Naucalpan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Naucalpan (formally: Naucalpan de Juárez) is a municipality in the Mexican state of México. It is one of the state's most industrialized municipalities, second only to Toluca, its capital. It borders with the northernmost part of Distrito Federal, and it is part of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, which is the second largest Metropolitan Area of the world. Naucalpan is also the birthplace of the Mexican rock band Café Tacuba, whose members are often called "The Blessed Children of Naucalpan" by the media.
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[edit] Toponymy
[edit] Symbol
The Nahuatl symbol for Naucalpan (often inaccurately referred to as its Coat of Arms) is composed of four concentric rings located on the upper part, above the symbol of Calpulli (house exerting the power); under them, the symbol for "land", and the symbol of Pan (place) in the bottom.
[edit] Meaning of the name
The name Naucalpan derives from the Nahuatl "Nahui-Calli-Pan", which literally translates into "Four-House-Place". The derived meaning is "Place of the Four Houses", with the houses being Tlatilco (place of hidden things), Totoltepec (place of birds), Huitzilacasco (place between spears) and Totolinga (place of chickens).
[edit] History
The Tlatilcan culture arrived to the lands of Naucalpan between the years 1700 to 600 BC. By 1400 BC the area had great influence and presence of Otomi groups, and was called Otocampulco (on the place of Otomies). The Chichimecan culture arrived between the years 1000 and 1200, and built the pyramid now known as "Pirámide del Conde", as it was found during the construction of a residential area of the same name. In 1428 the territory was claimed by the Tepanecan empire of Azcapotzalco, but after being defeated by the Aztec Triple Alliance the territory was given to the kingdom of Tlacopan, which later became known as Tacuba. It is at this time when the new Mexican rulers gave the territory the name of Naucalpan.
In 1521, after the fall of the Great Tenochtitlán and with the evangelization of mesoamerican cultures, Naucalpan was baptized as "Saint Bartholome Naucalpan". On the event of the wedding of the aztec princess Isabel Moctezuma Tecuichpo and spaniard Alonso de Grado, Hernán Cortés conceded the territory of Tacuba (which included Naucalpan) as a wedding gift.
During the colonial period Naucalpan became an important mining place for sand, grave and limestone; this was used in the building of important churches and imperial buildings, such as the Mexico City Cathedral and the Mexican National Palace.
In 1574 the construction of a sanctuary for Our Lady of Los Remedios began, which concluded in August of 1575. This sanctuary was further expanded over the years, and in 2000 was elevated to the rank of Basilica.
In 1810, on the break of the Independence War, the Spanish army brought the image of the Virgin of Los Remedios to the capital and dressed her as a captain, naming her "Guardian of the Spanish army", much to the discontent of the indigenous population of Naucalpan.
When the independence war ended, Naucalpan became part of the neighbouring territory of Tlalnepantla, but with a government of its own. When the state of Mexico is founded on March 2, 1824, an election was called to form the first municipalities. As a result, on January 1, 1826 Naucalpan became a municipality of its own.
Naucalpan held special significance to Benito Juárez, who used it as a retreat after he returned from New Orleans, and in later years as a personal villa. It was from Naucalpan where Benito Juárez departed for Querétaro on November 5, 1860; a couple of months before he returned to Mexico City to establish unity.
Under Juárez's government, Naucalpan started its industrialization. Benito Juarez himself inaugurated the Río Hondo Fabrics Factory in 1869 (even though the factory was founded in 1867) and the "Mexicas Bridge", a path across the Río de los Remedios that helped establish a faster trade route between Naucalpan and Mexico City. Two years after Juárez died, on September 3, 1874, the congress of the State of México gave Naucalpan the category of Villa with the name "Villa de Juárez".
On December 8, 1894 a bullfighting arena (the first Toreo) is built using a wood structure. 53 years later it would be moved to a new location (Cuatro Caminos) and rebuilt with a steel structure.
On August 10, 1906, under Porfirio Díaz's rule, electricity was first introduced to Naucalpan.
During the Revolution years (1910-1920), many revolutionary figures emerged from Naucalpan, such as Román Díaz Rosas, Arnulfo Chávez, Alfredo Basurto García, Camilo Santos, Encarnación Díaz, Ezequiel Villaviscencio, Felipe Ángel Fortuño Miramón, Joaquín Bolaños Camacho, Luis Medina Barrón, Manuel Ramírez, Manuel Villanueva, Rodolfo González, and Toribio Velasco.
In 1947 the reubicated Toreo de Cuatro Caminos ends construction. With a dome shaped structure and larger capacity than the former, this time not only worked as a bullfighting arena but was also suited for concerts and other events. President Miguel Alemán Valdés was involved in the project of reubication of Toreo, as he owned by this time the Rancho La Herradura, located on the north part of Naucalpan.
Naucalpan achieved the category of City in 1957. That same year, the residential Ciudad Satélite began its construction, over the lands of Rancho La Herradura, which was sold by the now ex-president Miguel Alemán. Nevertheless, he kept a part of the land to himself and his family, and built a very large house where he spent the rest of his days.
In 1963, the Plaza Satélite shopping center is founded, just an avenue apart from Miguel Alemán's residence.
In 1976 the Congress of the state gave the municipality its current name of Naucalpan de Juárez.
In 1981 an ejidal area known as "Ejido de Oro" is turned into a municipal park, under the name of Naucalli; today it represents one of the main sources of oxygen of the urban zone.
Because of the accelerated development of its industry, today Naucalpan is considered as one of the most important municipalities in Mexico.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Population
Total: 883,863 (2000 est.)
Male: 426,818: 48.3%
Female: 457,399: 51.75%
[edit] Extension
Total: 155.70 sq. km.
Non urban: 55%
Urban: 45%
[edit] Altitude
2258 - 3650 m. above sea level.
[edit] Climate
Temperate; rainy from May to September.
Temperature average:
3ºC – 18ºC, (October to March)
6ºC – 32.5ºC (April to September)
[edit] Hydrology
Six rivers, seven dams, twelve manantials, three aqueducts.
[edit] Torres de Satélite ("Satélite Towers")
The Torres de Satélite towers are located in Ciudad Satélite ("Satellite City"), a middle to high class residential zone, in the northern part of Naucalpan. One of the country's first urban sculptures of great dimensions, had its planning started in 1957 with the ideas of renowned Mexican architect Luis Barragán, painter Jesús Reyes Ferreira and sculpturer Mathias Goeritz.
[edit] References
- http://www.naucalpan.gob.mx, Naucalpan de Juárez government website.
- http://www.viviraqui.com.mx, Naucalpan Local Newspaper.
