A subgroup of these two tribes, called the Nonohualcas, arrived to the area in the 13th century and formed a city-state in what is now Tlalmanalco in 1336.

[1] Attempts to industrialize the rural, farming economy began in 1858, when a copper smelting operation and various textile mills were introduced, as well as a railroad line.

[6] In the open chapel was where mass was offered to natives who would not enter the dark confines of the typical church.

The word “tequitqui” is from Nahuatl, meaning “vassal.” This expression was used to refer to artistic works, especially sculpture, that had Christian themes but was done by indigenous craftsmen.

[6] The interior is “proto- renaissance” and decorated with Italian-style motifs and figures that seem to represent indigenous bestiary.

Images includes telamons, male goats (to represent lust) and a portrait of Friar Martin de Valencia, and Saint Claire.

[1][3] Dishes of the area include mixiote, tlacoyos with fava beans, pinto beans and requeson, cecina, green mole with chicken or pork, and pork in chile mulato but a very local specialty is tamales with capulins (a type of cherry) and corn.

[3] In October 2008, the town held its first International Festival of Antique Music, inviting vocalist Rita Guerrero, flutist Horacio Franco, the Alharaca Ensamble among others.

The festival was a series of twelve concerts held in the most historically important sites of the town such as the Temple of San Luis Obispo the Old Belthemite Hospital and the main plaza.

About 40% of the municipality's population is employed in industries such as paper and textile mills as well as small workshops.

This is in response to the deterioration of the environment in this area, as well as population growth, leading to demand for more public services.

[11] The most important community in the municipality outside of the seat is San Rafael, located about 5 km east of the town of Tlalmanalco at the foot of the Iztaccihuatl volcano[4] The town essentially was created due to the placement of the San Rafael paper mill,[3] which reached its height of production between 1930 and 1970.

[1] Its old cinema and casino are still standing but empty, and there are a number of older houses that show the French influence that was popular in Mexico between the 19th and 20th centuries.

[1][3] The town is nearly surrounded by pine forest and there are many unpaved roads leading into it, most of which were cut by the paper mill.