Aguascalientes

This article is about a state of Mexico. For the city, see Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes. For other uses, see Agua Caliente.

Aguascalientes
State
Estado Libre y Soberano de Aguascalientes
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Bona Terra, Bona Gens, Aqua Clara, Clarum Coelum (Good Earth, Good People, Clear Water, Clear Sky)
Anthem: Himno de Aguascalientes
State of Aguascalientes within Mexico
Country	Mexico
Capital	Aguascalientes
Largest City	Aguascalientes
Municipalities	11
Admission	February 5, 1857
Order	24th
Government
• Governor	Carlos Lozano
• Senators	Felipe González Rubén Camarillo Norma Esparza Herrera
• Deputies	Federal Deputies • Margarita Gallegos Soto • David Hernández Vallin • José Antonio Arámbula • Raúl Gerardo Cuadra • Nancy González Ulloa • Lourdes Reynoso Femat
Area
• Total	5,616 km2 (2,168 sq mi)
	Ranked 29th
Highest elevation	3,050 m (10,010 ft)
Population  (2012)
• Total	1,237,675
• Rank	27th
• Density	220/km2 (570/sq mi)
• Rank	4th
Demonym	Hidrocálido (a)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Postal code	20
Area code	Area codes • 449 • 465 • 495
ISO 3166 code	MX-AGU
HDI	0.763 high Ranked 9th
GDP	US$ 7,435.49 mil[a]
Website	Official Web Site
^ a. The state's GDP was 95,174,314 thousand pesos in 2008, amount corresponding to 7,435,493.3 thousand dollars, being a dollar worth 12.80 pesos (value of June 3, 2010).

Aguascalientes (ˈaɣwaskaˈljentes^ⓘ), officially Free and Sovereign state of Aguascalientes (Spanish: Estado Libre y Soberano de Aguascalientes, literally: Hot Waters), is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 11 municipalities and its capital city is Aguascalientes.

It is located in North-Central Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Zacatecas to the north and Jalisco to the south. Its name means "hot waters" in Spanish and originated from the abundance of hot springs in the area, the corresponding demonym for the state and its inhabitants is hidrocálido.

Geography

Mountain ranges seen from Aguascalientes

The state is located about 480 km (300 mi) from Mexico City.

It covers 5,471 square kilometers (2,112 sq mi) and has a little more than one million inhabitants. Most of its inhabitants live in the densely populated metropolitan area of its capital city.

The state as it is now was created on October 27, 1857 when it was separated from Zacatecas after the tale says that the wife of the governor of the state promised to give a kiss to the President of the time, in exchange for the separation of Aguascalientes from Zacatecas, which explains the shape of a kiss the state has. It bears the name Aguascalientes taken from its largest city and capital also called Aguascalientes.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Aguascalientes

Demographic development of Aguascalientes from 1895

Source: INEGI

More than two thirds of the local population of Aguascalientes is 78% European descent, mostly Spanish and French with settlement of French troops in the Valley of Huajucar during the Second Mexican Empire. Many Hidrocalidos trace their lineage back to Germany and the Netherlands, due to the settlement of various Mennonite communities, but also Italian, Russian, Polish, Swedish, German, Greek, and Romanian due to the high number of refugees who came to the state during World War II, 19% mestizo (mixed Amerindian-European), 2% Asian (mostly Japanese and Korean due to the rapid growth in Nissan production with the opening of a new factory in the state. .

• Inhabitants: 1,184,996
• Age Average: 24 years
• Annual Population Growth: 2.2%
• Population at the Capital: 722,250
• Population that speaks a native tongue: 1,436
• Population that does not speak Spanish: 4

Religion in Aguascalientes (2010 census)
Roman Catholicism			93.0%
Other Christian			4.4%
Other Religion			0.0%
No religion			1.8%
Unspecified			0.8%

Age Structure

Age Groups	Total	Male	Female
0–4 years	121,557	61,941	59,616
5–9 years	128,874	65,572	63,302
10–14 years	123,806	62,615	61,191
15–19 years	121,428	60,636	60,792
20–24 years	106,305	51,431	54,874
25–29 years	93,604	44,568	49,036
30–34 years	88,726	41,962	46,764
35–39 years	86,254	40,569	45,685
40–44 years	73,084	34,381	38,703
45–49 years	60,198	28,420	31,778
50–54 years	49,980	23,436	26,544
55–59 years	37,543	17,960	19,583
60–64 years	29,258	13,686	15,572
65–69 years	21,004	9,895	11,109
70–74 years	15,254	6,967	8,287
75–79 years	10,673	4,862	5,811
80–84 years	7,228	3,094	4,134
85–89 years	4,061	1,780	2,281
90–94 years	1,467	605	862
95–99 years	551	229	322
100 years and over	109	45	64
Unspecified	4,032

Economy and industry

High rises are not very common in the capital Aguascalientes.

This state originated around the times of colonial Spanish influence. It is located in the middle of the country and is now beginning to make a name for itself as an industrial power within Mexico. The state was once a major silver miner and a major source of railroad transportation, the latter due to its strategic location, midway between the three most populous areas, namely Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

Today the car industry, that is growing fast in Mexico, is specially important in this state, for here are not one but two Nissan factories; that together will produce more than half a million cars per year.

In the rural area, Aguascalientes was once the largest national producer of grapes and wines. This tradition ceased gradually due to the Spanish Royalty's wishes that grape and wine production be limited to the mother country. Thanks to the influx of immigrants into Mexico, the wineries and vineyards remain and flourish. Guavas are also produced in the state.

There are several projects for economic development such as : the Financial District Rio San Pedro, a monorail, a suburban train, the construction of the newest and most modern WTC in Mexico, over four shopping malls, two theme parks, two Executive Hotels and one whose qualification is five stars, eight bridges for the next five years, a Financial District around the Airport, A Texas Instruments Assembly-Test Plant, A Nissan Assembly plant, a Toyota assembly plant and several others projects place Aguascalientes as the third most competitive state in Mexico with more than US$12,000,000 in foreign direct investment per year (around 8 percent of Mexico's FDI) even though its population is just about 1.03 percent of the country.

However, recently it has also benefited from heavier tourism, since the capital city has gained prestige and status as a national destination for its colonial beauty and cleanliness. In addition, the haciendas and baths around the state have historic and recreational importance.

Horse on San Marcos Blvd. New Capital City Financial District

Tourism

PCE rescate uv003

Headquarters of INEGI

Aguascalientes Plaza Patria

Templo San Antonio

Complejo Ferrocarrilero Tres Centurias

Although this state is not often billed as a tourist center, international visitors, as well as citizens from all over Mexico, are attracted to the San Marcos Fair, which is considered the national fair of Mexico and contributes much to Mexico's economy.

Recently, its capital city has gained the reputation as a great destination for its superb colonial architecture visible in the colonial centre, as well as the modernity and dynamism in the outskirts.

The city is home to Lic. Jesús Terán Peredo International Airport, where 9 flights per day depart to Mexico City, Tijuana, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston.

The city also hosts many conventions every year. It benefits from its excellent central location. The city is also famed for its environment of relaxation, and for its safety and cleanliness, as it is often described by people when traveling to this part of the country for conventions or tourism.

Most tourists go to the capital. A few tourists explore the former mining towns in the north of the state (in the municipalities of Asientos and Tepezalá), which are now almost ghost cities. The haciendas, hot springs, and baths scattered around the state are also of historical and recreational relevance.

The municipality of Calvillo has a semi-tropical climate, The largest producer of guavas in Mexico, it attracts some fans of watersports to its reservoirs.

The state has a Natural Protected Reserve in the higher mountains called Sierra Fría. Located at a height of 2,500 to 3,000 meters (8,202 to 9,843 ft) above sea level, it comprises oak and pine forests. Its attractions include observing exuberant landscape and wide ravines, in which, there are pumas, lynxes, boar, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, raccoons and many other animals. There are steep-sided cycle paths, camping and picnic areas as well as several hunting clubs. It is the mountain climate and fauna that attracts locals for camping activities. In winter, the temperature sometimes falls to −4.44 °C (24.01 °F) when the weather is poor. Usually, Sierra Fria is the only part of the state that gets snow during winter.

In the city of Aguascalientes one of the best sunsets in the world can be seen in the Cerro del Muerto; the hill resembles the shape of a man lying down. The city of Aguascalientes is called "el corazón" which means "the heart" of Mexico because it lies in the middle of the country. This city is often considered, by its locals, to be one of the safest and cleanest in Mexico. Also, the city of Aguascalientes is known as "the land of the good people".

Sports

The state has one football team in the Mexican Premiere League, Club Necaxa, one professional baseball team in the Mexican League, Rieleros de Aguascalientes (The railroad men), and one professional basketball team, Las Panteras (The Panthers)

In December 2009, Necaxa was represented on the field and played their final 2009 match within the Mexican First Division League in the 2009 season after losing 1-0 vs Club América. Under the rules of regulation, Necaxa would not be able to participate in the first division competition play in the fall 2009 and spring 2010 year.

Necaxa's closing spring 2010 league performance had some accomplishments. They had an undefeated record at home throughout the fall 2009. In the spring 2010 campaign, Necaxa's only loss in the season came against F.C Leon, Necaxa faced F.C Leon on 8 May 2010 for the second leg of the Bicentennial Closing Spring Tournament of 2010. Necaxa won 4-2 on aggregate. Necaxa abandoned the Liga de Ascenso and returned to First Division fall 2010 season. As a result of this match Necaxa won the bi-championship in the Liga de Ascenso and First Promotion title in their franchise history.

On 16 April 2011, after a draw 1–1 with Atlante F.C., the club's first key game in 2011, Necaxa could not cumulate enough points in order to evade relegation. For a second time, Club Necaxa was relegated to the Liga de Ascenso, the second tier, for the 2011–2012 season.

Basketball

Aguascalientes hosts the Panteras de Aguascalientes headquarters. This team plays in the Mexican Professional Basketball League.

Beisbol

Aguascalientes also hosts the beisbol professional team Rieleros.

Racing

Aguascalientes also has important racetracks for the car and motorbike races at a national and international level.

Government and politics

Government

Main article: Municipalities of Aguascalientes

Aguascalientes is subdivided into 11 municipios ("municipalities").

Municipalities of Aguascalientes, by INEGI code.

INEGI code	Municipality	Municipal Seat
001	Aguascalientes	Aguascalientes
002	Asientos	Asientos
003	Calvillo	Calvillo
004	Cosío	Cosío
005	Jesús María	Jesús María
006	Pabellón de Arteaga	Pabellón de Arteaga
007	Rincón de Romos	Rincón de Romos
008	San José de Gracia	San José de Gracia
009	Tepezalá	Tepezalá
010	El Llano	Palo Alto
011	San Francisco de los Romo	San Francisco de los Romo

Presidential elections results

Year	PRI	PAN	PRD
2012	38.79% 189,027	30.83% 150,231	20.72% 100,958
2006	23.64% 97,935	46.72% 193,588	21.70% 89,920
2000	33.89% 127,134	53.93% 202,335	7.00% 26,264
1994	46.45% 157,736	36.65% 124,484	8.61% 29,236

Major communities

• Aguascalientes
• Asientos
• Calvillo
• Jesús María
• Pabellón de Arteaga

• Rincón de Romos
• San Francisco de los Romo
• San Jose de Gracia
• Tepezala
• Cosio

Famous Hidrocálidos

See also articles in the category People from Aguascalientes

Senator Felipe Gonzalez

• Karina González, Model and Nuestra Belleza México 2011
• Gabriela Palacio, model and Nuestra Belleza Mundo México 2010.
• José María Bocanegra, third President of Mexico
• Saturnino Herrán, artist
• Manuel M. Ponce, musician, (born in neighbor state Zacatecas, but family moved to Aguascalientes a few days later).
• Yadira Carrillo,actress
• José Guadalupe Posada, artist
• Jesús F. Contreras, artist
• Sesashi Guerrero Pérez, Rhythmic Gymnast, Contemporary dancer, Gymnastics Trainer,
• Violeta Retamoza, professional golfer
• Iyérida Mogollón Martin, Elite Gymnast
• Luz Helisabet Delgado, Wife of Joshua Ingraham
• Monica Del Real, Tae Kwon Do medalist
• Jose Maria Napoleon, singer from late seventies to early eighties
• David Reynoso, actor
• Manuel Lavin de la Riva, University of Nebraska Golfer
• Casandra Calderón, Actress
• Anabel Ferreira, Actress/Comedienne

External links

• Template:Es icon Aguascalientes state government
• Pictures of Aguascalientes Photo set of the City of Aguascalientes
• Aguascalientes Touristic website
• Fotos y Mensajes de Aguascalientes