Sayulita, Mexico

History

Early inhabitants of Sayulita were drawn to the area to work on coconut palm ranches, where coconut oil was extracted from the palm species Attalea cohune. During the coconut oil boom, many people died of lung diseases caused by inhaling the dust that the coconuts gave off when split. The hacienda grew, and in addition to oil production, it soon became an important livestock emporium. In 1936, the livestock were sold and the land donated to the port workers with the intention to continue producing, leading to the formation of the Sayulita ejido.

In the 1940s, coconut production was reduced considerably, leading agriculture and fisheries to become the primary industries of the area. Though less abundant than the past, species fished commercially in the region include snapper, horse mackerel, sawfish, grouper, oyster, shrimp and lobster.

In 1965 the La Varas-Puerto Vallarta highway was built, which helped inaugurate tourism into the region. As a part of a tourism expansion and development project, Sayulita's streets were paved, and public works such as kiosks, public squares, markets, and sidewalks were built.

From the History section of Sayulita on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.