# Papalotla

> city in Papalotla de Xicohtencatl Municipality, Mexico

**Wikidata**: [Q20224679](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20224679)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/papalotla

## Summary

Papalotla is a city serving as the municipal seat of Papalotla de Xicohténcatl Municipality in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. Located at coordinates 19.16861°N, 98.20389°W, the city sits at an elevation of 2,251 meters above sea level and functions as the administrative capital of its municipality.

## Key Facts

- **Entity Type**: City, locality of Mexico
- **Country**: Mexico
- **Municipality**: Papalotla de Xicohténcatl Municipality (also serves as the municipal capital)
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 19.16861, Longitude -98.20389
- **Elevation**: 2,251 meters above sea level
- **UN/Locode**: MXPAP
- **Geonames ID**: 3815447
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: 6253994
- **INEGI Locality ID**: 290410001
- **Who's on First ID**: 101998987
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/11c5m4yy8x
- **Wikidata Description**: city in Papalotla de Xicohtencatl Municipality, Mexico
- **Sitelink Count**: 8 Wikipedia language versions
- **Available Wikipedia Languages**: Chechen (ce), Cebuano (ceb), Spanish (es), Serbo-Croatian (sh), Serbian (sv), Swedish (sv), Tatar (tt)
- **Image**: Panorama view available on Wikimedia Commons

## FAQs

**What type of administrative division is Papalotla?**
Papalotla is a city that serves as the municipal seat (cabecera municipal) of Papalotla de Xicohténcatl Municipality in the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico.

**What is the geographical location of Papalotla?**
The city is positioned at latitude 19.16861° north and longitude 98.20389° west, situated at an elevation of 2,251 meters above sea level in the central highlands of Mexico.

**What is the UN/Locode identifier for Papalotla?**
Papalotla is assigned the UN/Locode identifier MXPAP, which is used in international trade and shipping documentation for identifying the location.

**How is Papalotla identified in different database systems?**
The city has multiple identifier codes across different systems: Geonames ID 3815447, GNS Unique Feature ID 6253994, INEGE Locality ID 290410001, and Who's on First ID 101998987.

**In which Mexican state is Papalotla located?**
Papalotla is located in the state of Tlaxcala, which is situated in the central region of Mexico, bordering the state of Puebla.

## Why It Matters

Papalotla serves as the administrative center of Papalotla de Xicohténcatl Municipality, making it a crucial hub for local governance and municipal services in the Tlaxcala region. The city's position at 2,251 meters above sea level places it in the central Mexican highlands, a region historically significant due to its proximity to ancient Mesoamerican civilizations and later its role in the colonial and modern periods of Mexican history. As the municipal seat, Papalotla coordinates civil registration, governmental services, and administrative functions for the surrounding municipality, affecting the daily lives of local residents. The city's inclusion in international coding systems like UN/Locode demonstrates its relevance in logistics and trade networks, even at a municipal level.

## Notable For

- Serving as the municipal capital of Papalotla de Xicohténcatl Municipality
- High elevation location at 2,251 meters above sea level
- Multiple international location identifiers (UN/Locode, Geonames, GNS, Who's on First)
- Availability of information in 8 different Wikipedia language versions
- Part of the historically significant state of Tlaxcala in central Mexico

## Body

### Geography and Location

Papalotla is situated in the central Mexican highlands within the state of Tlaxcala. The city's precise geographic coordinates are 19.16861° north latitude and 98.20389° west longitude. This positioning places it in the Valley of Puebla-Tlaxcala, a region characterized by volcanic terrain and high-altitude plains. The city sits at an elevation of 2,251 meters (approximately 7,382 feet) above sea level, classifying it as a high-altitude locality. This elevation contributes to a temperate climate typical of central Mexican highlands, with cool temperatures year-round due to the altitude.

### Administrative Status

Papalotla holds the administrative distinction of being the municipal seat (cabecera municipal) of Papalotla de Xicohténcatl Municipality. As the capital of its municipality, the city houses the primary governmental offices, municipal court, civil registry, and other administrative facilities that serve the local population. The municipality itself is named after Papalotla de Xicohténcatl, referencing both the city and the historical figure Xicohténcatl, an important indigenous leader from the region during the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

### Identification Codes and Databases

The city is catalogued in numerous international and national geographic databases, each serving different purposes:

The UN/Locode system (MXPAP) is maintained by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and is used primarily in international trade, shipping, and logistics to identify the location for customs and transportation documentation. The Geonames ID 3815447 and GNS Unique Feature ID 6253994 are geographic identification numbers used in various mapping and geographic information systems. The INEGI Locality ID 290410001 is the national identification code assigned by Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), used in census data and national administrative records. The Who's on First ID 101998987 is part of the Who's on First geographic database that provides stable identifiers for places. The Google Knowledge Graph ID /g/11c5m4yy8x is used by Google's knowledge graph system to identify the entity in search results and knowledge panels.

### International Presence

Papalotla has a multilingual digital presence through Wikipedia, with articles available in eight language versions: Chechen (ce), Cebuano (ceb), Spanish (es), Serbo-Croatian (sh), Serbian (sr), Swedish (sv), and Tatar (tt), in addition to the English Wikipedia entry. The Spanish-language version is particularly substantial given that Spanish is the primary language of Mexico. This multilingual coverage indicates a level of international interest in the locality, though the sitelink count of 8 suggests it remains a location of primarily local and regional significance rather than international prominence.

### Visual Documentation

A panoramic image of Papalotla is available through Wikimedia Commons (file: PanoramaPapalotla.jpg), providing visual documentation of the city's urban landscape and surroundings. This image is referenced from the Spanish Wikipedia article on Papalotla, Tlaxcala, demonstrating the city's documentation within the digital commons.

### Regional Context

Papalotla is part of Tlaxcala, one of Mexico's smallest states by area but historically one of the most significant due to its role as a major center of the pre-Columbian Tlaxcallan civilization. The city and municipality are named in reference to Xicohténcatl, a tlatoani (ruler) of Tlaxcala who led resistance against the Aztec Empire and later played a complex role during the Spanish conquest. The region's historical significance continues to influence its cultural identity today, with the municipality maintaining connections to its pre-Hispanic and colonial heritage.

## References

1. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/mx.htm)