Landa de Matamoros

Landa de Matamoros
Town
Church in Landa
Church in Landa
Coat of arms of Landa de Matamoros
Landa de Matamoros is located in Mexico
Landa de Matamoros
Landa de Matamoros
Location in Mexico
Coordinates: 21°10′55″N 99°19′13″W / 21.18194°N 99.32028°W / 21.18194; -99.32028
Country Mexico
StateQuerétaro
Founded1744
Municipal Status1941
Government
Area
 • Total840.2 km2 (324.4 sq mi)
Elevation
(of seat)
1,040 m (3,410 ft)
Population
 (2005) Municipality
 • Total18,905
 • Seat
1,418
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (US Central))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (Central)
Postal code (of seat)
76360
Websitewww.landadematamorosqro.gob.mx (in Spanish)

Landa de Matamoros is a town in Landa de Matamoros Municipality located in the northeast of the Mexican state of Querétaro in central Mexico. It is part of the Sierra Gorda region, which consists of rugged mountains, canyons and wide diversity of flora and fauna, with the municipality's flora representing about 25% of all the plant diversity in Mexico. In the pre-Hispanic period, the area was heavily influenced by Huastecas and local cultures, later dominated by the Chichimecas, especially the Pames. Complete Spanish domination came late, in the mid 18th century, but two of the five Franciscan mission complexes built to solidify this domination were built in the municipality. Today, Landa de Matamoros remains rural and impoverished with a high rate of emigration out of the area, especially to the United States. Remittances sent by relatives from there now form most of the municipality's economy.