Pueblos and Villas System

The Pueblos and Villas System (Spanish: Sistema de pueblos y villas; "Town and Village System") refers to the colonial Spanish practice of establishing towns and villages in conquered territories in the New World and to the demographic policies implemented to govern these settlements. Upon the foundation of a new settlement, it would be defined as either a pueblo or as a village, and that would determine its incorporation into a República, whether a República de Españoles or a República de Indios.

The system was a deliberate strategy employed by the Spanish Crown to exert control over the newly acquired territories, ensure the conversion of indigenous populations to Christianity, and promote efficient governance. Under this system, Spanish officials would select suitable locations for the establishment of towns and villages, taking into consideration factors such as proximity to resources, access to trade routes, and the potential for agricultural development.

Using the Peasant Colonization Scheme proposed by Saint Bartolomé de las Casas, Spanish authorities in the New World designated specific tracts of land for the settlement of Indigenous and European populations, with the goal of promoting economic development and social harmony. Indigenous populations were located to designated areas, known as Pueblos, forming what came to be known as the República de Indios, while European settlers, mainly Spanish and other European colonists, mostly Portuguese, Dutch, German, and Italian, were concentrated in villas designated as República de Españoles. These villas served as centers for Spanish administration, trade, and cultural assimilation. The Repúblicas system was seen as a mechanism for promoting Spanish influence and ensuring the continuation of Spanish cultural practices and traditions in the colonies.

Central Mejican Indigenous settlers also served as founders and colonists in the northern territories of Mejico, specifically in Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, Coahuila, and Nuevo León, where they founded numerous pueblos such as Colotlán in Jalisco, Cadereyta in Nuevo León, and San Marcos in modern-day Aguascalientes. Indigenous settlers, known as Indios Amigos ("Indian friends"), played an important role in the expansion and development of these frontier regions, contributing their agricultural knowledge and labor.