Presidio de San Felipe y Santiago de Janos.

Circa 1580 the town of Janos, Chihuahua, was founded by Franciscan missionaries. In 1680 its mission was destroyed in raids by Apaches and other Indians. As a consequence, a presidio, or military outpost, was established at Janos in 1686; the mission was repopulated in 1717 with Janos and Jocomes Indians. A "peace establishment" was formed to integrate Apaches into the settlement. From Janos Presidio and other presidios in the area, the Spanish military continued intermittenly to make peace and do battle with the Apaches. From 1790 to 1831 a relative degree of peace was attained. As Spain's influence in Mexico waned, the administration of presidios weakened, and Mexico's relations with Indian tribes deteriorated. By 1854 the United States had appropriated a large portion of the territory that had been under the jurisdiction of the Janos Presidio. In 1858 the last of the peaceful Apaches at Janos left, and the presidio was closed.