However, after the Spanish victory, Hernán Cortés distributed this area, along with Metepec to Francisco de Villegas in 1540.

In 1535, the Franciscans began evangelization here, establishing churches and renaming the area, San Miguel Temascalcingo.

Because of a history of mistreatment by colonial authorities, the residents here sided early with Hidalgo when the Mexican War of Independence broke out in 1810.

In 1988, a group of residents from Tepeolulco, a community under Temascalcingo's jurisdiction, took over the municipal hall to protest water supplies and civil rights violations.

Most of Velasco's themes reside in botany and in nature, but he is best known for the landscapes he painted of areas in central Mexico.

Also in his honor is the José María Velasco Nature Park, located at the main entrance to the town.

[4] Local dishes include chicken in "chirrión" sauce, "charales con nopales, cactus in green salsa, and "mole de olla" with xoconostles (a type of fruit).

[4] From December 31 to January 1, Mazahua and Otomi pilgrims come here to celebrate the "Lord of the Coronation," carrying their images of this saint adorned with flowers, fruit and bread, accompanied by flutes, mariachis or drums.

[4] Some notable people from this town include: José Maria Velasco, (1840–1912) who was a painter of landscapes, Archbishop Leopoldo Ruiz y Flóres, (1865–1941) suffered the exile three times during the Cristero movement in Mexico, María del Carmen Garduño Cervantes (born 1955), a track-and-field athlete who has won medals in the PanAmerican Games and set Mexican records, and Pinito Reynoso Bejarano (1895–1981) and educator best known for his work against illiteracy.

Temascalcingo is bordered by the municipalities of Acambay, Atlacomulco, Jocotitlán and El Oro, and to the west by the states of Michoacán and Querétaro.

[1] Located about 18 km from the municipal seat, the largest attraction here is officially called the "Spring of Jesus," but is more commonly known as "El Borbollón," (the gusher).