Our History

The Story of Our Canton

The firts natives of the ancient valley of Machachi were the Panzaleos. Their period includes two distinct civilizations, defined and known by the names of Protopanzaleo I and Protopanzaleo II. The Protopanzaleo I people made their settlement on the slopes of Rumiñahui and Pasochoa, with the most densely settled cores in the region of Puchalitola, Tucuso, and Pinllocruz. Later, Mejía (originally called Machachi), went through several administrative legal processes in its journey towards cantonization. It was elevated to the category of Parish in 1824, according to the Law of Territorial Division of June 25, 1824 (Legislative file. 1824 Booklet). In 1869, it became part of the Quito Canton by the Law of Territorial Division of August 30, 1869 (Legislative file, Booklet 1869, p.130); and on July 23, 1883, Mejía became a canton, in memory of the illustrious “Quiteño,” José Mejía Lequerica (Legislative File, National File). .