Atlixco is a rapidly growing city and its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Puebla. It is located only 24 km south of the city of Puebla, yet is 300 meters lower in altitude, at 1840 m. This drop in altitude causes a noticeable change in the weather of the city compared to the surrounding regions of the "Sierra Nevada" (literally "Snowy Mountains"). This makes Atlixco renowned for its benign climate, which varies by only a few degrees Celsius year round.
Atlixco, which reported a population of 86,173 in the 2005 census, is located on the foothills of the Popocatépetl volcano. The city is the third-largest community in the state, after Puebla and Tehuacán. The municipality of Atlixco, which has an area of 229.22 km² (88.5 sq mi), reported a population of 122,149.
The city is an agricultural, commercial and industrial centre. Alfalfa, flowers, corn, wheat,and fruits are the main crops grown in the area. Textile factories, grain mills, and soft-drink plants are also located in the city, as well as several car dealerships.
In the past few decades, Atlixco has increasingly become a preferred area for country houses of residents of the city of Puebla, beginning in the 1970s with the development of the residential complex La Moraleda, and later EL Cristo Golf Club.
Important highways link Atlixco with the cities of Puebla and Cuautla. The city also has an airport for private planes.
