Tekax

History

There is no exact record of when Tekax was founded. The surrounding region has been occupied since the rise of Maya culture in the Puuc zone, as shown by sites such as Chacmultún, Xkichmook and Chacchob. After the Xiu led the uprising that broke up the league of Mayapán, they came down from the southern hills, founded Maní and set up tributary towns. One of them was Kax, built on the slopes of those hills, within the chiefdom of Tutul Xiu.

Under Spanish rule the native town of Kax was assessed for tribute on February 9, 1549, in favor of Francisco Bracamonte, and the area is said to have been colonized in the 16th century by the Spaniard Alfonso López. The church and convent of San Juan Bautista and the hilltop hermitage of San Diego date from the 17th century.

Tekax received the title of villa in 1823 and that of city in 1841, but was demoted to pueblo in 1922. In 1928 it was renamed Ciudad Obregón by decree, and two years later the name was changed to Tekax de Álvaro Obregón, which remains official. It was named a Pueblo Mágico in 2023.