Etymology: The word Culiacán is a nàhuatl term composed of the particles Col-hua-can or Cul-hua-can, which means "place of those who worship the god Coltzin". There is discrepancy among historians concerning its meaning, giving it either the one of, "place of snakes" , "twisted hill", or "where walkers twist their path".
Aboriginal Groups: The Tahue nation was established within the territory which at the present time occupies the municipality of Culiacán, all the way from its central coast zone, forming the towns of Colombo, Olagueruto, Tecurimeto, Yevabito, Navolato, Comoloto, Otameto, Altamura and others. The Tébaca nation used to be situated on towns mountain region, all the way from the Humaya River and adjacent to the Sinaloas.
First settlers: The following persons were considered in the list of first settlers of the Village of San Miguel, founded in 1931 by Don Nuño de Guzmán; Don Pedro de Tovar, Diego Lòpez, Esteban Martìn, Juan de Medina, Pedro de Nàjera, Cristòbal de Tapia, Juan de la Bastida, Làzaro de Cebreros, Maldonado Bravo, Pedro Alvarez, Alonso de Mejìa, Juan Hidalgo, Juan de Alcaraz, Diego de Mendoza, Pedro de Garnica, Pedro Cordero, Juan de Barca, Diego Torres, Juan de Soto, Juan de Quintanilla, Juan de Baeza, Alvaro Arroyo, Sebastián de Evora, Alonso Cordero, Pedro de Armentìa, Alonso de Avila, Juan Vizcayno, Juan Muñoz, Juan de Mendoza, Alonso Rodríguez, a sevillian last named Escalante and the priest Alvaro Gutiérrez.
The list of encomenderos dating back to 1582 in reference to the Province of Culiacán, includes some places which either disappeared or changed their name, and others whose correct locations have been impossible to be established. Tadariacato together with Comanito, were distribution of Domingo de Cebreros; Hulacarito of Juan Pèrez de Cebreros; Oguani and Xifa of Miguel de Cebreros. Quila and Las Flechas of Simòn de Arroyo; Catalina Bravo had the distribution of Moholo, Abuya and La Vinapa; Cristóbal de Torres of Tabala and Caloma; Hernando de Arias of Navolato; Manuel Guzmán the small town of Navito; Cristóbal Rodríguez of Culiacán; Esteban Martín, of Oso and Colombo, and Rodrigue de Gàmex of Toboloto.
In 1531, the conqueror Nuño de Guzmán made his entrance into Sinaloense territory, founding the Village of San Miguel de Navito on the margins of the San Lorenzo River and took possession of the lands discovered in the name of the Spanish Crown.
More about the history of Culiacán
