Reynosa
Encyclopedia
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. If its floating population
is included in the census count, however, the population can reach up to approximately 1,000,000 habitants. 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, 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
.
. 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 preceded 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.
territory. Today it is the location of several satellite U.S. companies doing business to take advantage of low labor rates and industry incentives.
In February 2010, a rise in violence between drug cartels caused the U.S. Consulate to temporarily close their Reynosa agency. 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.
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, in the country of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
, directly across the border from McAllen, Texas
McAllen, Texas
McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in an area known as the Rio Grande Valley and is part of the . Its southern boundary is located about five miles from the U.S.–Mexico border and the Mexican city of Reynosa, the Rio...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of 2010, the city of Reynosa counts with a population of 607,532. If its floating population
Floating population
Floating population is a terminology used to describe a group of people who reside in a given population for a certain amount of time and for various reasons, but are not generally considered part of the official census count....
is included in the census count, however, the population can reach up to approximately 1,000,000 habitants. Reynosa is the largest and most populous city in the state of Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, followed by Matamoros
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Laredo is part of the Laredo-Nuevo...
, Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, and Ciudad Victoria
Ciudad Victoria
Ciudad Victoria , is the capital city of the Mexican state ofTamaulipas. It is located in the western-central region of the state. Ciudad Victoria is also the municipal seat of the surrounding Victoria Municipality, which covers an area of 1,638 km²...
. In addition, the Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area
Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area
Reynosa–McAllen, also known as McAllen–Reynosa, or simply as Borderplex, is one of the six bi-national metropolitan areas along the Mexico–U.S border. The city of Reynosa is situated on the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, while the city of McAllen is located in...
counts with a population of roughly 1,700,000 habitants, making it the third largest metropolitan area
Metropolitan areas of Mexico
Metropolitan areas in Mexico have been traditionally defined as the group of municipalities that heavily interact with each other, usually around a core city...
in the Mexico-US border. Reynosa is the 30th largest city in Mexico and anchors the largest metropolitan area in Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
.
Reynosa is the fastest growing city in the state of Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, and lies among the top five fastest growing cities in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
History
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 GordaSierra Gorda
The Sierra Gorda is an ecological region centered on the northern third of the state of Querétaro and extending into the neighboring states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí...
. 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 preceded 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.
Current
Reynosa extends across 3,156.34 sq kilometers (1218.66 sq. miles), representing 3.7 per cent of the TamaulipasTamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
territory. Today it is the location of several satellite U.S. companies doing business to take advantage of low labor rates and industry incentives.
In February 2010, a rise in violence between drug cartels caused the U.S. Consulate to temporarily close their Reynosa agency. 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.
Notable people
- Xavier BaezXavier BaezXavier Iván Báez Gamiño Xavier Iván Báez Gamiño Xavier Iván Báez Gamiño (born 22 July 1987 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas is a Mexican Footballer, currently playing for Chivas de Guadalajara as a midfielder.Xavier debuted with Chivas on February 17, 2007 against Atlante F.C. in a 3-0 win for the Rojiblancos...
- Footballer - Christian ChávezChristian ChávezFor the Argentine footballer, see Cristian Manuel Chávez.Christian Chávez is a singer and actor best known for his role as Giovanni Méndez López in the telenovela Rebelde and its spin off teen band RBD...
- Singer and actor - Laura FloresLaura FloresLaura Flores is a Mexican actress, hostess and singer, born in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.- Biography:...
- Actress, hostess and singer - Diana La CazadoraDiana La CazadoraDiana La Cazadora is a Mexican female wrestler living in Monterrey Nuevo León. She usually performs in Mexico and worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre for a number of years but is currently working on the Mexican independent circuit as well as occasionally wrestling in the United States...
- Female wrestler - Néstor GarzaNéstor GarzaNéstor Gabriel Garza is a Mexican boxer in the Light Welterweight division. He is a former Mexican National, WBO NABO, and the WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion.-Professional career:...
- Former WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion - Vidal MedinaVidal MedinaVidal Medina is a playwright and theatre director.- Biography :Medina was born in 1976 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. He graduated from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Administration, and studied in music at the Monterrey School of Music and Dancey...
- Playwright and theatre director - Jorge CantuJorge CantúJorge Luís Cantú Guzmán is an American professional baseball first baseman.Cantú bats and throws right-handed. He was born in McAllen, Texas, went to Sharyland High School, but was raised and makes his home in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.-Tampa Bay Devil Rays:Cantú was spotted by a scout while...
- Major League Baseball player - Ramón AyalaRamón AyalaRamón Ayala is a Mexican-American musician, composer, and songwriter of norteño and conjunto music. Known as the "King of the Accordion," Ayala has recorded over 105 albums for which he has received four Grammy Awards. Additionally, Ayala has been featured in thirteen movies...
- Mexican accordionist and songwriter - Jaime GarciaJaime Garcia (baseball)Jaime Omar García is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.-Early life:Jaime García was born on July 8, 1986 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico as the second of three children to civil engineer Jaime García, Sr. and Gloria Rodríguez Flores. García was raised between the border of...
- Major League Baseball player - Arturo Gonzalez - Footballer - Under 17 2011 World Cup Champion