Salamanca, Guanajuato
Encyclopedia
Salamanca is a city in the Mexican state of Guanajuato
.
Founded January 1, 1603 as 'Villa de Salamanca' by the Viceroy Gaspar de Zuniga and Acevedo, fifth Earl of Monterrey, who was originally from Salamanca
(Spain
). The town was founded in the lands of Bajio, after cattle ranchers and poor farmers, a few Spaniards, and small groups of Otomi Indians who formerly occupied a village named Xidoo, already lived in the area.
In recent years, many refineries have opened, and Salamanca has grown rapidly to become an important site for manufacturing and service industry in the region. Also, the University of Guanajuato has made many scientific contributions to develop agricultural and industrial technologies, giving a boost to the local and regional industries.
The city reported a 2010 census population of 260,759. The fourth-largest city in the state (behind León
, Irapuato
, and Celaya), it is also the largest of four places called "Salamanca" in Mexico.
. Each of these cities has its own variety of food, so one can find enchiladas, wheat gorditas, pambazo
, hamburgers, its famous carnitas
(pulled pork), arrachera, cabrito(goat), birria
, barbecue, cecina
, and pizza. There are food stands on virtually every street corner. Many types of locally made icepops & ice cream are also popular in the city.
The largest Pemex
refinery in Mexico is located in Salamanca, and it is the 11th largest crude oil refinery in the world.
Also noteworthy is CFE Thermoelectric, a source of significant employment in the municipality.
, which links the cities of Querétaro, Celaya, Irapuato, Silao and León; as well as Mexico City
through Mexican Federal Highway 57
. Also Mexican Federal Highway 43
links south to Morelia and Lazaro Cardenas.
hasn't had any long-distance rail passenger service since 2000 (except for a tourist line in the northwest), however there are plans to build a statewide Interurban Railway linking the same cities currently linked by Highway 45, in addition of the state's capital. However, this project has been stalled for at least 10 years
The former convent of San Juan de Sahagún and its church (with 12 monumental altarpieces artistically carved with 24 carat gold-plated sheet), and the former parish of St. Bartolmé Apostol are located within the city.
It is also renowned for its fair spring in which you can appreciate the workmanship, business, employment, and enjoying the theater of the people as well as different artistic groups and cuisine.
It is also nice to go out and enjoy art and conceptual urban design.
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
.
Founded January 1, 1603 as 'Villa de Salamanca' by the Viceroy Gaspar de Zuniga and Acevedo, fifth Earl of Monterrey, who was originally from Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). The town was founded in the lands of Bajio, after cattle ranchers and poor farmers, a few Spaniards, and small groups of Otomi Indians who formerly occupied a village named Xidoo, already lived in the area.
In recent years, many refineries have opened, and Salamanca has grown rapidly to become an important site for manufacturing and service industry in the region. Also, the University of Guanajuato has made many scientific contributions to develop agricultural and industrial technologies, giving a boost to the local and regional industries.
The city reported a 2010 census population of 260,759. The fourth-largest city in the state (behind León
León, Guanajuato
The city of León, formally León de los Aldama is the sixth most populous city in Mexico and the first in the state of Guanajuato. It is also the seat of the municipality of León...
, Irapuato
Irapuato, Guanajuato
Irapuato is a Mexican city located at the foot of the Arandas mountain , in the south central region of the state of Guanajuato. It lies between the Silao River and the Guanajuato River, a tributary of the Lerma River, at 1,724 m above sea level. It is located at...
, and Celaya), it is also the largest of four places called "Salamanca" in Mexico.
Cuisine
Salamanca's cuisine is very diverse because, thanks to the oil refinery, it is a city that has people from all over the country, from cities such as Veracruz, Oaxaca and Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. Each of these cities has its own variety of food, so one can find enchiladas, wheat gorditas, pambazo
Pambazo
Pambazo is the name of a Mexican white bread. It is also the name of the dish or antojito made with this bread dipped in a red guajillo pepper sauce and filled with papas con chorizo ....
, hamburgers, its famous carnitas
Carnitas
Carnitas, literally "little meats", is a type of braised or roasted pork in Mexican cuisine.Pork carnitas is traditionally made using the heavily marbled, rich 'boston butt' or 'picnic ham' cuts of pork...
(pulled pork), arrachera, cabrito(goat), birria
Birria
Birria is a spicy Mexican meat stew usually made with pork, goat, lamb, or mutton, often served during festive periods, such as Christmas, New Year's Eve, Mother's Day, and weddings. Originally from Jalisco, it is a common dish in some Mexican food establishments...
, barbecue, cecina
Cecina
Cecina may refer to:*Cecina, Tuscany, a town in the Italian Province of Livorno*Cecina , a river in Italy*Cecina , a Spanish and Mexican culinary specialty made of beef*Farinata, a Tuscan culinary specialty made of chickpea flour...
, and pizza. There are food stands on virtually every street corner. Many types of locally made icepops & ice cream are also popular in the city.
Industry
The petrochemical industry is the primary one in the city, giving rise to numerous companies and bus transport services available for employees. The strategy was to boost the creation and development of the so-called "industrial corridor" of the Bajio.The largest Pemex
Pemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
refinery in Mexico is located in Salamanca, and it is the 11th largest crude oil refinery in the world.
Also noteworthy is CFE Thermoelectric, a source of significant employment in the municipality.
Road links
It is possible to get to Salamanca by Mexican Federal Highway 45Mexican Federal Highway 45
Mexican Federal Highway 45 connects Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to Panales, Hidalgo.It is located in the north of Mexico connecting Portezuelo in Hidalgo to Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua...
, which links the cities of Querétaro, Celaya, Irapuato, Silao and León; as well as Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
through Mexican Federal Highway 57
Mexican Federal Highway 57
Mexican Federal Highway 57 is a Federal Highway of Mexico.The 1248 kilometre highway connects Mexico City with Piedras Negras, Coahuila. This road links many major highways in the country, forming the backbone of the road network in Mexico...
. Also Mexican Federal Highway 43
Mexican Federal Highway 43
Mexican Federal Highway 43 is a Federal Highway of Mexico.Federal Highway 43 connects the city of Salamanca, Guanajuato in the north to the capital of Michoacán, Morelia in the south. Near Morelia it begins as a highway to cross the bridge over Lake Cuitzeo, just north of the intersection of...
links south to Morelia and Lazaro Cardenas.
Air transportation
While the city itself doesn't have an airport, it can be served by the Bajío International Airport (BJX), which serves all Guanajuato state; the airport itself is about 50 kilometers away.Rail transportation
MexicoMexico
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...
hasn't had any long-distance rail passenger service since 2000 (except for a tourist line in the northwest), however there are plans to build a statewide Interurban Railway linking the same cities currently linked by Highway 45, in addition of the state's capital. However, this project has been stalled for at least 10 years
TV/Radio stations
There are four available AM radio stations in the city: XEMAS, XEEMM, XEZH, XESAG, as well as one local TV channel available to local cable subscribers.Culture
The city has a rich craft industry, especially statues of wax, bronze, and pewter, and is also the location of the headquarters of the Center for the Arts of Guanajuato.The former convent of San Juan de Sahagún and its church (with 12 monumental altarpieces artistically carved with 24 carat gold-plated sheet), and the former parish of St. Bartolmé Apostol are located within the city.
Higher education
Salamanca offers several :- FIMEE, University of Guanajuato
- Centro de Estudios Profesionales de Salamanca (CEPSA)
- University of Salamanca University of La Salle Bajio
- University of Salamanca University of Leon
- School of Engineering and Architecture of Bajio ESIABAC
Sports
Salamanca currently has a soccer team named Salamanca FC (known as the Oilers), which was founded in 2004.Night Life
Salamanca is also known for its many cantinas, botaneros, and low-cost night arrancones.It is also renowned for its fair spring in which you can appreciate the workmanship, business, employment, and enjoying the theater of the people as well as different artistic groups and cuisine.
It is also nice to go out and enjoy art and conceptual urban design.
Notable residents
- Flor SilvestreFlor Silvestre (actress)Flor Silvestre , is a Mexican actress, ranchera singer, and comic book superhero. She is regarded as one of the great "folklóricas" of Mexican cinema, Silvestre is also one of the principal cinematographic and musical stars of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema...
, film actress and singer - Enriqueta JiménezEnriqueta JiménezEnriqueta "Queta" Jiménez, also known as La Prieta Linda, is a Mexican film actress and singer of the ranchera genre. Noted for her brown complexion, Jiménez was also cast in supporting roles from 1957 to 1989...
, film actress and singer
External links
- Presidencia Municipal de Salamanca Official website