Relation of community size to endogamy in a traditional soceity: Pátzcuaro, Mexico, 1903–1932

Community endogamy is often a preferred cultural practice, although in traditional populations small community size make universal endogamy difficult for lack of appropriate mates. Using civil marriage records from an early 20th century Tarascan Mexican population, the association of local community size, transferred to long values, and endogamy is tested using 2,663 marriages for 40 locations situated in two municipios (counties) forming the Southwest rim of lake Pátzcuaro. The association is linear, with a correlation coefficient of 0.62 for completely endogamous marriages and 0.55 for individual endogamy. If the two municipio cabeceras (county seats) are removed, the r values improve to 0.83 and 0.80 (all at P < 0.001), respectively. Community size is thus important, but in a complex settlement area central place locations, such as the cabeceras, also exert a strong disruptive influence on the simple pattern.