Ja·la·pa also Ja·la·pa En·rí·quez (hə-lä'pə ěn-rē'kěs, hä-lä'pä) A city of east-central Mexico east of Mexico City. Built on the site of a pre-Columbian city, Jalapa was captured by Cortés in 1519. It is now an agricultural trade center and a mountain resort. Population: 388,000.