The area was occupied and ruled by the
indigenous peoples until 1564, when
Francisco de Ibarra crossed the
Sierra Madre Occidental from
Durango and conquered the area for
Spain. In 1565 prospectors discovered
silver veins and the town of Copala was founded to serve the mines. The town was named after a mythical city of gold for which de Ibarra had unsuccessfully searched in northern Mexico. The town of Copala was destroyed in 1616 by an uprising of
Tepehuan Indians, but was rebuilt after the rebellion was quelled the following year. ==Economy==