Brief History of Mazatlán, Mexico
Mazatlán's name comes from a
Náhuatl Indian word "Mazatl" which means
"Place of Deer." Mazatlán has about a half
million residents and is one of Mexico's best billfish
sport fishing areas. It has a very important commercial
seaport. Although towns were first settled in this area
about 400 years ago, a permanent colony was not
established until the early 1820's with the first
municipal government installed in 1827.