A Brief History of San Sebastián
With the arrival of Francisco Cortes and his Spanish conquistadors, mining first began in the area in 1524. It eventually became so fruitful with gold, silver lead, and zinc, that the town of San Sebastián del Oeste was founded in 1605. The town would grow to be one of the principal mining centers for New Spain.
Necessary for the smelting process of precious metals, salt was imported by mule from the small costal town of Las Peñas, now known as Puerto Vallarta. The silver and gold would then be transported to Guadalajara, Mexico City, and eventually Veracruz, where it would be shipped out to Spain once a year.
The prosperity of the mines continued, and by 1785, there were over 30 mines. At one point, San Sebastián was even the provincial capital of Jalisco (now Guadalajara). The town became a city in 1812, and by 1830, it claimed more than 20,000 inhabitants.
Necessary for the smelting process of precious metals, salt was imported by mule from the small costal town of Las Peñas, now known as Puerto Vallarta. The silver and gold would then be transported to Guadalajara, Mexico City, and eventually Veracruz, where it would be shipped out to Spain once a year.
The prosperity of the mines continued, and by 1785, there were over 30 mines. At one point, San Sebastián was even the provincial capital of Jalisco (now Guadalajara). The town became a city in 1812, and by 1830, it claimed more than 20,000 inhabitants.
San Sebastián, circa 1880
The growth and prosperity of San Sebastián would come to cease with the revolution of 1910, and by 1921, the last mine was finally abandoned. The town became dormant for decades and has only recently started to reawaken. Although there is one active mine in the area again, agriculture and stockbreeding are now the principal activities, with tourism starting to make an impact.
Although the present population of 600 is merely a shadow of the city San Sebastián once was, the town retains its colonial heritage in the well preserved buildings that are as much as 250 years old. Those that are lucky enough to visit San Sebastián del Oeste today are connected with a distant time. Come and wander its picturesque cobble-stoned streets and passageways, and discover for yourself the town that time forgot.
