Santiago Tianguistenco

Santiago Tianguistenco, often known as Tianguistenco, is a city in Mexico. It lays about 45 minutes southeast by car from Mexico City, in the State of México, and is located 2,630 metres (8600 feet) above sea level. Because of this, the city, located in the "Valley of Toluca", has been a perennial favorite for boxers to do their training there. Santiago Tianguistenco's most known person probably is boxer Salvador Sánchez, who became an iconic figure nationally and across Latin America after he beat Wilfredo Gómez in 1981.

City history

During the 13th century, the Valle de Toluca and its surrounding areas were occupied by various groups of Indians, including the Otomi. Tribes had battles against enemy groups of Indians to try to secure the area for their tribe.

During the middle of the 15th century, the Tlatoan Indians, led by Axayacatl, entered the Santiago Tianguistenco area and secured the city.

Under the Tlatoan rule, Santiago Tianguistenco became a housing and commercial center, the first houses in the area having being built by the Tlatoanis. After the battles for the area had been won by the Tlatoani tribe, Indians from other tribes came on peaceful missions, such as buying and selling goods at the Santiago Tianguistenco market. Even as the battles were over, however, historians suspect that the Tlatoanis kept arm arsenals, in case another tribe would try to take over the city.

Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés visited the area, and, in 1526, he turned over responsibility of the city to Leonel de Cervantes y Tello. Santiago Tianguistenco was first recognized as an independent city by Spain's royalty about 65 years later.

An allegued miracle that took place in Santiago Tianguistenco would later on help the city economically: according to legend, a figure of Virgin Mary, which had been put next to that of Apostle James, could not be removed when a group of people tried to move it away. A cathedral would be constructed on this spot, attracting Catholic devouts, as well as merchants from the area, therefore, benefitting the economy of Santiago Tianguistenco.

On October 29, 1810, as Mexico was fighting its War of Independence with Spain, some insurgents arrived at Santiago Tianguistenco, defeating the Spanish Army the next day. Mexico eventually became an independent country; Santiago Tianguistenco was declared a municipality of Mexico, D.F. on February 9, 1825.

On September 24, 1878, the city was declared a "villa" by the town's local government, and it was renamed as "Santiago Tianguistenco Galeana", after Hermenegildo Galeana. With time, the Galeana last name was dropped off Santiago Tianguistenco's official name.

A few years later, Francisco de Paula and Alejandro Pliego, half-brothers, came to Santiago Tianguistenco to establish a manufacturing center there. The half-brothers were dedicated to the clothing business; theirs was one of the first factories in the area.

During the Mexican Revolution, Santiago Tianguistenco suffered great loss; the city was attacked by Zapata followers, and the clothing factory burned in September 1912. Another fire, this one in May 1916, almost destroyed half of the city.

Santiago Tiaguintesco recovered from those attacks, but, for decades, it remained under the shadow of its bursting neighbor, Mexico City. Then, in 1980, Sánchez conquered the WBC world Featherweight title from Danny Lopez. After defeating Gómez, Sanchez recovered some prestige for the city. Sánchez died in a car accident in 1982; the Salvador Sánchez festival is celebrated in Santiago Tianguistenco since 1983, and Gómez is always the guest of honor or festival grand marshall.

On June 28, 1996, Santiago Tianguistenco was recognized as a city once again, this time by the state legislature of the State of Mexico.

The first part of the city's name, "Santiago", is dedicated to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where the apostle James is interred. Santiago de Compostela itself is named after Jacob; his name was translated into Spanish as "Santiago" and "San Diego", among others. Other languages have given Jacob similar, but different, names.

Demography

According to a 2000 census, little more than 58,000 people lived in Santiago Tianguistenco.

Tourism

Various hotels, such as the Holiday Inn chain, have established branches in the area.

Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City is the most frequented one by fliers heading to Santiago Tianguistenco. There is a much smaller airport in Toluca.

External links

*es icon [http://www.edomexico.gob.mx/newweb/servicios/civica/pasajes/Tianguistenco.htm edomexico.gob.mex's page about Santiago Tianguistenco] .

[http://www.tianguistencoenaccion.gob.mx Official Site]