Ciudad Acuña
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Ciudad Acuña, also known simply as Acuña, (originally Garza Galán, later Villa Acuña) is a city located in the Mexican state of Coahuila, at and a mean height above sea level of 280 metres. It stands on the Rio Grande (locally known as the Río Bravo), which at this point marks the U.S.-Mexico border, and offers a border crossing with the neighbouring city of Del Rio in the U.S. state of Texas. It serves as the municipal seat of the surrounding Acuña municipality. In the 2005 census the city had a population of 124,232, whereas the municipality's population was 126,238. The city is the fifth-largest community in the state.
The Del Rio-Ciudad Acuña Metropolitan Area (DR-CA) is the seventh bi-national metropolitan areas along the United States-Mexican border. The city of Del Rio is situated in the American state of Texas on the north of the Rio Grande and Ciudad Acuña is located in the Mexican State of Coahuila south of the river. This metropolitan area is also known as "Tierra de la Amistad". The metropolitan area is made up of one county: Val Verde in Texas and three municipalities: Lake Amistad, Ciudad Acuña, and Laughlin Air Force Base.
As of 2008, Del Rio Metropolitan Area's population is 48,145 people, and the Ciudad Acuña. Metropolitan Area's population is 144,669 people.
The 2008 population of Greater Del Rio-Ciudad Acuña Metropolitan Area 192,814
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[edit] Brief history
The first recorded settlement of Acuña took place on December 27, 1877. It was actually founded by a group of colonists led by Domingo Urias, Irineo Casillas Arevalo, and his wife Maximina Espinoza. At the same time, the Governor of the State was general Hipólito Charles who posted a military in the area led by captain Manuel Leal. In 1880 the community received villa (town) status under its first name of Garza Galán. In 1884 the locality was renamed Congregación las Vacas. Congregacion Las Vacas was then renamed Villa Acuña in 1912 after Saltillan poet Manuel Acuña. Villa Acuña was finally given the title of city on September 16, 1951, when it got its present name of Ciudad Acuña.
On October 24, 1960, US president Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mexican President Adolfo López Mateos met in Acuña to sign the initial agreements allowing construction of the dam. Construction plans were not finalized until December 1966 when presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz met on the international bridge. Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz met for the dedication of Amistad Dam on September 8, 1969.
Due to the presence of Laughlin AFB just across the border, the town was home to an entertainment district known as "Boy's Town" from the 1950's through 1984, when it was shut down. The entertainment area was located in an area originally outside of town and contained a variety of after-hours bars and brothels.
[edit] Radio
In the 1930’s in Villa Acuña now Ciudad Acuña, the border blaster XERA made its home. The radio station was started by Dr. John Brinkley, from Kansas. Dr Brinkley wanted to promote his male enhancment operations and used the radio station for that purpose. Due to the purpose of radio Xera and what it promoted the station was closed in 1939 by the Mexican government.
When Villa Acuña became Ciudad Acuña it became famous once more as the location of an international broadcasting station. In 1947 the government of Mexico licensed XERF-AM, the super-power border blaster run by Mexican investors on 100 kW. They used the old XERA facilities and sold its airtime to American Evangelists broadcasting in English to the United States. In 1959, A group of Texas investors formed the Inter-American Radio Advertising, Inc. which was located in the law offices of attorney Arturo Gonzalez in Del Rio, Texas. They ran the broadcasting in Del Rio while the license rested in the hands of Mexican officials. They boosted the power to 250 kW. This super station was where famous disc jockey Wolfman Jack between 1962 and 1964 became known. XERF-AM is currently under control of the Instituto Mexicano de la Radio and plays Spanish-language programs and music.
[edit] Music
Acuña is referenced in a song called "Mexican Blackbird" on the ZZ Top album Fandango. The song tells the story of a few men from Texas crossing the border to visit a mulatto in Acuña.
"Blame It on Mexico" a song performed by George Strait, written by songwriter Darrell Staedtler, on the "Strait Country" album tells about one night in Acuña Ma Crosby's (a historic restaurant in Acuña) in the beginning.
"In a bar in Acuña called Ma Crosby's I found myself not feeling any pain I told a 'Frisco girl I'd come for freedom She said she'd only come to catch a train We struck up some idle conversation Traded all the troubles on our minds One thing lead to another in the evening And I fell in love again for my last time"
[edit] Cinema
In the film, Rolling Thunder (1977) the villains are known as the Acuña Boys.
Outdoor scenes for the 1992 cult motion picture El Mariachi were shot here, as well as the bar scenes & street confrontation from the sequel, Desperado. Actor/Director/Producer: Carlos Gallardo, was born in Cd. Acuña, Coah. Mexico, the actor from the El Mariachi movie.
Also Desperado was filmed in Acuña at The Corona Club (kitty-corner to Ma Crosby's) located on the main strip (La Hidalgo)
In Kill Bill Vol. II the protagonist goes to see Bill's friend Estaban, who runs Acuña through the strength of his Acuña boys, the fatherless sons of the women he pimps. In another Tarantino movie Grindhouse, Acuña Boys Mexican Food is featured on a bumper ad as well as a take out drink container in the first scenes of Death Proof.
The film Like Water For Chocolate was filmed on (Amistad Lake) in Acuña.
Portions of the film No Country For Old Men (film) are set in Acuña.
[edit] References
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
[edit] External links
http://www.acunacity.com The first official visitor's website for Ciudad Acuña
