Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes

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Main Central Square often called "The Exedra"
Main Central Square often called "The Exedra"

The city and municipality of Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes in western central Mexico. It stands on the banks of the Río Aguascalientes, 1888 meters above sea level, at 21°51′N, 102°18′W.

The city was founded on 22 October 1575. It became the capital of the newly formed state of the same name when its territory was split off from the adjacent state of Zacatecas in 1835.

The name -Aguascalientes- originated from the Spanish words "Aguas Calientes" meaning "hot waters". When the city was first founded in 1575 it was given this name for its abundance of hot springs. These thermal features are still in demand in numerous spas and even exploited for domestic use.

People from Aguascalientes (both the city and the state) are known by the whimsical Spanish demonym hidrocálidos or "hydrothermal" people.

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[edit] Industry, economy and demographics

"Plaza Bosques Tower"
"Plaza Bosques Tower"

According the latest census by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Data Processing (INEGI), Aguascalientes City was the 13th largest metropolitan areas by population in the country, with over 900,000 people living in the metro area in the year 2000. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico. In fact, the city's urban area has grown so much during the last 10 years, that it has surpassed the boundaries of the neighboring municipality of Jesus Maria, annexing its municipal administrative head town to the metropolitan area of Aguascalientes, converted now into a suburb. Several private sources have publicized the population as of 2005 in one million inhabitants. Technically, as of the 2005 census the city's population was 663,671, whereas the municipality's population was 723,043.

The largest Nissan plant outside Japan is located in the city, and among other models of cars, it manufactures the worldwide production of the Sentra and the all new Versa.

Texas Instruments has two plants in Aguascalientes. Both are the only plants from this company in Mexico. One is dedicated to Integrated Circuitry (IC) manufacturing; the other one makes Sensors and Control Devices. Flextronics is another electronics manufacturer that has a plant located in Aguascalientes City. There are also several companies that work on the robotics industry, being the most popular Fanuc Robotics.

[edit] Cultural life

Aguascalientes organizes the largest festival held in Mexico, the San Marcos Fair, which takes place from the middle of April to the beginning of May. It receives almost 7 million visitors every year.

Aguascalientes is home to several outstanding museums and one of the country's leading provincial theatres. Amongst them are the following:

  • Morelos Theater Important for its historical role during the Mexican Revolution as a Convention site. Architecturaly, the building is noted for its facade and interior, which houses a small museum.
  • Teatro Aguascalientes – the Aguascalientes Premier Theatre and Opera House
  • Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo)
  • Guadalupe Posada Museum (Museo Guadalupe Posada) life and work of José Guadalupe Posada
  • Aguascalientes Museum (Museo de Aguascalientes) The City's Art Museum
  • Museo Descubre – interactive science and technology museum, aimed at providing children with a hands-on learning experience
  • La Estacion Theme Park (The Old Train Station Complex) It contains the Old Train Station and Railway Museum historic complex, which at some point formed the largest rail hub and warehouses in all Latin America. The theme park has dancing fountains, spring water square, dancing water Civic Center, Whistle plaza and locomotive monuments, among others.
  • The State History Museum is located in an elegant house typical of the Porfirian period, It is Mediterranean in style, with a French academism facade, interior columns, and arcade, pink quarry dining room, and a Nouveau central patio, with ornamental motives of vegetables.
  • The Chistian War Museum The only museum to showcase the Chistian War, which a war between Mexicans divided by their way of thinking, and event that still provokes controversy, and it was spread thought out 18 states of Mexico.

[edit] Famous hidrocálidos

[edit] Sports

The city is home to the football team, Necaxa, the basketball team Panteras and the Baseball team Rieleros.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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