In pre-Columbian times, already one of the largest towns in the region, it was conquered by the
Aztecs under the rule of
Moctezuma Ilhuicamina. During Moctezuma Ilhuicamina's reign (1440–1469), the first leisure center for nobles was created in the warm territory of Oaxtepec, as well as low lands to the south of
Tenochtitlan valley, today's
Morelos. Moctezuma ordered to use the
water springs of Oaxtepec to create an
irrigation system for
agriculture and preservation of important vegetation of the
Aztec empire. An elaborate royal garden was established here where both flowers and other plants were cultivated. This was the first botanical garden in the Americas. According to the Relacion de Huaxtepec, the Aztec
calpixqui (steward) for Oaxtepec was separate from the local
tlatoani, who held the title
tultecateteutli ("
Toltec lord") and was assisted by twelve officials similar to judges. In 1519, the tlatoani of Oaxtepec was Tizapapalotzin. Local products of Oaxtepec included cotton, cacao, limestone,
amate and rock crystal, and the town had a commercial partnership with nearby
Totolapan. Oaxtepec fought wars against
Jiutepec and the individual altepeme of
Tlaxcala. When the Spanish first arrived in the region, they marveled at the beauty of the place. They praised Oaxtepec in their
chronicles of the
Aztec conquest. In the 16th century, thanks to the great number of medicinal plants found in the region, the
Spaniards decided to build the
Santa Cruz de Oaxtepec hospital. Bernandino Álvares directed the project in 1569 and for the next two hundred years it was administrated by the
Hermanos de la Caridad (Brother of Charity). The
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Church of Saint Dominic of Guzman) was built on the ruins of the main pyramid of Oaxtepec. A major event occurred in 1964 when the
Centro Vacacional Adolfo López Mateos IMSS Oaxtepec (waterpark run by
Mexican Social Security Institute) was built on 120 hectares of land. This was the most important water park in Latin America. In 2018 it was remodeled, sold to a private company, and renamed
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. A smaller water park called
Parque Acuatico Oaxtepec (PAO) used to be in the area, but it was purchased by Hurricane Harbor. ==Name and location==