Janos, Chihuahua

Janos is a town located in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. It serves as the municipal seat of government for the surrounding Janos Municipality of the same name. As of 2010, the town of Janos had a population of 2,738.

History

Janos was founded around 1580 by Franciscan missionaries. It was subject to raids by Apache and Jumano Indians, and in 1680 the mission (Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Janos) was completely destroyed in such a raid. As a result, in 1686 the Spanish governor ordered Captain Juan Fernández de la Fuente to sent troops to Janos to establish a presidio. It was named Presidio de San Felipe y Santiago de Janos and in 1717 resettlement efforts resulted in the town being re-established with Janos and Jocomes Indians. This settlement offer was also open to Apache, but few took advantage of it. Over the next several years, the Spanish made a number of punative raids against local Apache groups, both from the Janos Presidio and others in the area. When Hugo Oconor (Hugh O'Connor) assumed command of the military in Chihuahua in 1772, he instituted large scale campaigns against the Apache. In 1789 Chief Squielnoctero and his family surrendered at Janos and with the peace agreement with Ojos Colorados in 1790, the area became relatively peaceful, the Apache having been seriously weakened by war and disease.