Huaxyacac

Huaxyacac is the Nahuatl toponym for the city now known as Oaxaca de Juárez, the capital of Oaxaca state in Mexico. The name comes from huiāxyacac, commonly translated as “place of the guaje trees,” with guaje referring to the Leucaena leucocephala. The modern Spanish form Oaxaca reflects the adaptation of the original Nahuatl name.

Historically, Huaxyacac referred to a principal urban center in the Oaxaca Valley connected with the Zapotec civilization. The site developed in the pre-Columbian era and remained an important hub through the Postclassic period, maintaining interactions with neighboring cultures such as the Mixtecs. Following the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the settlement was reorganized as a colonial city and became the administrative heart of the region, eventually serving as the capital of the state.

In contemporary times, Oaxaca de Juárez is a major cultural and educational center. It hosts traditional markets, colonial architecture, and events such as the Guelaguetza festival. The city is also a focal point for regional crafts, including textiles, woodwork, and pottery, contributing to a tourism-based economy that preserves and showcases local heritage.

Geographically, the city sits in the Oaxaca Valley at roughly 1,500 meters above sea level, amid the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Its temperate climate and central location within the state make it a key urban and historical hub, closely linked to nearby archaeological sites such as Monte Albán.