Various groups of nomadic Chichimecas are recognized as the first settlers of the region that now forms San Felipe. The vast majority of these groups were hostile to Spanish colonization.
San Felipe was established as a prison in 1554 and later founded by Francisco de Velasco on January 21, 1562, by order of Viceroy Don Luis de Velasco, giving it the name of Villa de San Felipe in honor of King Philip II of Spain.
The purpose of the founding of the town was to protect the Mexican Silver Route. After the conquest of the area where the municipal seat is now located, the construction of the town began following the traditional Spanish urban plan.
In 1563 King Felipe II granted the title of Villa de la Comunidad to San Felipe, leaving it in charge of Francisco de Velasco.
Development and viceroyalty
The Villa was divided into two towns for more than 300 years; the Spanish village and the Pueblito de Analco for the indigenous inhabitants of the region. Both villages were separated by the stream now known as Río Cocinero.
The authority of the Town of Analco resided in an Indian governor, imposed by the Spanish mayor, who governed the town. Both leaders also recognized the parish priest as the authority and ecclesiastical Judge of the Villa.
The parish of the town began to be built after the foundation of the Villa, the construction was finished almost in its entirety in 1641, although the tower and bell tower were finished in 1884, during this time the temple of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, located in the Town of Analco.
Several important haciendas arose around San Felipe during the 16th century, including San Joaquín de la Quemada, which originated in the second half of the century, and San Diego de Jaral de Berrio, which was established towards the end of the century, and which stood out for its agricultural and livestock production.
The priest Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla arrived at the parish of San Felipe on January 23, 1792.
Tradition says that since his arrival Hidalgo began to work with the settlers, teaching crops, and pottery, and spreading new libertarian ideas. , arose as a consequence of the French Revolution.
The house where the priest lived during his stay is now known as Casa Hidalgo.
The parish of the town was burned and looted by insurgents during the War of Independence, its reconstruction was directed by Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras at the request of the priest Manuel Tiburcio Orozco, the main altar and several chapels were almost completely rebuilt, although many images managed to be rescued from the flames.
Post-Independence
In 1863, during the Second French Intervention, on his way to the city of Monterrey, the President of Mexico Benito Juárez García stayed in the building now known as Casa Juárez, at that time called Hotel Casino.
Returning to Mexico City in 1867, the president once again stayed in San Felipe.
The towns of San Felipe and Ocampo benefited in the mid-19th century thanks to the construction of the Guanajuato-Tampico highway.
The economy of both populations was substantially improved by increasing trade as a result of improved communications and facilitation of vehicular circulation through the city of San Felipe after the installation of the highway.
In 1884 on January 31, the construction of the tower of the parish temple was finished.
During 1885 San Felipe faced problems of territorial limits with the municipalities of San Diego de la Unión and Ocampo and with the state of Jalisco. The political limits of the municipality were delimited after the intervention of the State Congress.
During the Porfiriato, large estates reappeared in San Felipe, such as El Cubo and San Diego de Jaral de Berrio, (the case of the Jaral hacienda is currently a tourist attraction in the municipality).
In 1892 by decree of Congress, San Felipe was elevated to the rank of the city under the name of Ciudad Manuel González, on December 24, 1939, the name of the city was again changed to Ciudad Hernández Álvarez.
On December 22, 1948, the original name was finally restored. The municipalities of San Felipe and Ocampo were the scene of various armed confrontations and religious persecution during the Cristero War.
