Shortly after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Coatetelco became part of the Marquesado del Valle de Oaxaca, land was expropriated, and sugarcane planting began.

Sugarcane production reached its peak during the Porfiriato, although the haciendas of Santa Cruz, Actopan, Cocoyotla, and Miacatlan were abandoned shortly after the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Coatetelco is one of the oldest human settlements in Morelos, since vestiges dating from 500 BC are found in its archaeological zone.

[8]: 21 Legend has it that when the Spanish arrived, they destroyed the temple of Cuaulitzin (also known as Tlanchana), and built the church of San Juan Bautista in its place.

[9] Shortly after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Coatetelco became part of the Marquesado del Valle de Oaxaca, land was expropriated, and sugarcane planting began.

Sugarcane production reached its peak during the Porfiriato, although the haciendas of Santa Cruz, Actopan, Cocoyotla, and Miacatlan were abandoned shortly after the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

The hacienda of Acatzingo is in ruins today, and the land of the La Estancia ranch now belong to the local ejido.

[8]: 151 & 211, 157, 196, 201, 206, 221 On November 9, 2017, the Congress of Morelos approved the creation of four new municipalities in the state, including Coatetelco, effective January 1, 2019,[1] although this was later reduced to three.

[15] It is said that a group of Tlauhicas, during their pilgrimage from Aztlan, stopped to rest along the shore of Lake Coatetelco due to their priest being ill.

His stone tomb was carved with the figure of a snake with its mouth open, and it is believed that the name of the town comes from this glyph.

Mojarra (bream), caught in the lake, is served fried, in soup, or in tamales and makes up the traditional diet, and there is a fish festival in November.

Las Contradanzas are performed by girls who wear a large bow in their hair and form a human chain.

In Coatetelco, this feast remotes back to the pre-Hispanic fiesta of Teopixqui in honor of Princess Cuauhtlitzin, goddess of fertility.

[8]: 49, 73 Traditional medicine, such as cleanings with eggs and other rituals that serve to ward off evil spirits, undo hexes and attract good things, is frequently practiced in Coatetelco.

[16] The Feast of San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist) is celebrated on June 24, with dances of the Moors and the Tecuanes, as well as bullfights.

[7] The feast of San Miguel (St. Michael the Archangel) is celebrated on September 29 with visits to the fields, and the Day of the Dead on November 2 features the hanging of offerings.

Faithful to its roots, the traditional Huentle a los airecitos are celebrated on June 23 and at the cultural fair on the last Saturday and Sunday of November.

In 1531, under the leadership of Fray Toribio de Benavente Motolinia, construction of a house which included two rooms and an atrium was begun on where a temple had stood near the lake.

Construction stopped in the 17th century when Xuan Xuarez led an armed rebellion against the landowners due to land expropriation.

Construction of the church of San Juan Bautista was completed in Baroque style in the 18th century, although a large convent was never built.

[17] There is also the Catholic chapels of Candelaria (Narvarte), the chapel of San San Jose (Benito Juarez), a Seventh Day Adventist church downtown, the Iafcj Casa De Dios Pentecostes Eben Ezer, Centro Christiano Misiones Transmundiales (both downtown), Iglesia Betel (Benito Juarez), Iglesia Cristiana Evangelica (Benito Juarez), and Salon del Reyno de los Testigos de Jehova (Narvarte).

It has a perimeter of about 24 km and is located at 18°43'45"N and 99°19'30"W. To the north is Miacatlan, Lake El Rodeo, the Xochicalco archaeological zone, and the town of Tetlama.

There is a large stone with a carved footprint on the side of the other hill, said to be in honor of Mexica king Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin to celebrate his victory over Quauheteleco.

Colonia 3 de Mayo is located on a small hill called El Capiro (named for a plant with purple berries used to make atole) and was founded in the 1980s.

She survived, but when she saw how her people had drowned, she cried bitterly and threw a garland of flowers on the water, causing her to be buried there.

The survivors supposedly carved the sculpture of Cuauhtlitzin that is found in the local museum, and she is honored during the fiestas of Teopixqui in June and November.

Built by Tlauhuicas in the post-classical period after Xochicalco,[6] Coatetelco has a large plaza where sacrifices were made to the god of the wind, Ehécatl; a ball ground; and a museum.