GUADALAJARA INFORMATION
Guadalajara is the capital city of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of the state and in the western-Pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,579,174 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality. The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area includes seven other adjacent municipalities and has a population of 4,095,715 in 2008, making it the second most populous in the metropolitan area in Mexico, behind Mexico City. The municipality is the most densely populated in Mexico after Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl in the State of Mexico
The city is named after the Spanish city of Guadalajara, with the name originating from the Arabic Wadi-al-Hajara, meaning "Valley of Stones"; the literal translation of the Iberian name (Arriaca), meaning "Stony River".
The city has hosted several international events, such as the first Cumbre Iberoamericana in 1991, the Cumbre América Latina, El Caribe-Unión Europea in 2004, the Encuentro Internacional de Promotores y Gestores Culturales in 2005, and will be the host city of the 2011 Panamerican Games. It was also named the American Capital of Culture in 2005, Ciudad Educadora (Educator City) in 2006 and the first Smart City in Mexico due to its use of technology in development.
Guadalajara is also known as Mexico's silicon valley due to its strong electronics industry, and is also considered Mexico's high tech capital due to its leadership in software and informatics development.
The beginning of the 20th century brought the end of the Porfiriato as the Mexican revolution unfolded. Guadalajara emerged from the revolution relatively untouched. After the Cristero War, peace returned to Guadalajara. For a long period the city prospered and developed in various areas. Medium and large companies emerged, and the areas around the residential nucleus began to grow out from the center. New architectural concepts were introduced which decorated the city with various building styles from 1920 to 1980. The city underwent multiple urban planning cycles during every government administration.
New zones and commercial areas were born, and the creation of transnational companies and the arrival of international industries made the city prosperous. The first shopping centers appeared, which also were among the first being constructed in the country and in Latin America. |
