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Naucalpan

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Naucalpan, officially known as Naucalpan de Juárez, is a major municipality in the State of Mexico.

Skyline of Mexico City from Naucalpan
Skyline of Mexico City from Naucalpan

It is located just northwest of Mexico City within the Valley of Mexico. The municipal seat is the city of Naucalpan de Juárez. This city actually extends into the neighboring municipality of Huixquilucan. The name Naucalpan comes from the Nahuatl language. It translates to "place of the four neighborhoods" or "four houses." The name was later updated in 1874 to honor Benito Juárez.

Flag of the State of Mexico
Flag of the State of Mexico

The history of this region spans thousands of years. Humans have inhabited the Valley of Mexico for over 20,000 years. The Tlatilica people settled near the Hondo River between 1700 and 600 B.C.E.

Pueblo de san francisco chimalpa
Pueblo de san francisco chimalpa

During the Preclassic period, the Olmecs and the Teotihuacan civilization influenced the Tlatilica. Later, the Chichimecas conquered the area between 1000 and 1200 C.E. They built the Pyramid del Conde in the El Conde neighborhood. Eventually, the Aztec Triple Alliance took control and provided the current name.

Several legends connect Naucalpan to the Spanish conquest. Some accounts claim Hernán Cortés rested here during the "Noche Triste" in 1520. This event is known as the "Night of Sorrows." There is a dispute over whether the famous Montezuma Cypress tree is here or in Popotla. Another legend involves an image of the Virgin Mary. It is said this image was left under a maguey plant. This led to the creation of the Sanctuary of Los Remedios. The sanctuary was built in 1875 to house the image.

AcueductoRemedios, Naucalpan, Edomex2
AcueductoRemedios, Naucalpan, Edomex2

Industrialization transformed Naucalpan into a massive economic center. The Hilados and Tejidos de Rio Hondo factory was inaugurated in 1869. By 1975, Naucalpan was one of the most industrialized cities in Mexico. It produces many goods, including food, drinks, and textiles. It also manufactures tobacco, wood products, paper, metals, and chemicals. Industrial parks like Alce Blanco and La Perla support this growth. However, environmental challenges have emerged alongside this industry. The subsoil faces pollution from the Bordo Poniento landfill.

Urban development has shaped the modern landscape of the municipality. A famous development called Ciudad Satélite began in the 1950s and 1960s. This project was led by architect Luis Barragán in 1958. It was supervised by architect Mario Pani. The area is famous for the Torres de Satélite. These five prism sculptures were designed by Barragán and Matias Goeritz. They are recognized as architectural heritage by UNESCO.

Naucalpan Periferico
Naucalpan Periferico

The city also once featured the Toreo de Cuatro Caminos bullring. This icon was demolished in the 2010s to build a new commercial complex.

Population and geography define the current state of the municipality. In the 2010 census, the total population was 913,681 inhabitants. Of these, 792,211 lived in the Naucalpan Municipality. The remaining 121,470 lived in the Huixquilucan Municipality. Most people live in the urban city proper. Over 95% of the population is urbanized. The only unurbanized areas are the Los Remedios National Park and several ejidos.

ParqueNaucalli
ParqueNaucalli

These natural spaces face pressure from the need for new housing.

Transportation and infrastructure connect Naucalpan to the wider metropolitan area. Major roadways like the Anillo Periférico pass through Ciudad Satélite. The Viaducto Bicentenario highway also links the area to western Mexico State. These roads connect Lomas Verdes to the Cuatro Caminos border. Because of these connections, the city is very dependent on cars. Automobiles account for 70% of the local air pollution.

While there are efforts to promote bicycles, they have not been widely successful. The urban landscape continues to change as new office and commercial projects arrive.

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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Flag of the State of Mexico.svg
Flag of the State of Mexico.svg
File:Skyline of Mexico City from Naucalpan.jpg
Skyline of Mexico City from Naucalpan.jpg
File:AcueductoRemedios, Naucalpan, Edomex2.jpg
AcueductoRemedios, Naucalpan, Edomex2.jpg
File:ParqueNaucalli.jpg
ParqueNaucalli.jpg
File:Naucalpan.jpg
Naucalpan.jpg
File:Naucalpan Periferico.jpg
Naucalpan Periferico.jpg
File:Pueblo de san francisco chimalpa.jpg
Pueblo de san francisco chimalpa.jpg
File:Flag of Des Moines, Iowa.svg
Flag of Des Moines, Iowa.svg
File:Symbol of Gyeonggi.svg
Symbol of Gyeonggi.svg
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