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Lake Chapala Area Administrative Divisions

Administratively, Chapala was part of the 'Kingdom' (though governed by a Governor, not a King) of Nueva Galicia from 1532, later changed to the Presidencia of Nueva Galicia from 1563. (At first the capitol of Nueva Galicia was Compostela {now in the state of Nayarit}, but it was moved to Guadalajara after a few years.) The Presidencia of Nueva Galicia was replaced in 1786 with the Intendencia of Guadalajara. In 1821 when Mexico won its independence from Spain, the region became the Department of Guadalajara, though it is sometimes called the 'Province' of Guadalajara. Finally, in 1823, the Estado Libre y Soberano de Xalisco (Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco) was established.

The town of Chapala was officially recognized as de Villa a Chapala in the fifth territorial division of the State. From 1825 to 1838 it came under the third cantón of La Barca. From 1839 to 1896 it was part of the first cantón of Guadalajara. From 1896 to 1930 the village was the head of the seventh cantón of the State of Jalisco. From 1931 to 1939 the town of Chapala was governed as part of Guadalajara, until in 1939 Chapala was elevated to the status of municipalidad or municipality. In 1970 Chapala was elevated again, to the status of Ciudad or City.

In modern divisions, the city of Chapala is located within the larger municipal division of the same name, which extends along the lakefront from west of Ajijic to San Juan Tecomatlán, which is just east of San Nicolás de Ibarra, and includes Atotonilquillo to the northeast. The municipality of Jocotepec adjoins it to the west, and continuing counter-clockwise around the lake are the municipalities of Tuxcueca, Tizapán el Alto, then in the State of Michoacan: Régules, Venustiano Carranza and Briseñas; and in Jalisco again: Jamay, Ocotlán, and Poncitlán which borders Chapala to the east. The municipalities of Ixtlahuacán and Juanacatlán border Chapala on the north, toward Guadalajara.

Modern Municipal Divisions around Lake Chapala