| Reynosa, Tamaulipas | |
|---|---|
| Motto: Trabajar por la patria es forjar nuestro destino (To work for the motherland is to forge our destiny) |
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| Location of Reynosa within Tamaulipas | |
| Location of Tamaulipas within Mexico | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Tamaulipas |
| Founded | 14 March 1749 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Everardo Villarreal Salinas (2011-) (PRI) |
| Elevation | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 607,532—1,000,000 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC−6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC−5) |
| Website | www.reynosa.gob.mx |
| Area Code 899
Airport REX |
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Reynosa is a border city in the northern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from McAllen, Texas in the United States. As of 2010, the city of Reynosa counts with a population of 607,532.[1] If its floating population is included in the census count, however, the population can reach up to approximately 1,000,000 habitants.[2] Reynosa is the largest and most populous city in the state of Tamaulipas, followed by Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Tampico, and Ciudad Victoria. In addition, the Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area counts with a population of roughly 1,700,000 habitants,[3] making it the third largest metropolitan area in the Mexico-US border. Reynosa is the 30th largest city in Mexico and anchors the largest metropolitan area in Tamaulipas.
Reynosa is the fastest growing city in the state of Tamaulipas, and lies among the top five fastest growing cities in Mexico.[4]
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Reynosa was founded on 14 March 1749 with 297 inhabitants by Carlos Cantú under the command of José de Escandón y Helguera the Count of Sierra Gorda. But due to flooding in the area on the 4 July 1802, they decided to move five miles to the east keeping the same margin between them and the Rio Grande. It was not until 1926 that the state government recognized Reynosa as a city.
Reynosa was first named Villa de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Reynosa. The pioneers of the Villa proceeded from El Nuevo Reino de León, especially from Monterrey, Cadereyta, Cerralvo and El Pilón. The town was composed with 50 families. It was given the name of Reynosa as a tribute to the town with the same name in Spain, birthplace of the Viceroy de Güemes y Horcasitas.
Between 1846 and 1848, Reynosa was captured and temporarily held by the United States Army.
Reynosa extends across 3,156.34 sq kilometers (1218.66 sq. miles), representing 3.7 per cent of the Tamaulipas territory. Today it is the location of several satellite U.S. companies doing business to take advantage of low labor rates and industry incentives.[5]
In February 2010, a rise in violence between drug cartels caused the U.S. Consulate to temporarily close their Reynosa agency.[6] The following month, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning which urged American citizens to avoid certain border areas in Mexico including the city of Reynosa. An updated version of the warning mentions the killing of a U.S. citizen in the area as recently as January 2011.[7] [8][9]