Copala, Sinaloa

Copala, formerly known as San José de Copala, is a four-century-old silver-mining town in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The town is in the municipality of Concordia.

San José de Copala

History

The area was occupied and ruled by the indigenous peoples until 1564, when Francisco de Ibarra crossed the Sierra Madre Occidental from Durango and conquered the area for Spain. In 1565 prospectors discovered silver veins and the town of Copala was founded to serve the mines.[1] The town was named after a mythical city of gold for which de Ibarra had unsuccessfully searched in northern Mexico.

The town of Copala was destroyed in 1616 by an uprising of Tepehuan Indians, but was rebuilt after the rebellion was quelled the following year.[2]

Economy

The economy of Copala is based on tourism, mining, and agriculture.

Geography

Copala is located at 23°23′41″N 105°55′57″W, at an altitude of 610 m. The town is along Federal Highway 40, approximately 50 km east of Mazatlán.

References
  1. Benito Ramírez Meza (1993) Economía y Sociedad en Sinaloa, 1591-1900, Culiacán: Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, p.24.
  2. Luis Navarro Garcia (1967) Sonora y Sinaloa en el Siglo XVII, Seville: Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos, p.14-17.
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