Tampico, Tamaulipas
| Tampico | |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country |  Mexico |
| State |  Tamaulipas |
| Founded | April 13, 1823 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Oscar Pérez Inguanzo (PRI) |
| Area | |
| - City | 92.73 km2 (35.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
| - City | 303,635 |
| - Density | 4,338/km2 (11,235.4/sq mi) |
| - Metro | 803,196 |
| - Demonym | Tampiqueño |
| Time zone | Central Standard Time (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | Central Daylight Time (UTC-5) |
| Website | www.tampico.gob.mx |
Tampico is the main city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is the nation's chief economic powerhouse on the Gulf of Mexico. Economic development during the 1920s made the city a pioneer in the aviation and soda industries. Oil is the chief export, but the city also is a major exporter of silver, copper, and lumber, together with wool, hemp, and other agricultural products. Containerized cargo, however, is mainly handled by the neighboring ocean port of Altamira.
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History
The present city was founded by European Mexicans on April 13, 1823, though there had been a series of human settlements in the area for centuries. The region had several early Huastec settlements, among them the important site at Las Flores, which flourished between 1000 and 1250 CE.
Among the earliest European colonists, the Spanish Franciscan priest Andrés de Olmos established a mission in the area in 1532. At his request, Spanish officials founded a settlement called San Luis de Tampico in 1554. Its population was relocated in 1684 to the south of the Pánuco River due to frequent pirate attacks, among them a particularly destructive incursion by Laurens de Graaf.
In August 1829, Spanish troops from Cuba invaded Tampico. In September a force under General Santa Ana forced the Spanish troops to surrender and Mexican control of Tampico was re-established.[1]
The name "Tampico" is of Huastec origin: tam-piko, meaning "place of otters" (literally "water dogs"). The city is surrounded by rivers and lagoons that were the habitat of a historically large population of otters.
The contemporary city
Tampico's downtown architecture is an eclectic mix and reflects the growth of the city during the Porfiriato (the period of rule by President Porfirio Díaz). It includes many New Orleans-inspired balconies (mostly built of English cast iron). Some bear the original plaques showing their manufacture at the Derbyshire forge of Andrew Handyside in Plaza de la libertad.
Outstanding buildings include the Neo-classical Town Hall (or Palacio Municipal) in Plaza de Armas, and the English redbrick Customs House in the docks. The prevalence of New Orleans-style architecture is attributed to the early years of the city, when many building supplies, including pre-built housing components, were shipped from that city to the area during its initial construction. The historical downtown areas of Plaza de Armas and Plaza de Libertad have been restored and improved in recent years, in part to encourage more tourist revenue.
The Cathedral of Tampico, also known as the Temple of the Immaculate Conception, located in Plaza de Armas, dates to the late 19th century. Its current appearance is the result of many restorations. It is of the Neo-classical style in light brown canter, with Corinthian-style columns and three enormous doors that form the entrance. Its two towers are made of three bodies. The eastern one has a large, London-made, public chiming clock, a gift from Don Angel Sainz Trapaga. Its recently refurbished interior holds several wall paintings and other works of art. The altar is of white Carrara marble. The United States oil tycoon Edward Doheny reportedly donated considerable funds for the Cathedral's construction and maintenance after 1902, when he based his Mexican oil operations near Tampico.
On April 9, 1914, Mexican troops and nine U.S. Navy sailors from the USS Dolphin confronted each other over a misunderstanding about fuel supplies. This resulted in the Tampico Affair.
Demographics
According to the INEGI 2005 census, the population of the city of Tampico was 303,635, and that of the municipality of Tampico was 303,924, both ranking fourth in the state. Its metropolitan area population was 803,196 people. The municipality has an area of 92.73 km² (35.8 sq mi).
Climate
Tampico has a humid subtropical climate. Its weather, though reasonably pleasant in spring and autumn, is hot in the summer; the average high reaches 32 °C (90 °F) in August, with an average low of 23 °C (74 °F). Winters are cool but not cold. The average January high is 22 °C (72 °F) and the average low in January is 13 °C (55 °F). Rainfall is frequent from May through September.
Tampico is an extremely humid city, with summer heat indexes reaching 40 °C (104 °F). During autumn and winter, it is affected by cold fronts that pass through the gulf and bring high winds that can reach 50 km/h (37 mph) with gusts of 70 to 80 km/h (43 to 50 mph). Tampico is located in a hurricane area, but it has not been affected directly by one in more than 50 years.
| Climate data for Tampico, Tamaulipas | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Source: The Weather Channel[2]'' | |||||||||||||
Transportation
The metropolitan area of Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira is served by General Francisco Javier Mina International Airport (IATA airport code: TAM), which is located in the northern part of the city of Tampico. It serves various routes to Mexican cities, mainly Mexico City and Monterrey. It also has international services, with daily flights to Houston, Texas.
Other facts
Seafood is important in the city - even its locals are informally known as Jaibos (crab) - and the crab emblem is seen in many places, from the sides of buses to park benches.
The local professional soccer team was founded in 1945 and is named Tampico Madero, also known as Jaiba Brava. In 1953 the team was Champion of the Mexican First Division and also won the Campeón de Campeones title. In 1961 la Jaiba Brava won the Copa Mexico trophy.
Popular culture
- Joseph Hergesheimer's 1920s novel Tampico tells an engrossing tale of expatriates living in the city.
- "Tampico" is the title of a popular 1945 song composed by US artist Gene Roland and produced by jazz musician and conductor Stan Kenton, with lead vocals by June Christy. Roland suggested in his song that the city had become more American than America itself. (Many believe this description still applies to the city.).
- Director John Huston set the opening scenes of his motion picture epic, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre in Tampico.
- Jimmy Buffett wrote the song "Tampico Trauma" about experiences in the city.
Notable people
- Juan García Esquivel, lounge musician and composer.
- Rodrigo Gonzalez, rock musician. Born 1950 in Tampico, killed in the 1985 Mexico City earthquake.
- Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, founder and former president of Televisa, Mexico's largest TV Network; 1895-1973.
- Mauricio Garcés (1926-1989), actor; born Mauricio Feres Yazbeck.
- Rafael Sebastián Guillén Vicente, whose alleged nom de guerre is Subcomandante Marcos or Delegado Cero.
- Ernesto Corripio Ahumada (1919-2008), Archbishop of Mexico.
- Plácido Arango Arias, founder of VIPS Group, Spanish-Mexican conglomerate of restaurants and cafeterias.
- Alfonso Quiroz Cuarón, first criminologist in Mexico.
- Rafael Ramírez Heredia, writer.
- Orlando Ortiz, writer.
- Anamaría Rabatté Cervi, writer.
- Alejandro Monteverde, film director.
- Joaquín Del Olmo, international soccer player; midfield.
- José Angel Gurría Treviño, former Mexican Treasury Secretary.
- Enrique "El Perro" Bermúdez de la Serna, popular sportscaster.
- Laura Elizondo Erhard, former Miss Mexico; 4th place in Miss Universe, 2005.
- Genaro Salinas, tenor singer.
- Katalina Verdin, Playboy model
- Dr. José Sierra Flores, prominent surgeon and musician; founder and dean of the Medical School, Universidad del Noreste (UNE).
- Alfonso Luna, director of marketing, Google Latinamerica.
- Carlos Guzman Montalvo., Professional Race Driver of race cars and power boats, with several championship wins.
- Jose Ollervides, news reporter with Univision network in USA.
- Manuel III de Berlanga y Villamil, photographer and writer.
- Alicja Bachleda, Polish actress and singer.
- Linda Christian (Blanca Rosa Welter), actress, sister to Ariadna Welter (well-known actress in the Mexican cinema), wife of Tyrone Power, mother of Taryn Power, first Bond girl, played Mara in the last Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan film "Tarzan and The Mermaids" (1948).
- Paulina Goto, (Paulina Gomez Torres)-Actress and protagonist in Televisa's youth telenovela, Nina de Mi Corazon.
Sister cities
See also
- Tampico Affair
- Tampico Bridge
- Lagoon of the Carpenter
- Miramar Beach
References
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005, INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
- "Tamaulipas", Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México
- ↑ Dupuy and Dupuy. The Encyclopedia of Military History. p. 818
- ↑ MONTHLY AVERAGES for Tampico, Mexico
External links
- (Spanish) Tampico Official Site.
- (Spanish) Tampico's Lagoon Development Project.
- (Spanish) Tampico's Metropolitan Cultural Space (Theater).
- (Spanish) Tampico Directory.
- (Spanish) Tampico's portal and virtual community.
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