No large cities were built in this area but there are a number of archeological sites in the town itself as well as Teopazul, Rincón Grande, Cerro del Tecolote, Copaltepec, San Francisco, Santa Ana Zicatecoyan, el Cerro de Tequesquite, and San Vicente with many "chontal" type buildings make of mud and stone as well as objects for daily and ritual use.

Vicente Guerrero and Pedro Ascencio were active here during the Mexican War of Independence which lasted from 1810 to 1821.

While the town of Tlatlaya has been the economic and political center of the area since pre-Hispanic times, it did not officially become a municipal seat until 1849 and did not become completely independent of the district of Sultepec until 1919.

The town and area surrounding it favored the Liberation Army of the South (Zapatistas) during the Mexican Revolution.

[1] The current municipality was established in 1849, even though the town of Tlatlaya has been the political and economic heart of the area since pre-Hispanic times.

Principal crops include corn, beans, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, onions, melons, mango and papaya.