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| San Andrés Cholula | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Andrés Cholula |
| Settlement type | Municipality |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Mexico |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Puebla |
| Established title | Founded |
| Established date | 1531 |
| Area total km2 | 63.42 |
| Population total | 122000 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Timezone | Central Standard Time |
| Utc offset | −6 |
San Andrés Cholula is a municipality and urban locality in the metropolitan area of Puebla de Zaragoza, within the state of Puebla, Mexico. The city forms one of two municipalities that share the pre-Hispanic and colonial complex commonly associated with Cholula, and it is noted for its layered Mesoamerican heritage, colonial-era churches, and proximity to major sites such as Great Pyramid of Cholula and Puebla de Zaragoza Cathedral. San Andrés functions as a residential, cultural and commercial component of the Puebla–Tlaxcala metropolitan area, with historical ties to Tlaxcala and the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
San Andrés Cholula occupies territory with archaeological remains dating to the Classic and Postclassic periods associated with the Great Pyramid of Cholula, the Olmec-Xicalanca, and the later influence of the Toltec-Chichimeca and Aztec Empire. During the Late Postclassic the settlement interacted with polities such as Tenochtitlan, Huexotzinco, and Tlaxcala (city), while participating in regional trade routes linking Gulf Coast of Mexico ports and the Valley of Puebla-Tlaxcala. After the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, the area was reorganized under the Viceroyalty of New Spain; Franciscan missionaries and the Order of Saint Augustine established churches and parish structures, producing colonial-era architecture parallel to developments in Puebla de Zaragoza. San Andrés was a focal point during disputes and rebellions in the late colonial period, interacting with figures and events linked to the Mexican War of Independence and later the Reform War and French Intervention in Mexico. Twentieth-century developments connected San Andrés to industrialization trends in Puebla driven by entities like Volkswagen de México and the expansion of the Puebla–Orizaba railway, shaping modern urban growth and municipal boundaries.
San Andrés Cholula lies on the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt near Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanic complexes, with terrain characterized by the ancient pyramid mound and surrounding plains of the Valley of Puebla. The municipality borders San Pedro Cholula, Ocoyucan, Santa Isabel Cholula, and the city of Puebla de Zaragoza, connecting ecological zones including páramo-influenced highland areas and loam soils typical of the Rio Atoyac watershed. Climatic conditions are temperate subtropical highland, influenced by elevation near 2,170 meters above sea level; patterns relate to regional phenomena such as the North American Monsoon and orographic precipitation from the Sierra Nevada (Mexico). According to recent census data administered by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía the municipality exhibits urban population growth driven by in-migration from surrounding rural communities and internal migration related to employment in the metropolitan area, with demographic profiles reflecting indigenous heritage tied to Nahuas communities and mestizo populations.
Municipal governance follows legal frameworks established under the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States and the laws of Puebla, with an alcalde and municipal council responsible for local services, land use, and public works. Administrative coordination occurs with state organs such as the Government of Puebla and federal agencies including the Secretariat of Health and the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation for infrastructure and regulatory compliance. The municipality participates in metropolitan governance arrangements involving Puebla–Tlaxcala Metropolitan Area planning, inter-municipal commissions, and cultural heritage oversight coordinated with institutions like the National Institute of Anthropology and History and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura.
The local economy blends commerce, services, tourism, and light industry linked to the broader Puebla–Tlaxcala metropolitan area economy and industrial corridors serving companies such as suppliers to Volkswagen de México and automotive clusters in Cuautlancingo. Agriculture in peri-urban areas produces crops historically characteristic of the Valley of Puebla, while markets engage with supply chains involving Mercado de Sabores-type local markets and regional wholesale distribution centers that serve Puebla de Zaragoza. Cultural tourism centered on archaeological and ecclesiastical sites generates revenue through hospitality establishments, artisanal crafts connected to traditions found across Cholula (region) and nearby craft centers such as San Pedro Cholula. Economic development initiatives have been influenced by state-level investment programs and federal incentives for small and medium enterprises administered through agencies like the Secretariat of Economic Development (Puebla).
San Andrés Cholula shares the monumental complex associated with the Great Pyramid of Cholula and hosts significant colonial-era churches including parish churches erected by the Franciscan Order and local brotherhoods that mirror devotional practices seen in Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Día de los Muertos. Cultural expressions include folk dances, textile and pottery crafts connected to traditions found across the Sierra Norte de Puebla and musical forms similar to those performed in Puebla de Zaragoza festivals. The urban fabric contains plazas and municipal architecture influenced by colonial planning models akin to those in Atlixco and Huejotzingo, with heritage management involving the National Institute of Anthropology and History and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura. Proximate sites of interest include the Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios atop the pyramid mound, municipal museums with artifacts associated with Pre-Columbian pottery, and contemporary cultural spaces partnering with regional universities such as the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla.
Transport infrastructure links San Andrés Cholula to Puebla de Zaragoza and national corridors via highways including routes to Mexico City and Orizaba, and local arterials connecting to the Autopista Puebla–Orizaba and the Puebla International Airport. Public transit services include bus and shared taxi networks integrated with metropolitan systems and commuter flows to industrial zones like Cuautlancingo and commercial centers in Puebla. Utilities and municipal services coordinate with federal programs from institutions such as the Comisión Federal de Electricidad and the Sistema de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado of Puebla, while heritage conservation projects collaborate with the National Institute of Anthropology and History on stabilization and access improvements at archaeological and colonial sites.
Category:Municipalities of Puebla Category:Cholula