Mascota, Administrative center in Jalisco, Mexico.
Mascota is the administrative center of its municipality in Jalisco, Mexico, positioned at 1,237 meters elevation within a mountainous landscape of pine forests and steep terrain. The town contains government offices, schools, and basic services that serve the surrounding rural communities.
The region was reached in 1525 by Spanish captain Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura, leading to the establishment of Augustinian missions throughout the area. This early contact period shaped the town's development and later social organization.
The name comes from Nahuatl language, meaning mask or disguise, connecting the town to its pre-colonial past. This linguistic heritage remains present in how locals refer to their community.
The high elevation means cool temperatures year-round, so bringing a jacket is wise even during sunny days. The hilly layout requires some walking effort, but the town center remains accessible on foot.
A local Archaeological Museum displays artifacts from a cemetery dating to around 800 BCE, providing evidence of early human settlement in this mountain region. These findings show the area was inhabited centuries before Spanish arrival.
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