Monclova

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Monclova is a city as well as the surrounding municipality in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. The city serves as the municipal seat of the municipality. It has an altitude of 600m over the sea level. It is located at 26°54′37″N, 101°25′20″W, in the state's central region (Región Centro), in the east-central part of the state.

In the 2005 census there were 198,819 inhabitants in the city and 200,160 in the municipality. Its metropolitan area (Monclova, Frontera, Castaños) had 294,191 inhabitants and has a population density of 29.88 inhabitants per square kilometers.

Monclova is the third-largest city in Coahuila (after Saltillo and Torreón).

The city stands out for the highest production of steel in Mexico, that is why it is known as the capital of steel. In 1942, Altos Hornos de Mexico (AHMSA), the steel factory, was founded; it originated the great industrial development of Monclova.

1 Rivalry with Saltillo
2 Tourism
- 2.1 Buildings and monuments
- 2.2 Parks and gardens
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Rivalry with Saltillo

During the colonial period and the first years of the 19th century, Monclova served as the capital of Nueva Extremadura. It remained the capital during the early years of Mexico's independence.

With the adoption of the 1824 Constitution, which created the state of Coahuila y Tejas, the capital was transferred to Saltillo. In 1828, this decision was overturned when Monclova was declared the capital of the new state; the following year, however, the state legislature continued to convene in Saltillo. On 9 March 1833, the state legislature settled the dispute in Monclova's favour, and this decision was ratified by President Antonio López de Santa Anna on 2 December 1834. However, with the enactment of the 1836 Constitutional Laws (whereby the federal republic was converted into a centralised one), the state of Coahuila y Tejas was divided into two departments – Coahuila and Tejas (or Texas, as it would later become) – and Saltillo was settled as Coahuila's capital.

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Buildings and monuments

The Santiago Apostol Parish Church, Construction of this beautiful building, headquarters to the area’s religious passion, began in the second half of the eighteenth century. Its façade consists of carved cantera stone.
The San Francisco de Asis Parish Church (XVII century, St. Francis of Assisi Church)
Ermita de Zapopan Church, Due to damage caused during the revolution and to conserve original details like its bells parts of its walls, restoration of this sober construction from 1700 was carried out at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
El Polvorin (The Powder Magazine) Museum with collections of anthropology, archery, guns, and other weapons.
Pape Museum Library, For 28 years, this cultural and recreational center, promoted by the Pape Foundation, has given us seasonal expositions with artistic works of an international scale. Its permanent exhibit chronologically illustrates the life and work of the couple Harold and Lou Pape. It also has an auditorium for 300 people where plays and musical concerts are performed.

Bordering the museum is the Harold R. Pape Library. This contemporary, recreational and interactive concept offers, primarily children and young people, a bibliographic heritage of more than 110,000 books complemented with modern internet services, a newspaper library, a children’s area, and a cultural video library.

Meteorological Observatory, Recently inaugurated, this observatory is the largest in the state with a 16-inch opening and capable of magnifying the brightness of any star up to 3,000 times. Controlled by a computer, it integrates a sophisticated video system that projects live images of the sun, the moon, and the planets.

[edit] Parks and gardens

The Zoo
Xochipilli Park I and II, More than 20 hectares (49 acres) intended for relaxation and recreational activities form this original concept from the Papes. Few places in our country can say they have a natural complex of this size. Its complete facilities include large sports and cultural spaces surrounded by green areas, lakes, rivers, fountains, and waterfalls.
The Main Square