Before the Spanish, the site at "Ranas" was a mining center, principally for cinnabar which was used as a pigment. The "Ranas" site was first mined about 400C.E.[2] In 1622 the village of "San Nicolás Tolentino en el Paraje de las Rana" was founded.[2] In 1682 the community of Ojo de Agua de Ranas was founded.[1]
In 1864 the name "San Joaquín" was first used on a map.[1]
Geography
The municipality of San Joaquín covers an area of 499 km², and is located between 99° 22' and 99° 39' West longitude, and between 21° 07' and 20° 53' North latitude.[1] Altitude varies from a low of 600 meters to heights of 2,700 meters.[3]