The patron divinity was the Night Jaguar from the Olmec culture and the ceremonial center was called Xiutépetl Xaxalpa.

[1][3] Mixcoatl[further explanation needed] conquered Almoloya del Río, along with Toluca, Tenango, Malinalco and Zoquitzinco.

Later, in 1521, Spaniard Gonzalo de Sandoval took over the town along with the rest of the valley, putting it under the jurisdiction of Toluca.

[4] In 1528, the town was part of the encomienda of Juan Gutiérrez Altamirano, a cousin of Hernán Cortés, who had a hacienda named Ateneo.

[1][3] On 26 October 1884, 300 people led by Friar Isidro García attacked forty evangelists killing Pastor Landa, Nicanor Gomez and Nicolas Muciño.

In 1913, Genovevo de la O. took the town's municipal president, Apolonio Vázquez prisoner and nearly executed him.

[1][3] Between 1914 and 1918, a series of epidemics such as typhoid and famines struck the town, resulting in the reduction of the population.

[1][3] Between the 1930s and 1950s a number of work projects began to divert water from the Lerma River to supply nearby Mexico City.

[6] The town church, called San Miguel Arcángel, is its most outstanding feature, built between the 16th and 17th centuries.

[1] The church faces west, towards where Lake Chignahupan was, with a view of the Nevado de Toluca.

In the late 19th century, the stone wall to the north was constructed and its tower is thought to have been built around this time as well.

As the town is located on the tallest hill in the municipality, the tones of this clock can be heard in the nearby communities, with many people using these chimes to mark their day.

[9] As the principal economic activity of the town is the production of denim clothing, every year in September is the "Feria de Vestido y Costura" (Festival of Clothing and Sewing).Garments produced include rebozos, stoles and embroidered wool skirts.

[1][10] Almoloya is known for mariachi bands that make their living at Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City.

However, its territory was reduced in 1866 when the municipality of Texcalyacac was erected and again in 1870 when Santa Cruz Atizapán separated.

Outside the town, there is still agriculture, primarily the production of animal feed and corn on communal and ejido lands.