Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area

Infobox American International Metropolitan Area
metropolitan_name = Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area
name = Laredo Borderplex


largest_city = flagicon|USA Laredo, TX - flagicon|MEX Nuevo Laredo, TM
other_cities = Campanario
Rio Bravo
El Cenizo
rank_america = 162 in 2008
population = 589,309 (2006 Official Census / INEGI est.)
718,073 (2008 World Gazetteer est.)
density_mi2 = 3,643
density_km2 = 1,407
area_mi2 = 161.76
area_km2 = 418.96
subdivisions = flagicon|USA Texas
-Webb County
flagicon|MEX Tamaulipas
-Municipality of Nuevo Laredo
flagicon|MEX Nuevo Leon
-Municipality of Anahuac
flagicon|MEX Coahuila
-Municipality of Hidalgo
time_zones = UTC-6
The Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area (UN/LOCODE: USLRD & MXNLD) is one of six bi-national metropolitan areas along the United States-Mexican border. The city of Laredo is situated in the American state of Texas on the northern bank of the Rio Grande and Nuevo Laredo is located in the Mexican State of Tamaulipas in the southern bank of the river. This metropolitan area is also known as the Two Laredos or the Laredo Borderplex. The metropolitan area is made up of one county: Webb County in Texas and three municipalities: Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas, Municipality of Hidalgo in Coahuila, Municipality of Anahuac in Nuevo Leon in Mexico. Two urban areas: the Laredo Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Zona Metropolitana Nuevo Laredo (Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Zone) three cities and 12 towns make the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan area which has a total of 589,309 inhabitants according to the INEGI Census of 2005 [ [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/default.asp INEGI Mexican Census results for 2005] See Tamaulipas > Nuevo Laredo es] and the United States Census estimate of 2006 [ [http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/CBSA-EST2006-01.xls United States Census 2006 estimate Laredo, Texas] ] . The Laredo- Nuevo Laredo is connected by four International Bridges and an International Railway Bridge. According to World Gazetteer this metropolitan area ranked 167th largest in North and South America in 2007 with an estimated population of 683,503 in 2008 it ranks 162nd with a population of 718,073 [ [http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-2&srt=pnan&col=aohdq&pt=a&va=x World Gazetteer List of Metropolitan Areas in both Americas] ] . This area ranks 66th in the United States [ [http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-2&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&pt=a&va=x&geo=-223 Metropolitan populaion rank in United States] ] and 23rd in Mexico [ [http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-2&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&pt=a&va=x&geo=-151 Metropolitan population rank in Mexico] ] .

Populated Places

Laredo-Nuevo Laredo metropolitan area is formed by the following populated places:

Urban Areas

*Nuevo Laredo: 355.827
*Laredo: 231.470

Cities

Texas

*Río Bravo: 5.553
*El Cenizo: 3.545

Tamaulipas

*Campanario: 4.538

Towns

Texas

*Laredo Ranchettes: 1.845
*Larga Vista: 742
*Penitas West: 520
*La Presa: 508

Coahuila

*Hidalgo: 1.516 [ [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/default.asp INEGI Mexican Census results for 2005] See Coahuila > Hidalgo es]

Tamaulipas

*Álvarez: 1.257
*Nuevo Progreso: 393
*América: 263
*América II: 253
*Los Artistas: 175
*Miguel Alemán: 165
*La Cruz: 100

Nuevo Leon

*Colombia: 496 [ [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/default.asp INEGI Mexican Census results for 2005] See Nuevo Leon > Colombia es]

History

.

The origin of name of Laredo is unclear. Some scholars say the name might stem from "Glaretum" which means "sandy, rocky place" others state that Laredo stems from "Euskaro" and means "beautiful prairies" [ [http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/nuevolaredo/Nuevo_Laredo_History.html Laredo Origin] ] [ [http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_tamaulipas Laredo Origin] es] . Laredo might also stem from "Laridae" which means gull or it might be made up of two Latin words "lar" which means home and "edo" which means birth.

Population Growth

Economy

Trade

More than 47% of United States international trade headed for Mexico and more than 36% of Mexican international trade crosses through the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo port of entries [ [http://madmax.lmtonline.com/askus/transportation/stories/trans1.htm Laredo Morning Times "National report lists Laredo as largest inland port"] ] [ [http://www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2006/swe0606b.html Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas "Southwest Economy "] ] . This is the reason that the borderplex's economy rotates around commercial and industrial warehousing, import, and export. The city of Laredo has an airport called Laredo International Airport which has one-way flights to Houston, Dallas, and Las Vegas. The city of Nuevo Laredo has the Quetzalcóatl International Airport which has daily flights to Mexico City. These airports also handle merchandise to export to the neighboring country. The Laredo-Nuevo Laredo port of entry has five international bridges crossing the Rio Grande in 2007.

International Bridges

*Gateway to the Americas International Bridge
*Juárez-Lincoln International Bridge
*World Trade International Bridge (commercial traffic only)
*Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge
*Texas-Mexican Railway International Bridge

Major Highways

Major Highways in Laredo and their starting and ending points:
*
*
*
* Laredo-Colombia
*:*"Complete List of Highways in Laredo, Texas"

Major Highways in Nuevo Laredo and their starting and ending points:
*
*
*
*

Retail Sales

Retail sales also helps the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo economy, it attracts shoppers from Northern Mexico and South Texas [ [http://www.malldelnorte.com/shop/malldelnorte.nsf/DemographPDFWeb/Demographics/$File/MallDelNorte-%202006%20Update.pdf?OpenElement Shopping Demographics in the Laredo Area] ] . There are 2 indoor shopping malls located in the area and dozens of plazas. The Streets of Laredo Urban Mall is an association created by businesses located in Iturbide Street in the San Agustin historical district to beautify and renovate the area [ [http://www.laredosnews.com/archives/october2003/local_01.htm LareDOS Article "Streets of Laredo Urban Mall] ] . By 2009 Laredo will have an additional 2 malls which are currently under construction:
*Mall Del Norte 1,198,199 ft²
*El Portal Mall 380,000 ft²
*Laredo Town Center Mall 580,577 ft² (to open in 2009} [ [http://www.wakefieldbeasley.com/portfolio/default.aspx?type=8&project=97#1 Laredo Town Center Plans] ]
*Piazza del Sol Mall 1,000,000+ ft² (to open in 2009) [ [http://ldfonline.org/shownews.asp?newsid=37 Piazza del Sol Plans] ]
*Streets of Laredo Urban Mall

Media

Television

The Laredo Borderplex has 14 television stations, 8 in Laredo and 6 located in Nuevo Laredo. They are affiliated with United States and Mexico's major networks including KVTV CBS affiliate, KGNS NBC affiliate, KXOF FOX affiliate, KGNS The CW affiliate, KLDO Univision affiliate, KETF Telefutura, XHLAT TV Azteca 7 affiliate, XHLNA TV Azteca 13 affiliate, XHBR XEW affiliate, and other Televisa networks and independent stations. :*"Complete list of television stations in the Laredo Borderplex area"

Radio

There are 13 AM radio stations (8 in Nuevo Laredo five in Laredo) and 20 FM radio stations (8 in Laredo 12 in Nuevo Laredo). Formats available in the region are: Classic Rock, Country, Easy Listening,Urban Contemporary, International, Mexican Regional Music, Spanish Contemporary, Spanish Christian, Spanish Talk, and Tejano.:*"Complete list of AM radio stations in the Laredo Borderplex area":*"Complete list of FM radio stations in the Laredo Borderplex area"

Newspapers

Laredo has four English newspapers: Laredo Morning Times [ [http://www.lmtonline.com/ Laredo Morning Times] ] , LareDOS [ [http://www.laredosnews.com/ LareDOS] ] , Laredo Chameleon [ [http://www.thelaredochameleon.com/ The Laredo Chameleon] ] , and LaredoPolitics [ [http://www.laredopolitics.tripod.com/ LaredoPolitics] ] . Nuevo Laredo has four Spanish newspapers: El Diario de Nuevo Laredo [ [http://www.diario.net/ El Diario de Nuevo Laredo] es] , El Mañana de Nuevo Laredo [ [http://www.elmanana.com.mx/ El Mañana de Nuevo Laredo] es] , Primera Hora [ [http://www.primerahora.com.mx/ Primera Hora] es] , and Ultima Hora [ [http://www.ultimahora.com.mx/ Ultima Hora] es] . Other out of town newspapers are sold in the most sold are San Antonio Express, Corpus Christi Caller Times, El Norte de Monterrey, New York Times, El Universal (Mexico City), and USA Today.

ports

Laredo is home to four semiprofessional sports teams. The Laredo Bucks are a Central Hockey League hockey team in the Southern Conference's Southeast Division. The Bucks have been the League's Champion twice in 2003 and 2005. The Laredo Heat is a Premier Development League soccer team in the Southern Conference's Mid South Division. Laredo are the current USL Premier Development League champions, having defeated 2006 champions Michigan Bucks in a penalty shootout, following a 0-0 draw in the 2007 championship game. The Laredo Broncos are a baseball team in the United League. Nuevo Laredo is home to the Mexican Soccer League's Second Division Bravos de Nuevo Laredo. Both Laredo were home to the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos which were the only Mexican Baseball League team to play in both the United States and Mexico. The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos were the Mexican Baseball League Champions in 1953, 1954, 1958, 1977, and 1989. In 2008 the Tecolotes came back to Nuevo Laredo and they are known as the Tecolotres de Nuevo Laredo.

Gallery

Pictures of Laredo, Texas

Pictures of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

External links

* [http://www.cityoflaredo.com/ City of Laredo Official Website]
* [http://www.nuevolaredo.gob.mx/ City of Nuevo Laredo Official Website] es
* [http://www.cityofelcenizo.com/ City of El Cenizo Official Website]
* [http://www.webbcounty.com/ Webb County Official Website]

References

ee also

*List of Texas metropolitan areas
*United States metropolitan area
*List of United States metropolitan statistical areas by population
*Metropolitan areas of Mexico
*Transnational conurbations Mexico/USA