Cherán
Cherán | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
Central plaza of Cherán | |
Municipality of Cherán within Michoacán | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Michoacán |
| Area | |
| • Total | 223.02 km2 (86.11 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,251 m (7,385 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 16,243 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Cherán (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃe'ɾan]) is a municipality located in the Mexican state of Michoacán, which is situated in the central western portion of Mexico, extending west to the Pacific Shore. Cherán itself lies in the northwestern portion of Michoacán, about 360 km (220 mi) west of Mexico City and approximately 123 km (76 mi) west of the state capital of Morelia; its average elevation is 2,251 metres (7,385 ft) above sea level. The Municipio (municipality) of Cherán is reported to have a population of 16,243, while the Localidad (town) of Cherán is officially accounted to have a population of 12,616, including 5,827 men and 6,787 women.
Cherán is one of a contiguous group of eleven Municipios that are demographically denoted as Purépecha. Inhabitants speak the Purépecha language, as well as the local variety of Spanish. Cherán is noted for its unique style of government that followed a 2011 civil uprising over local concerns about corruption and crime. The area is now treated as a self-ruling indigenous community, largely free of federal intervention.