Most of the town's history has been lost due to the lack of records, but oral tradition states that it was founded sometime in the 15th century.

Today, the town is noted for its weekly Wednesday market, where one can find traditional merchandise such a local variety of white cheese, tamales, frames for donkeys and goat barbacoa prepared in an earthen oven.

The complex was completed in 1636 and consists of three parts, the church, the former monastery and the cloister, all constructed from green sandstone.

This arched construction was one of the first built in the area and was used during the colonial period to provide water to the town from the surrounding mountains.

Today this path is the main highway to the city of Puebla and the church is grouped with those from Yanhuitlán, Teposcolula and Coixtlahuaca .

[6] This market is best known for its locally produced variety of white cheese, but it also offers a number of kinds of traditional merchandise such as sheepskins, frames for packing donkeys, the green glazed pottery of Atzompa and tamales.

[4] Lent is an important time in the state of Oaxaca, with many communities developing various types of celebration over these forty days.

The event begins with a music band wandering the streets of the town at 9 pm followed by the setting off of fireworks fastened to a large wooden frame called a castillo (castle).

The following day is dedicated to the Christ image called the Señor de las Peñas with more music and fireworks.

[10] Hundreds from Oaxaca and as far as Puebla, Chiapas and Mexico City come to honor the Señor de las Peñas to keep promises and to ask for favors.

This includes a bread called “pan Amarillo" cheese, honey, ice cream, tamales, tasajo, tlayudas, tortillas, fruits and flowers.

The most commons foods include mole (especially amarillo, verde, and coloradito), regional sweets, tlayudas, barbacoa and fava beans, accompanying by tepache, mezcal and beer.

The municipality is located in the Central Valleys region of the state about seventeen km from the capital of Oaxaca.

[4] About seventy percent of the municipality's population is dedicated wholly or in part to agriculture, with the primary livestock being cattle.

[14] Preschools include Ignacio José Allende, Jaime Torres Bodet, Leona Vicario, Niños Heroes de Chapultepec, Ovidio Decroly, Porfirio Díaz and Prodei Modulo 2.

It is the largest and oldest primary school in the area, with a number of students receiving awards in the arts and academics.

[14] In addition to the monastery complex in the main town, an excavated archeological site is another of the municipality's monuments.

[2] The municipality lies on a valley floor so its terrain is relatively flat with no significant elevations other than small hills.

[4] Almost all of the vegetation in the municipality is secondary with decorative species such as geraniums, bougainvillea; trees such as laurel and eucalyptus, and various edible and medicinal herbs.

[4] The decisive Battle of La Carbonera was fought on October 18, 1866 near to Etla during the war caused by the French intervention in Mexico.

This has negatively impacted public works such as the repaving of roads, electrification and a non functioning water treatment plant, with delays as long as 15 years.

[17] In 2008, Federal Highway 190 and the main entrance to town were blocked by those protesting the lack of potable water for three months in 2008.

[5][21] However, there have been other demands by protestors such as the stop to the construction of a “Súper Precio” commercial center which they say would negatively affect about 300 local merchants.