Naucalpan History, Mexico

Naucalpan has a rich history considering the different indigenous tribes that have crossed its lands throughout the centuries.  The land of Naucalpan has been inhabited for the last 3500 years with its first arrivers, the Tlatilcan indigenous tribe around 600 BC. 

Around 1400 BC the land was named Otocampulco from the various Otomi indigenous tribes that occupied the land.  Shortly after another great civilization, the Chichimecans came and left a stunning mark of their culture for Naucalpan, the Pirámide del Conde.  However, Naucalpan did not receive its name until years later.

After a loss from the Aztec Triple Alliance in the late 1420s, the Tepanecan Empire which currently inhabited the area had surrendered the land to the Tlacopan kingdom.  It was known for a short period as Tacuba but was then later renamed Naucalpan and this name embodied the city’s attributes much better.  It means the place of four houses.  Each house belongs to a different sector of the culture, one being Totoltepec or of birds, Totlinga or of chickens, Huizilacasco or of spears and the last Tlatilco of clandestine things.  Tlatilco also represented the first indigenous culture to be seen in that area.

Due to Naucalpan’s proximity to Mexico City, during the colonization of the city all of its important minerals were taken such as limestone to build all of the colonial buildings in Mexico City such as the cathedral. 

Later Naucalpan became industrialized and had greater contact with city life as a bridge was built in order to trade between Naucalpan and Mexico City.  This city is also home or like home to many famous Mexican heroes such as Benito Juaréz who united Mexico and many Mexican Revolution heroes such as Manuel Villanueva, Román Díaz Rosas and Camilo Santos.

Naucalpan built the first bull fighting ring in Mexico in 1894 and helped these traditional and famous bull fights for over 50 years.  However, it was built out of wood and over the years it became rather unsafe so a new bull fighting arena was established in Cuatro Caminos  where the current bull fights are held for Mexico.  Ten years after losing the bull fighting ring, which is known as a toreo, Naucalpan was granted cityhood due to its growing economy especially in the industrial arena and its boasting population.