Ciudad Ayala, Morelos, Mexico

🇲🇽 Ciudad Ayala is a city in the east-central part of the Mexican state of Morelos. It stands at a mean height of 1,220 m (4,000 ft) above sea level. The city is named for Coronel Francisco Ayala (1760-1812) who fought with José María Morelos during the 1812 Siege of Cuautla. The town's previous name was Mapachtlan. Ayala became a municipality on April 17, 1869.

The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of Ayala. The municipality includes towns San Pedro Apatlaco, Anenecuilco, and Tenextepango, which are all larger than Ciudad Ayala. The city was previously known as San Francisco Mapachtlan but was renamed in 1868 to honor Francisco Ayala (1760–1812), who was the first leader in the modern state of Morelos to join the Cry of Dolores in 1810.

The town of Anenecuilco, birthplace of Emiliano Zapata, is within this municipality; as is the Hacienda de San Juan, near the town of Chinameca, where he was betrayed and assassinated. Ayala itself is best known for giving the name to Emiliano Zapata's manifesto: the Plan of Ayala.

History Prehispanic ruins at Olintepec date back to 1500 BCE, where they reached their peak between 1200 and 1610 CE. The people of Olintepec were Tlahuicas. Other ruins have been found at Tlayecac.

In 1603 Don Nicolas Abad built the hacienda of San Francisco Mapachtlan in 1603. Twelve years later this was elevated to a congregación. In 1750, supported by Dominican friars, the people built their own church, called San José de Mapachtlan. This was dependent upon Cuautla, Morelos, (formally called Cuautla de Ampilas) and in 1834 it became a pueblo. In 1868 it became a municipalidad of the State of Mexico, district of Cuernavaca, and changed its name to Villa de Ayala in honor of Francisco Ayala, a leader of the Mexican War of Independence. Ayala became a Centro de Poblacion (Population Center) on March 17, 1976.

Location The municipality of Ayala is located in the central part of the state, between 18°46'North and 98°59'West, at an altitude of 1,220 meters (4,000 ft.) above sea level. To the north are the municipalities of Yautepec, Cuautla. and Yecapixtla, to the south Tepalcingo and Tlaquiltenango; to the east Temoac, Jantetelco, and Jonacatepec; while to the west are Tlaltizapán and Yautepec. It is approximately 60 km from Cuernavaca. and 117 km (73 miles) south of Mexico City.

Economy The Cuautla Industrial Park, located in Ayala, covers 130 ha (320 acres) and is the second largest in Morelos. Most of the companies are related to the automotive industry. The largest employers are Saint-Gobainl, (glass), Sekurit (windshields), and Continental Automotive Temic (industrial parts and transmissions).

Agriculture is the dominant occupation. Crops include sugar cane, corn, sorghum, rice, onions, zucchini, and gladiolas. Cattle, sheep, horses, and poultry are raised. Tourism is also important.

Tourist attractions The archaeological ruins of Olintepec in Ciudad Ayala date from 1500 BCE to 1610 CE, although its peak was from 1200 to 1610 CE. The people paid tribute to Huaxtepec (Oaxtepec), the Mexicas, and the Texcocanos. Tlayecac has Prehispanic paintings and a small pyramid. The novel Tiro al vuelo by Alejandro Volnie is set in the village. The 1962 movie Pueblito, directed by Emilio Fernández was filmed there.

There are ex-haciendas in Tenextepango and Coahuixtla as well as Chinameca. General Emiliano Zapata and three of his men were assassinated in Chinameca on April 10, 1919, and the hacienda has been transformed into the National Museum of Agrarian Reform Movement. There is also a large statue of Zapata on the property.

Other attractions in Ayala include the parish church of San José, whose feast is March 15, and the kiosk. Zapata was born in Anencuilco on August 8, 1879, and his boyhood home is now a museum. San Miguel Arcangel is venerated at the parish church on September 29. There is a statue of Zapata in the town square.

There is an old parish church dedicated to Santiago Apostol in Tenextepango. His feast is July 25. There are two small water parks,El Axocoche or El Axochochetl, located in Rafael Merino neighborhood, which is ejidal and El Colobri (the hummingbird) which is privately owned. Both have large parking lots and allow camping.