citizen community patrols and even justice systems, which mostly mete out community service as punishment. Most of these have been legally recognized by local authorities.

Dengue and rotovirus are relatively common health problems in the region as in the rest of the state.