The plains of the Teocaltiche Valley, an area of Chichimeca towns, were an important crossing point for communication routes between Zacatecas and Mexico City and Guadalajara. This facilitated the emergence of a successful agricultural and livestock economy. The Altos de Jalisco soon became, along with Aguascalientes, suppliers to the mining settlements in the north, leading to the founding in 1760 of the town of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación de los Macías, at the former post of El Sauz.