Tampico | |
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.jpg) Plaza de la Libertad in Tampico | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: Tampico Brilla(Tampico Shines) | |
 Interactive map of Tampico | |
  Tampico  Tampico | |
| Coordinates:22°15′19″N97°52′07″W / 22.25528°N 97.86861°W /22.25528; -97.86861 | |
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Tamaulipas |
| Municipality | Tampico |
| Founded | April 13, 1823 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mónica Villarreal Anaya(MORENA) |
| Area | |
• City | 92.73 km2 (35.80 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
• City | 297,373 |
| • Density | 3,207/km2 (8,306/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 927,379 |
| • Demonym | Tampican (Spanish: Tampiqueño) |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total | $23.4 billion[2] |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| Postal code | 89000 (Center) |
| Website | www |
Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of theMexican state ofTamaulipas. It is located on the north bank of thePánuco River, about 10 kilometers (6 mi) inland from theGulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state ofVeracruz. Tampico is the fifth-largest city in Tamaulipas, with a population of 314,418 in the city proper and 929,174 in themetropolitan area.
During the period of Mexico's firstoil boom in the early 20th century, the city was the "chief oil-exporting port of the Americas" and the second-busiest in the world, yielding great profits that were invested in the city's famous architecture, often compared to that ofVenice andNew Orleans.[3] The first oil well in Mexico was drilled near Tampico in 1901 atÉbano.
The city is also a major exporter ofsilver,copper, andlumber, as well aswool,hemp, and other agricultural products. Containerized cargo is mainly handled by the neighboring ocean port ofAltamira.
Tampico derives form theHuastec language wordtam-piko, meaning "place of otters."[4]
The name "Tampico" is ofHuastec origin,tam-piko meaning "place of water dogs" (referring to otters which are endemic of the region). The city is surrounded by rivers and lagoons of the delta of thePánuco River, which was the habitat of a large population ofotters. There have been successive human settlements in the area for centuries. The region had several earlyHuastec settlements, among them the important site atLas Flores, which flourished between AD 1000 and 1250.
In 1532, during theSpanish colonial period, the Franciscan priestAndrés de Olmos established amission and monastery in the area, building over a former Huastec village. At his request, Spanish officials founded a settlement named San Luis de Tampico in 1554. This site was abandoned in 1684, and the population relocated to the south of thePánuco River because of frequent attacks by pirates. The area was abandoned for nearly 150 years.
The present city was founded on April 13, 1823, on the north bank of the Pánuco River about 10 kilometers (6 mi) from the Gulf, after Mexico achievedindependence from Spain. Tampico built its economy on the exportation of silver; business development was mostly as a trading center and market town of an agricultural region. In August 1829, Spain sent troops fromCuba toinvade Tampico in an effort to regain control of the region, but in September, GeneralAntonio López de Santa Anna forced the Spanish troops to surrender, and Mexican control of Tampico was reestablished.[5]
The first oil well in Mexico was drilled near Tampico atÉbano, S.L.P., in 1901, by CalifornianEdward Doheny, who founded theMexican Petroleum Company.[6] In the early 20th century, there was extensive U.S. investment in oil development in Tampico, with a sizable United States expatriate community developing in relation to the industry. With the outbreak of theMexican Revolution, which lasted roughly from 1910 to 1920, the U.S. monitored the situation to protect its citizens and investments. Doheny sold some of his businesses to theStandard Oil Company which operated its monopoly here. The oil-producing area was so productive it was called the"Golden Belt".[6]
The oil fields known as Ébano, Pánuco, Huasteca, and Tuxpan are all situated within a 160-kilometer (99 mi) radius of the city. Oil was often shipped on barges along the rivers. To improve transportation of oil to the port, the government built theChijol Canal, beginning in 1901. It is 1.8 m (6 ft) deep and 7.6 m (25 ft) wide and runs 120 km (75 mi) southward through the oil fields to Tuxpan.[7]
During theMexican Revolution, on April 9, 1914,10 Mexican soldiers and nineU.S. Navy sailors from theUSSDolphin confronted each other in a failure to communicate as U.S. forces tried to get fuel supplies. GeneralVictoriano Huerta's forces in the city were threatened by different groups from both north and south. The Americans were arrested and later freed, but the U.S. resented Huerta's demands for some recognition. In the resultingTampico Affair, the U.S. sent naval and marine forces intoport of Veracruz and occupied the city for seven months in a show of force. Due to resulting anti-American demonstrations on each coast, other U.S. Navy ships were used to evacuate some American citizens to refugee camps in southern U.S. cities. The U.S. occupation contributed to the downfall of Huerta, andVenustiano Carranza became president. He ensured that Mexico maintained neutrality duringWorld War I, in part due to lingering animosity against the U.S. for these actions.
In the 1970s, Tampico annexed the port city and suburb ofCiudad Madero, which now comprises part of theTampico metropolitan area. Tampico has amodern port with excellent facilities, as well as rail and air connections to Mexico City and the United States.[7]
The Mexican governmentnationalized the oil industry in 1938 and has maintained that for 86 years. In November 2014, PresidentEnrique Peña Nieto announced a policy change of endingPemex's monopoly and inviting private companies back into the oil and gas industry. While analysts believe the largest finds are likely to be offshore, new techniques may yield oil even at mature fields such as those of Tampico.[6] In early 2015, the government planned to accept bids on 169 blocks, 47 of which are within 110 kilometers (70 mi) of Tampico.[6] It is expected that smaller companies will be active in the mature fields, such as those in this region. This area has extensiveshale oil deposits, and the "U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that Mexico has the world's eighth-largest shale-oil resources."[6]
Tampico's downtown architecture is an eclectic mix, reflecting the growth of the city during thePorfiriato (the period of rule by PresidentPorfirio Díaz). During the oil boom of the first decades of the 20th century, much "grandiose" architecture was built, inviting comparisons withVenice, Italy, andNew Orleans in the United States.[3] Many buildings feature wrought-iron balconies (in the 20th century, these were mostly built of Englishcast iron). Similar balconies are characteristic of the French and Spanish-influenced architecture inNew Orleans. Some of the balconies inPlaza de la libertad bear the original plaques showing their manufacture at theDerbyshireforge ofAndrew Handyside and Company.
Notable buildings include theneoclassical Town Hall (orPalacio Municipal) inPlaza de Armas, and the English redbrick Customs House in the docks. The prevalence of New Orleans-style architecture is attributed to the oil boom years. Not only was there money to spend, but many building supplies, including pre-built housing components, were shipped from New Orleans to this area during that period of rapid development. The historical downtown areas ofPlaza de Armas andPlaza de Libertad have been restored and improved in recent years to emphasize their historic appeal, in part to encourage more heritage tourism.
The Cathedral of Tampico, also known as the Temple of theImmaculate Conception, located inPlaza de Armas, dates to the late 19th century. It has undergone several restorations. It is of the neoclassical style in light brown canter, withCorinthian-style columns and three enormous doors that form the entrance. Its two towers are made of three bodies. The eastern one has a large, London-made, public chimingclock, a gift from DonAngel Sainz Trapaga. Its recently refurbished interior holds several wall paintings and other works of art. The altar is of whiteCarraramarble. The United States oiltycoonEdward Doheny of California, who drilled the first oil well in Mexico near Tampico, donated substantial funds for the cathedral's construction and maintenance after 1902, when he based his Mexican oil operations in Tampico.
According to theINEGI 2010 census, the population of the city of Tampico was 297,284, and that of the municipality of Tampico was 297,554, both ranking fifth in the state of Tamaulipas. The population of theTampico—Ciudad Madero—Altamira metropolitan area was estimated at 859,419 people in 2010. The municipality has an area of 92.73 square kilometres (35.80 mi2).[8]
The city is located on the north bank of thePánuco River, about 10 kilometers (6 mi) inland from theGulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state ofVeracruz.
Tampico has atropical savanna climate (Köppen:Aw), defined as such based on the mean average temperature of 18 °C (65 °F) for January as well as on precipitation patterns.[9][10] Its weather, though relatively mild in spring and autumn, is hot in the summer; the average high reaches 32 °C (90 °F) in August, with an average low of 23 °C (74 °F). Winters are warm; the average January high is 23 °C (73 °F) and the average low in January is 13 °C (58 °F). Rainfall is frequent from June through October.
Tampico is an extremely humid city, with summerheat indices reaching 40 °C (104 °F). It is located on the Pánuco River and among extensive wetlands adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. During autumn and winter, it is affected bycold fronts that pass through the gulf and bring high winds that can reach 50 km/h (37 mph) with gusts of 70 to 80 km/h (43 to 50 mph). Tampico is also located in ahurricane area, but it has not been directly affected by one since October 1966.
On rare occasions, the city experiences surprisingly low temperatures for its zone; during late January and early February 2011, a cold wave caused temperatures to drop to 5 °C (41 °F), with the lowest being 0 °C (32 °F) in the morning and noon of 4 February. In February 1895, snow was reported to have fallen in Tampico. This is the North American record for the farthest south report of snow at a coastal location, and makes Tampico one of the few places where snow has fallen in the tropics at sea level.[11]
| Climate data for Tampico (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.0 (98.6) | 36.5 (97.7) | 43.0 (109.4) | 43.4 (110.1) | 43.5 (110.3) | 40.4 (104.7) | 38.0 (100.4) | 40.2 (104.4) | 39.0 (102.2) | 38.8 (101.8) | 37.5 (99.5) | 36.2 (97.2) | 43.5 (110.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) | 25.2 (77.4) | 27.3 (81.1) | 29.7 (85.5) | 31.7 (89.1) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.6 (90.7) | 33.2 (91.8) | 32.2 (90.0) | 30.5 (86.9) | 27.4 (81.3) | 24.6 (76.3) | 29.2 (84.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 19.3 (66.7) | 20.9 (69.6) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.8 (78.4) | 28.1 (82.6) | 29.2 (84.6) | 29.0 (84.2) | 29.3 (84.7) | 28.4 (83.1) | 26.6 (79.9) | 23.2 (73.8) | 20.6 (69.1) | 25.3 (77.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.2 (59.4) | 16.7 (62.1) | 19.1 (66.4) | 21.9 (71.4) | 24.5 (76.1) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.4 (77.7) | 25.5 (77.9) | 24.6 (76.3) | 22.7 (72.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 16.5 (61.7) | 21.4 (70.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 1.0 (33.8) | 1.4 (34.5) | 8.0 (46.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 15.2 (59.4) | 19.5 (67.1) | 20.0 (68.0) | 19.5 (67.1) | 16.5 (61.7) | 9.0 (48.2) | 5.4 (41.7) | −1.5 (29.3) | −1.5 (29.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 33.5 (1.32) | 22.7 (0.89) | 26.8 (1.06) | 24.8 (0.98) | 48.8 (1.92) | 161.9 (6.37) | 137.6 (5.42) | 145.3 (5.72) | 300.2 (11.82) | 174.6 (6.87) | 57.4 (2.26) | 25.3 (1.00) | 1,158.9 (45.63) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 6.4 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 8.7 | 9.7 | 10.1 | 14.6 | 10.5 | 7.2 | 5.4 | 88 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 78 | 78 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 78 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 77 | 78 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 127 | 136 | 180 | 193 | 226 | 236 | 242 | 233 | 188 | 187 | 151 | 132 | 2,231 |
| Source 1:SMN (humidity 1981–2000)[12][13] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Ogimet (sun 1991–2020)[14][15] | |||||||||||||
Themetropolitan area of Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira is served byGeneral Francisco Javier Mina International Airport (IATA airport code:TAM), which is located in the northern part of the city of Tampico. It serves routes to Mexican cities, mainlyMexico City andMonterrey, and also has international services, with daily flights toHouston, Texas andDallas/Fort Worth, Texas.
The city also has excellent railway facilities serving the port, which is well-developed with warehouses and equipment for loading oil tankers. Major roads connect to thePan-American Highway.[7]
Tampico is known for its food. Seafood is important in the city. The locals are informally known asJaibas (crabs), and the crab emblem is seen in many places, from sports logos to the sides of buses to park benches. There are also typical dishes of the area, mainly the "torta de la barda" which is a sandwich that contains over 12 toppings, and the famous "tampiqueña" which is steak with refried beans and "entomatadas" (tortillas with tomato sauce and cheese).
TheAutonomous University of Tamaulipas has one of its two largest campuses in Tampico, the other being inCiudad Victoria. The major schools of medicine, engineering, nursing, dentistry, architecture, and business are based here.
Multiplehigh schools, both private and public, are located in Tampico.
The local professionalfootball team,Tampico Madero F.C., was founded in 1945 and is also known asLa Jaiba Brava. They currently play in theAscenso MX, the second tier of theMexican football league system, and their home stadium has been the 19,415-seatEstadio Tamaulipas since 1966.
In 1953, Tampico Madero was champion of theMéxico Primera División and also won theCampeón de Campeones title.La Jaiba Brava won consecutiveCopa México titles in 1960 and 1961. The club spent most of the 1960s and 1970s in relegation but returned to the Primera División for the 1977–78 season. They finished runner-up twice in the shortened1985 and 1986 Primera División tournaments under Chilean managerCarlos Reinoso before being relegated again in the early 1990s.
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