By the time of the Mexican War of Independence, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla came to the town, it was known as “San Felipe del Obraje”.

The male to female ratio of the town is 48% - 52%[3] The municipality borders the municipalities of Tlalpujahua, El Oro, Jocotitlán, San José del Rincón, Villa Victoria, Almoloya de Juárez and Ixtlahuaca.

Animals in the wild include: coyotes, tigrillos, vipers, chameleons, buzzards, eagles, badgers, foxes, weasels, squirrels, ferrets, moles, ducks, barn owls, hares, rabbits, armadillos, skunks, tlacuaches, wildcats, quail and turtledoves.

There is an area closest to the border with Michoacan that has been set aside as a monarch butterfly sanctuary for their annual migration south in the winter.

The Mazahua Ceremonial Center is located between Santa Ana Nichi-Fresno and Nichi-San Antonio de las Huertas.

The ethnic Mazahua conduct their rituals and practice their customs, attracting tourism, both national and international to the area.

There is a tourist centre with playground equipment, 96 white-tailed deer, 35 Andes cattle and other interesting animals.

[1] Agriculture is the basic activity of San Felipe, growing corn, potato, zacaton, beans, tomatoes, squash, wheat, oats, and barley are grown.

Live-stock includes cattle, sheep, horses, poultry and rabbits, but these are strictly for auto-consumption.