Aguascalientes (city)

Aguascalientes is a major urban center located in North-Central Mexico. It sits within the Bajío region on the central Mexican plateau. The city is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes. It also serves as the head of the Aguascalientes Municipality. The metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Jesús María and San Francisco de los Romo.

In 2012, the population of the metro area reached 1,225,432 inhabitants. This makes it one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

The city's name translates from Spanish as "hot waters." This name refers to the many thermal springs found near the original village. The founders called the settlement the Village of Our Lady of the Assumption of the Hot Waters.

These hot springs remain important today. They are used in many local spas and for domestic purposes. Because of this connection to water, people from the area are sometimes called "hydrothermal" people.

Aguascalientes was founded on October 22, 1575. Juan de Montoro and twelve families moved there from Lagos de Moreno. The village originally served as a minor garrison and a rest stop. It was located on the Silver Route to protect silver moving toward Mexico City. This route was threatened by the nomadic Chichimeca peoples.

In 1835, President Antonio López de Santa Anna made it a territorial capital. By 1857, it officially became the capital of a new state.

The city grew through several distinct historical neighborhoods. The oldest is Triana, founded in 1565 by Hernán González Berrocal. The Guadalupe neighborhood grew from an indigenous settlement. It is a traditional center for pottery production.

The San Marcos neighborhood was founded in 1604. It is famous for its neoclassical gardens and the San Marcos Fair. Finally, the La Estación neighborhood developed around the railway station inaugurated in 1911.

Industrialization changed the city during the Porfiriato era. The Mexican Central Railway company chose Aguascalientes to host its main workshops. This led to an industrial and cultural explosion. Later, the city hosted the Revolutionary Convention of 1914. This was a vital meeting of war generals during the Mexican Revolution.

Today, the economy relies on farming, mining, textiles, and heavy industry.

Modern Aguascalientes is a major hub for the automobile and electronics industries. The city hosts two large Nissan manufacturing plants. These plants produce many models, including the Sentra and the Versa. They are responsible for much of Mexico's annual Nissan production.

This industry has brought a significant Japanese immigrant community to the city. Other major companies include Texas Instruments, which makes integrated circuitry. Flextronics and Coca-Cola also operate within the city.

Transportation and urban planning are central to the city's function. Most of the city was built as a planned urban center. It uses three concentric highway loops to manage traffic. The first and second loops use overpasses to keep traffic moving.

The city also promotes green transport. It is developing a system of interconnected bicycle routes and greenways. One example is the Parque Línea Verde.

The Lic. Jesús Terán Peredo International Airport connects the city to major hubs like Los Angeles and Dallas.