San José de los Reynoso
San José De Los Reynoso is a small town located in the northeast region of Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico.
San José de los Reynoso, Jalisco México | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Location of the town in Jalisco | |
  San José de los Reynoso, Jalisco México Location in Mexico | |
| Coordinates: 21°1′25″N 102°24′21″W | |
| Country |  |
| State | Jalisco |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 1,200 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) |
History
San Jose de los Reynoso was founded in 1783 by Spanish settlers. Before the arrival of the conquistadores, Tecuexes lived in that area. The Tecuexes were defeated by the Spanish and then the first Spanish families of hidalgos began to settle in the area. The first three families to arrive in San Jose were the Reynoso family, the Lozas and the Muñoz. The name San Jose was chosen as an honor to Saint Joseph, since this was a Spanish occupied area consisting of devout Catholics. The second part of the name "Reynoso" was added because the very first to arrive and the founders were the Reynoso family. The very first couple married in 1783. The first church began to be constructed in 1837 and was completed in 1887.
San Jose de los Reynoso is a delegation of the San Miguel El Alto municipality, in the region Altos South, Jalisco. This small colonial town is approximately 1800 meters (slightly over a mile) above sea level, and enjoys a semi-dry weather. Located near the heart of the Altos region, San Jose is in close distance from the tequila region of Los Altos; of which the county of Arandas is the most important. Moreover, the town is merely a 20 minutes drive from San Juan de los Lagos; a city famous for its venerated Virgin of San Juan. Another important place near San Jose is the town of Santa Ana de Guadalupe; home of Saint Toribio Romo, canonized by the Pope John Paul II.
San Jose de los Reynoso was at the center of the Cristero War of the 1920s between the Church and the Federal Government.
During the late 20th century, many of the town's inhabitants emigrated to other cities in Mexico and various regions of the United States, due mainly to economic hardship. This diaspora is concentrated in Aguascalientes, Mexico, as well as the state of California, and the cities of Chicago and Dallas in the United States. It is estimated that currently over half its population live outside of San José, with the largest concentration in the U.S. city of Chicago and its metropolitan area.
Population
The current population of the town just over 1,200. The population would easily have grown to be more than 10,000 but migration out of the town has kept it small.