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Tlalnepantla de Baz

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Tlalnepantla de Baz is a major municipality located in the State of Mexico. It sits in the northeastern part of the state within the Valley of Mexico. The area is situated just north of Mexico City. The name comes from two Náhuatl words, tlalli and nepantla. Together, these words mean "middle land." This name describes the physical location of the original religious center. The municipality also includes a small exclave to the west. This western piece of land is separated by the Gustavo A. Madero delegation of Mexico City.

PlazaWichitaTlalne
PlazaWichitaTlalne

The history of this region began long before the modern city existed. Around the 11th century, a group known as the Amaquemecan migrated here. They were led by a man named Xolotl. Xolotl moved his people to find a better climate and more food. He founded the Tenayuca Oztopolco chiefdom. He is also credited with making the first census in the Americas. Eventually, the Aztec Empire conquered the region and made it a tributary. Later, Spanish Franciscans arrived to evangelize the area. The modern city grew from a dispute between the towns of Tenayuca and Teocalhueyacan. They could not agree on a site for a new monastery. Leaders chose a midpoint between the two towns to build the Corpus Christi monastery in 1550.

Over the centuries, the political identity of the area changed many times. Tlalnepantla was originally part of Mexico City. However, it became a district of the State of Mexico in 1825. The name of the municipality has also changed to honor different leaders. It was once called Tlalnepantla de Galeana and Tlalnepantla de Comonfort. The current name adds "Baz" to honor Gustavo Baz Prada. He was a soldier in Emiliano Zapata's army during the Mexican Revolution. He later became the Governor of the State of Mexico and President of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Today, Tlalnepantla de Baz is a massive center for industry and commerce. It is one of the most industrialized areas in the entire country. It ranks first in the State of Mexico for industrial activity. There are more than 2,700 industries located within the municipality. These include food processing, bottling, and textile production. Other industries create paper products, chemicals, and petroleum products. The area also handles metals, machinery, and wood products. Beyond factories, there are more than 15,000 retail businesses. This includes large shopping centers like the Mundo E Mall.

The population of the municipality has grown significantly over time. After being declared a city in 1948, the area experienced a demographic explosion. According to the 2010 INEGI census, the population was 653,410 people. This number represents 98.37% of the total municipal population. Because so many people live here, the transportation system is very complex. Residents use local peseros and the Mexibús bus network. They can also use the Tren Suburbano at the Tlalnepantla and San Rafael stations. The Mexicable service serves the eastern part of the area. Large roads like the Mexico-Querétaro Freeway have 15 lanes to move traffic.

Visitors to the area can explore many significant historical sites. The Corpus Christi church and monastery is a major landmark. It was built using pink and gray stone by Nahua and Otomi workers. In 1963, the church was granted cathedral status. There are also two notable pyramids located within the municipal limits. The Tenayuca pyramid is a smaller version of the Templo Mayor found in Tenochtitlan. It features dual staircases and serpent sculptures on three sides. The second pyramid is at Santa Cecilia Acatitlan. This pyramid was rebuilt after the original was destroyed. Some of its original blocks were used to build the nearby Santa Cecelia Parish church.

Education and international connections also define the character of the city. Many students attend various institutions, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Other schools include the Instituto Tecnológico de Tlalnepantla and the Universidad Latinoamericana. The city also maintains a relationship with its sister city, Wichita, Kansas. This connection is visible at Plaza Wichita. The plaza features a replica of The Keeper of the Plains statue. This statue was a gift from the people of Wichita to Tlalnepantla.

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File:PlazaWichitaTlalne.jpg
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