Zempoala is a town and one of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo, in central-eastern Mexico.

[2] Zempoala was an important place in the prehispanic culture, inhabited by Toltecs and Chichimecs, the latter arriving in the year 1120, guided by King Xolotl.

By 1167, Zempoala was head of the province, being ruled by King Xolotl's son, Nopaltzin.

Juan Pérez de Gama was the first encomendero of Zempoala.

Between 1553 and 1570, the Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque was built between Zempoala and Otumba,[3] which would be designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.