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Aguascalientes (city)

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Main Central Square often called "The Exedra"

The city of Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes in western central Mexico. It stands on the banks of the Río Aguascalientes, 1888 meters above sea level, at 21°51′N 102°18′W / 21.850°N 102.300°W / 21.850; -102.300. It is the municipal seat for the municipality of the same name.

The city was founded on 22 October, 1575. It became the capital of the newly formed state of the same name when its territory was split off from the adjacent state of Zacatecas in 1835.

The name originates from the Spanish words, "aguas calientes" meaning "hot waters". When the city was first founded it was given this name for its abundance of hot springs. These thermal features are still in demand in numerous spas and even exploited for domestic use.

People from Aguascalientes (both the city and the state) are known by the whimsical Spanish demonym hidrocálidos or "hydrothermal" people. The former name the city received just after being established was: "Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de las Aguas Calientes" (Village of our Lady of Ascension of the Hot Waters")

In actuallity, tradition and industry identify the city of today. Its preserved colonial historic center testifies its rich architectural skill and cultural vision. In the other hand, the precisely planned perifherial expressways, as well as its first class avenues and lanes, are surrounded with industrial parks that employ thousands of people. The state reports a high index of migrants, especially from other states, seeking to adquire a superior quality of life.

Industry, economy and demographics

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"Plaza Bosques Tower"

According the latest census by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Data Processing (INEGI), Aguascalientes City was the 13th largest metropolitan area by population in the country, with over 900,000 people in the year 2000. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico. In fact, the city's urban area has grown so much during the last 10 years, that it has surpassed the boundaries of the neighboring municipality of Jesús María, annexing its municipal administrative head town to the metropolitan area of Aguascalientes, converted now into a suburb. Several private sources have publicized the population in 2005 as one million inhabitants. Technically, as of the 2005 census the city's population was 663,671, whereas the municipality's population was 723,043.

The largest Nissan plant outside Japan is located in the city, and among other models of cars, it manufactures the worldwide production of the Sentra and Versa. Due to this the city has a significant Japanese population.

Texas Instruments has one plant in Aguascalientes, it is dedicated to integrated circuitry (IC) manufacturing. Sensata Technologies, former Texas Instruments Sensors and Controls division, has one plant in the city, making sensors and controls for automobile, HVAC and industrial use. Flextronics is another electronics manufacturer that has a plant located in Aguascalientes City. There are also several companies that work in the robotics industry, the most notable being Fanuc Robotics.

Cultural life

Aguascalientes organizes the largest festival held in Mexico, the San Marcos Fair, which takes place from the middle of April to the beginning of May. The celebration was held originally in the San Marcos church, neighborhood, and its magnificent neoclassical garden; since then, it has greatly expanded to cover a huge area of exposition spaces, bullrings, nightclubs, theaters, performance stages, theme park, hotels, convention centers, and other attractions. It receives almost 7 million visitors every year.

The old part of the city revolves around its downtown and the four primordial neighborhoods from which the city expanded. The most exquisite building here is the baroque Government Palace (state's capitol building), dating from 1664 and built harmoniously in red volcanic stone, it boasts more than a hundred arches of pink quarry. The prominent baroque Cathedral counts as the oldest building in the city begun in 1575. A tall column in the center of the main square dates from colonial times; it held a statue of a Spain's viceroy, which was toppled when the country gained independence; the current sculpture on its summit commemorates this fact. Aguascalientes historic downtown is home to several outstanding museums including the Aguascalientes Museum (Museo de Aguascalientes), the city's art museum, housed in a classical-style building done by the beloved self-trained architect Refugio Reyes; the Guadalupe Posada Museum (Museo Guadalupe Posada)is located in the historic nationhood of Triana, exhibits the life and work of José Guadalupe Posada; and the The State's History Museum, which is housed in an elegant Noveau mansion typical of the Porfirian period with its patio and dining room ornate with vegetable motives in a mediterranean style, with a french academism facade, and interior columns and arcade of pink quarry that envision the eclectic style of the porfirian period at its best. Other constructions of Refugio Reyes include the Paris Hotel, the Francia Hotel, and his masterpiece, the superb Church of San Antonio, considered to be one of the most beautiful churches in the country. The Guadalupe Church possesses an exuberant baroque facade designed by Jose de Alcibar, a renowned architect of the period. The gothic structure of "Los Arquitos" cultural center is what it used to be one of the first bathhouses in the city, declared a historic monument in 1990.

Aguascalientes is also home to one of the country's leading provincial theatres. Amongs them are the following:

  • Morelos Theater Important for its historical role during the Mexican Revolution as a Convention site. Architecturaly, the building is noted for its facade and interior, which houses a small museum.
"Morelos Theater"
  • Teatro Aguascalientes – the Aguascalientes Premier Theatre and Opera House
  • Museo Descubre – interactive science and technology museum, aimed at providing children with a hands-on learning experience
  • La Estacion Theme Park (The Old Train Station Complex) It contains the Old Train Station and Railway Museum historic complex, which at some point formed the largest rail hub and warehouses in all Latin America. The theme park has dancing fountains, spring water square, dancing water Civic Center, Whistle plaza and locomotive monuments, among others.


Famous hidrocálidos

Sports

The city is home to the soccer team Necaxa, which plays in the Primera División de México. The team left Mexico City and relocated to Aguascalientes following the 2003 opening of Estadio Victoria, which is now the team's home venue.

Panteras de Aguascalientes is the city's entry in Mexico's National Professional Basketball League. Los Rieleros play baseball in the summertime Mexican Baseball League.

References

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