Mineral de Pozos

History

Before the Spanish arrived, this part of Guanajuato had no large settlements. It was the territory of nomadic groups, among them Chichimecas, Huachichiles, Copuces, Guaxabanes and Pames. Europeans did not reach the area until 1576, when the first Jesuits came to evangelize, and the place was then called Palmar de Vega. In 1590 the viceroy Luis de Velasco sent the Jesuit missionary Gonzalo de Tapia, who knew the local language and customs. After two years living among the people he persuaded them to accept Catholicism and Spanish rule, which settled Spanish control of the region.

After independence, President Santa Anna created the Federal Territory of the Sierra Gorda with San Luis de la Paz as its seat, and Mineral de Pozos was one of its municipalities. When that territory was broken up because it cost too much to maintain, Pozos became a permanent part of the municipality of San Luis de la Paz.

Mining made the town. At its peak it is said to have had as many as 50,000 miners. In 1938 an underground river flooded the galleries and tunnels, all mining work stopped, and the population left. The half-empty town that remained was named a Pueblo Mágico in February 2012.