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Cihuatlán
Cihuatlán
	— Municipality and town —
	Town square in Cihuatlán, showing church building and plaza
	; Coat of arms
	; Coat of arms
	Municipality location in Jalisco
	; Cihuatlán Location in Mexico
	Coordinates: 19°15′N 104°34′W / 19.25°N 104.567°W
Country	Mexico
State	Jalisco
	Area
- Total	713.70 km2 (275.6 sq mi)
	Population (2005)
- Total	30,241
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)

Cihuatlán and the Marabasco river delta

Cihuatlán is a coastal municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Its main city is also named Cihuatlán.

Coordinates: 19°15′N 104°34′W / 19.25°N 104.567°W / 19.25; -104.567

[edit] Etymology

The word Cihuatlán is compounded of two words of nahuatl origin: Zihua, woman, and Tlán place; therefore Cihuatlán means place of women.

[edit] History

The town was founded at the Marabasco river. The town's population was about 500 women and only 20 men. The first Spanish expedition to the Jalisco coastal zone was led by Gonzalo de Sandoval. In a message from Hernán Cortés to the King of Spain, dated from 1528, it is mentioned that the Province of Cihuatlán was indeed a 'place of women' which also had valuables such as gold and pearls.

A decree dated from the November 14 1824, passed from the department of Tuxcacuesco to Cuautitlán. By decree of the President of the Republic, on December 16 1825, the harbour Barra de Navidad was habilitated for coasting and foreign trade.

[edit] Coat of arms

The Cihuatlán coat of arms is a french-shaped coat of arms with cross-sectioning. On the upper right section is the image of a prehispanic woman's head. On the upper left section is a ship sailing. On the bottom right section, there is a religious building and on the bottom left section, the view of a fertile valley. On the edge there is an inscription and on the top of both sides, with two stylish figures.