Tequila | |
---|---|
Town & Municipality | |
Santiago de Tequila | |
Coordinates: 20°52′58″N 103°50′12″W / 20.88278°N 103.83667°W | |
Country | Mexico |
State | Jalisco |
Founded | 1530 |
Municipal Status | 1850 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Luis Alfonso "Poncho" Magallanes Rubio PAN |
Area | |
• Municipality | 1,693 km2 (654 sq mi) |
• Seat | 6.62 km2 (2.56 sq mi) |
Elevation (of seat) | 1,180 m (3,870 ft) |
Population (2020 census)[1] | |
• Municipality | 44,353 |
• Density | 26/km2 (68/sq mi) |
• Seat | 31,115 |
• Seat density | 4,700/km2 (12,000/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
Postal code (of seat) | 46400 |
Demonym | Tequilense |
Website | (in Spanish) Official site |
Santiago de Tequila (Spanish: [teˈkila] ; Nahuatl languages: Tequillan, Tecuila "place of tribute") is a Mexican town and municipality located in the state of Jalisco about 60 km from the city of Guadalajara.[2] Tequila is best known as being the birthplace of the drink that bears its name, "tequila," which is made from the blue agave plant, native to this area. The heart of the plant contains natural sugars and was traditionally used to make a fermented drink. After the Spanish arrived, they took this fermented beverage and distilled it, producing the tequila known today. The popularity of the drink and the history behind it has made the town and the area surrounding it a World Heritage Site.[3] It was also named a "Pueblo Mágico" (Magical Town) in 2003 by the Mexican federal government.[4]
The coat of arms of the municipality was officially adopted on 31 December 1983 by the municipal council. It contains the Latin phrase ALMA LAETA NOBILIS, meaning "cheerful and noble soul". Its representative symbols include the tower of the main church in the town of Tequila, the chimneys of the distilleries, the agave plant and Tequila Mountain.[5]