Salamanca, Guanajuato

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Salamanca
subdivision_name1 = Guanajuato
population_total = 223,623
elevation_m = 1721
latd = 20 |latm = 34 |lats = 13 |latNS = N
longd = 101 |longm = 11 |longs = 50 |longEW = W
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
postal_code = 36700
area_code = 464
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jorge Ignacio Luna Becerra
website = www.salamanca.gob.mx

Salamanca (Otomi: "Xidoo" "Place of Tepetate") 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 2005 census population of 143,838, while the municipality had 233,623. The municipality has an areal extent of 745.96 km² (288.02 sq mi), which includes such smaller outlying communities as Valtierrilla, Cerro Gordo, San José Temascatio, and Loma Pelada. The fourth-largest city in the state (behind León, Irapuato, 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 City. Each of these cities brings its own variety of food, so one can find enchiladas, wheat gorditas, pambazos, hamburgers, the famous carnitas, arrachera, cabrito, birria, barbecue, cecinas, and pizzas, and there are food stands on virtually every street corner. Nieve de Pasta is a type of ice cream made of vanilla, nuts, egg, milk, sugar that is 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 refinery in Mexico is located in Salamanca, and it is the 11th largest crude oil refinery in the world. [ [http://www.seamannewsroom.com/newsreleases/pemex_article.html Mexican Refinery Lines Impoundment With Geomembrane ] ]

Communications

It is possible to get to Salamanca by the Mexico City-Querétaro-Irapuato-León highway, in addition to the Pan-American Highway 45. The airport of the Bajío (BJX) serves all Guanajuato state. 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 is important for its football team soccer (known as the Oildiggers), which in the last season was the first runner-up in division "A" of Mexican soccer.

Night Life

Salamanca is also known for its many cantinas, botaneros, and low-cost night arrancones.

It is also renowned for its typical cockfighting and 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.

References

* [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/ Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005] INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
* [http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_guanajuato Guanajuato] Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

External links

* [http://www.salamanca.gob.mx Presidencia Municipal de Salamanca] Official website