Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area
Map of the Laredo Borderplex

Common name: Laredo Borderplex
Largest city

Other cities		 Flag of the United States Laredo, TX - Flag of Mexico Nuevo Laredo, TM

Campanario
Rio Bravo
El Cenizo
Population Ranked 162 in 2008 in the Americas
 - Total 589,309 (2006 Official Census / INEGI est.)
718,073 (2008 World Gazetteer est.)
 - Density 3,643/sq. mi. 
1,407/km²
Area 161.76 sq. mi.
418.96 km²
Subdivision(s)  Flag of the United States Texas
  -Webb County

Flag of Mexico Tamaulipas
  -Municipality of Nuevo Laredo
Flag of Mexico Nuevo Leon
  -Municipality of Anahuac
Flag of Mexico Coahuila
  -Municipality of Hidalgo
Time Zones(s)  UTC-6

The Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area (UN/LOCODE: USLRD & MXNLD) is one of six bi-national metropolitan areas along the United States-Mexican border. The city of Laredo is situated in the American state of Texas on the north of the Rio Grande and Nuevo Laredo is located in the Mexican State of Tamaulipas south of the river. This metropolitan area is also known as the Two Laredos or the Laredo Borderplex. The metropolitan area is made up of one county: Webb County in Texas and three municipalities: Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas, Municipality of Hidalgo in Coahuila, Municipality of Anahuac in Nuevo Leon in Mexico. Two urban areas: the Laredo Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Zona Metropolitana Nuevo Laredo (Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Zone) three cities and 12 towns make the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan area which has a total of 589,309 inhabitants according to the INEGI Census of 2005[1] and the United States Census estimate of 2006[2]. The Laredo- Nuevo Laredo is connected by four International Bridges and an International Railway Bridge. According to World Gazetteer this metropolitan area ranked 167th largest in North and South America in 2007 with an estimated population of 683,503 in 2008 it ranks 162nd with a population of 718,073[3]. This area ranks 66th in the United States[4] and 23rd in Mexico[5].

Contents

[edit] Populated Places

Laredo-Nuevo Laredo metropolitan area is formed by the following populated places:

[edit] Urban Areas

[edit] Cities

[edit] Texas

[edit] Tamaulipas

[edit] Towns

[edit] Texas

[edit] Coahuila

[edit] Tamaulipas

[edit] Nuevo Leon

[edit] History

Map of Laredo in 1892
Map of Laredo in 1892

Villa de San Agustin de Laredo was founded in 1755 by Don Tomas Sanchez while the area was part of a region called Nuevo Santander in the Spanish colony of New Spain. Villa de San Agustin de Laredo got its name from Laredo, Cantabria, Spain and in honor of Saint Augustine of Hippo. In 1840, Laredo was the capital of the independent Republic of the Rio Grande, set up in rebellion to the dictatorship of Antonio López de Santa Anna and brought back into Mexico by military force. In 1846, during the Mexican-American War the town was occupied by the Texas Rangers. After the war the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ceded the land to the United States. A referendum was taken in the town, which voted overwhelmingly to petition the American military government in charge of the area to return the town to Mexico. However, this petition was rejected, and in response the bulk of the population moved over the river into Mexican territory to found the new town of Nuevo Laredo.

The origin of name of Laredo is unclear. Some scholars say the name might stem from Glaretum which means "sandy, rocky place" others state that Laredo stems from Euskaro and means "beautiful prairies"[8][9]. Laredo might also stem from Laridae which means gull or it might be made up of two Latin words lar which means home and edo which means birth.

[edit] Population Growth

Year Population Count Type[10]
1990 343,442 Census
2000 519,801 Census
2007 683,503 Estimate

[edit] Economy

The Laredo National Bank is one of the strongest banking institutions in Laredo, Texas
The Laredo National Bank is one of the strongest banking institutions in Laredo, Texas

[edit] Trade

More than 47% of United States international trade headed for Mexico and more than 36% of Mexican international trade crosses through the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo port of entries[11][12]. This is the reason that the borderplex's economy rotates around commercial and industrial warehousing, import, and export. The city of Laredo has an airport called Laredo International Airport which has one-way flights to Houston, Dallas, and Las Vegas. The city of Nuevo Laredo has the Quetzalcóatl International Airport which has daily flights to Mexico City. These airports also handle merchandise to export to the neighboring country. The Laredo-Nuevo Laredo port of entry has five international bridges crossing the Rio Grande in 2007.

[edit] International Bridges

[edit] Major Highways

Major Highways in Laredo and their starting and ending points:

Major Highways in Nuevo Laredo and their starting and ending points:

[edit] Retail Sales

Foggy morning at Mall Del Norte
Foggy morning at Mall Del Norte

Retail sales also helps the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo economy, it attracts shoppers from Northern Mexico and South Texas[13]. There are 2 indoor shopping malls located in the area and dozens of plazas. The Streets of Laredo Urban Mall is an association created by businesses located in Iturbide Street in the San Agustin historical district to beautify and renovate the area[14]. By 2009 Laredo will have an additional 2 malls which are currently under construction:

[edit] Media

[edit] Television

The Laredo Borderplex has 14 television stations, 8 in Laredo and 6 located in Nuevo Laredo. They are affiliated with United States and Mexico's major networks including KVTV CBS affiliate, KGNS NBC affiliate, KXOF FOX affiliate, KGNS The CW affiliate, KLDO Univision affiliate, KETF Telefutura, XHLAT TV Azteca 7 affiliate, XHLNA TV Azteca 13 affiliate, XHBR XEW affiliate, and other Televisa networks and independent stations.

[edit] Radio

There are 13 AM radio stations (8 in Nuevo Laredo five in Laredo) and 20 FM radio stations (8 in Laredo 12 in Nuevo Laredo). Formats available in the region are: Classic Rock, Country, Easy Listening, Urban Contemporary, International, Mexican Regional Music, Spanish Contemporary, Spanish Christian, Spanish Talk, and Tejano.

[edit] Newspapers

Laredo has four English newspapers: Laredo Morning Times[17], LareDOS[18], Laredo Chameleon[19], and LaredoPolitics[20]. Nuevo Laredo has four Spanish newspapers: El Diario de Nuevo Laredo[21], El Mañana de Nuevo Laredo[22], Primera Hora[23], and Ultima Hora[24]. Other out of town newspapers are sold in the most sold are San Antonio Express, Corpus Christi Caller Times, El Norte de Monterrey, New York Times, El Universal (Mexico City), and USA Today.

[edit] Sports

Laredo is home to four semiprofessional sports teams. The Laredo Bucks are a Central Hockey League hockey team in the Southern Conference's Southeast Division. The Bucks have been the League's Champion twice in 2003 and 2005. The Laredo Heat is a Premier Development League soccer team in the Southern Conference's Mid South Division. Laredo are the current USL Premier Development League champions, having defeated 2006 champions Michigan Bucks in a penalty shootout, following a 0-0 draw in the 2007 championship game. The Laredo Broncos are a baseball team in the United League. Nuevo Laredo is home to the Mexican Soccer League's Second Division Bravos de Nuevo Laredo. Both Laredo were home to the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos which were the only Mexican Baseball League team to play in both the United States and Mexico. The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos were the Mexican Baseball League Champions in 1953, 1954, 1958, 1977, and 1989. In 2008 the Tecolotes came back to Nuevo Laredo and they are known as the Tecolotres de Nuevo Laredo.

[edit] Gallery

[edit] Pictures of Laredo, Texas

Laredo National Bank Headquarters

San Agustin Cathedral in Laredo

San Agustin Cathedral Tower

University of Texas Health Science Center Laredo Campus Clock Tower

San Agustin Cathedral rear

Republic of the Rio Grande Capitol Building Museum

Foggy morning at the Mall del Norte

Holiday Inn in Laredo

Pocket Communications Laredo Branch

University of Texas Health and Science Center Laredo Campus

Embassy Suites in Laredo

Laredo Medical Center

Webb County administration building

Laredo Community Health Center

Laredo Public Library

Mall del Norte Northwest wing

Laredo Police Department

Rio Grande Plaza Hotel

Laredo Duty-free Zone Building

Tex-Mex Railway International Bridge view from Laredo

El Portal Center Eastside

El Portal Center view from Nuevo Laredo

[edit] Pictures of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

Vicente Guerrero Statue

H-E-B Plaza

Hilton Garden Inn

Camino Real Hotel

Founder's Monument

Mother's Monument Royal Crowne Plaza in the background

Technical Institute

Federal Palace

Municipal Palace Garden

Municipal Palace

Soriana Reforma Plaza

Tex-Mex Railway International Bridge view from Nuevo Laredo

Gateway to the Americas International Bridge Mexican side

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ INEGI Mexican Census results for 2005 See Tamaulipas > Nuevo Laredo (Spanish)
  2. ^ United States Census 2006 estimate Laredo, Texas
  3. ^ World Gazetteer List of Metropolitan Areas in both Americas
  4. ^ Metropolitan populaion rank in United States
  5. ^ Metropolitan population rank in Mexico
  6. ^ INEGI Mexican Census results for 2005 See Coahuila > Hidalgo (Spanish)
  7. ^ INEGI Mexican Census results for 2005 See Nuevo Leon > Colombia (Spanish)
  8. ^ Laredo Origin
  9. ^ Laredo Origin (Spanish)
  10. ^ World Gazetteer List of Metropolitan Areas in both Americas
  11. ^ Laredo Morning Times "National report lists Laredo as largest inland port"
  12. ^ Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas "Southwest Economy "
  13. ^ Shopping Demographics in the Laredo Area
  14. ^ LareDOS Article "Streets of Laredo Urban Mall
  15. ^ Laredo Town Center Plans
  16. ^ Piazza del Sol Plans
  17. ^ Laredo Morning Times
  18. ^ LareDOS
  19. ^ The Laredo Chameleon
  20. ^ LaredoPolitics
  21. ^ El Diario de Nuevo Laredo (Spanish)
  22. ^ El Mañana de Nuevo Laredo (Spanish)
  23. ^ Primera Hora (Spanish)
  24. ^ Ultima Hora (Spanish)

[edit] See also

v • d • e
City of Laredo
Attractions
and Sports		 Flag of Laredo
Business
History
Education
Media

AM: KVOZ  · KLAR  · KLNT
FM: KHOY  · KBNL  · KJBZ  · KQUR  · KRRG  · KNEX
International
bridges
Neighborhoods

Downtown · Nye  · Uptown
Nuevo Laredo Coat of Arms
v • d • e

 
City of Nuevo Laredo
Attractions
and Sports
History
Media
International
Bridges
Languages