Francisco de Urdiñola’s Census of the Spanish Settlements in Nueva Vizcaya, 1604

Abstract

E ARLY IN 1604 Francisco de Urdifiola, who had become governor of Nueva Vizcaya in June of the previous year, determined to take stock of the Spanish settlements under his care. Durango, his capital, was then not quite forty years old; Parras, one of the most recently founded towns, was not yet six years old. The process of inventory, for such it was, was handled very simply. In January and February, 1604, orders were sent to the alcaldes mayores and other district officials to prepare lists of the vecinos in their jurisdictions before their notaries. The lists were to state whether the vecinos were married or single; what were their trades and occupations; what were their farms, ranches, mines, and ore treatment plants. In terms of a fairly primitive frontier settlement, the instructions aimed at a remarkably thorough census of population and economic activity. Whether because of Urdifiola 's reputation or the fear of a new broom, the district justices all went to work with a will and prepared their lists within two weeks. The new governor must have received them all by the end of March. He combined them into a single document, which was forwarded to Spain as the Memorial y Relaeoin que da a Su Magestad, Francisco de Urdiiiola, Gobernador y Capitadn General de las Provincias de la Nueva Vizcaya, de todos los vecinos y moradores, de ellas y de las haciendas que ay asst de sacar Plata como Estancias de Ganados rmayores y menores y labores de coger pan y maiz y de los que tratan y contratan. . ' I have tabulated the returns in the accompanying charts. A few words of explanation are necessary for use of them. The alcaldes