Xalapa orJalapa (English:/həˈlɑːpə/,[2]Spanish:[xaˈlapa]ⓘ), officiallyXalapa-Enríquez (IPA:[xaˈlapaenˈrikes]), is the capital city of theMexicanstate ofVeracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In 2020 census the city reported a population of 443,063 and themunicipality of which it serves as municipal seat reported a population of 488,531.[3] The municipality has an area of 118.45 km2. Xalapa lies near the geographic center of the state and is the second-largest city in the state after the city ofVeracruz to the southeast.
The Palace of Government of Veracruz (Governor's Office)
The nameXalapa comes from theClassical Nahuatl rootsxālli (pronounced[ʃaːlːi], 'sand') andāpan ([aːpan], 'place of water'), which means approximately 'spring in the sand'. It's classically pronounced[ʃalaːpan] in Nahuatl, although the final /n/ is often omitted.[citation needed] This was adopted into Spanish asXalapa.
The complete name of the city isXalapa-Enríquez, bestowed in honor of a governor from the 19th century,Juan de la Luz Enríquez. The city's nickname, "City of Flowers" (Spanish:La ciudad de las flores), was given byAlexander von Humboldt, who visited the city 10 February 1804. The reference is also related to the city's older colonial history. According to folklore, the Spanish believed that Jalapa was the birthplace and home of the world's most beautiful woman,la Florecita, which literally means 'little flower'.[citation needed] The residents of Xalapa are calledXalapeños orJalapeños, which is also the name given to the popular large peppers cultivated in this area.
TheTotonacs first established themselves aroundMacuiltepetl ("fifth mountain" in Nahuatl).[4] This extinct volcano received its name because theAztecs used it as the fifth reference mountain to get to the gulf of Mexico's shores. Today it is preserved in a park. During the 14th century, four indigenous peoples settled in the territory today known as Xalapa. Each built a small village: Xalitic (in the sand) was founded by the Totonacas; in the northeast Tecuanapan (river of the beasts) was founded by theToltecas, and Tlalnecapan was founded by the Teochichimecas.
Around 1313, the four villages grew together and joined, forming one large village named Xallapan.Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, the fifthAztec emperor, invaded the territory during the second half of the 15th century. All the land was ruled as part of the Aztec Empire before the arrival and conquest of the Spanishconquistadores.
When the Spanish invaded, Xalapa was barely populated. The population rose after the conquest and colonial settlement. When the Spanish improved the Mexico-Orizaba-Veracruz route, Xalapa declined in importance as a transport hub, and its population stagnated in the 17th century.[6]
From 1720 on Xalapa became increasingly important, due to trade with merchants from New Spain arriving to buy and sell the products of the peninsula.[6] Numerous Spanish families from the nearby towns settled in Xalapa, so by 1760 the population had increased to over 1,000 inhabitants, includingmestizo and Spanish. Among local items of commerce were botanical medicines particularlyipomoea purga source of a drug known in English asJalap. The growth of Xalapa in population, culture, commerce and importance, increased dramatically in the 18th century. Responding to residents' requests,Carlos IV of Spain declared Xalapa a town on 18 December 1791.[6]
In 1772, construction ofXalapa Cathedral began. On 18 May 1784, José María Alfaro got the first airballoon in the Americas, airborne, in Xalapa. Due to the abundance of flowers growing in the region,Alexander von Humboldt, who visited the town on 10 February 1804, christened it the "city of the flowers".[6]
On 29 November 1830 by decree, Xalapa was named a city. In 1843, Don Antonio María de Rivera founded the Normal School of Xalapa to train teachers. Today it operates as a preparatory school for students going to college.
In 1847, during theMexican–American War, Mexican generalAntonio López de Santa Anna attempted to defeat the opposing forces near Xalapa in theBattle of Cerro Gordo. He led an army of more than 12,000 soldiers. Mexican troops suffered many casualties; around a thousand were killed and three thousand wounded on 18 April 1847. The US invaders occupied the city the following day.[6] Among them was Lt.Ulysses S. Grant, later the commanding general of the Union armies in theAmerican Civil War. Grant's letters call Jalapa "decidedly the most beautiful place I ever saw in my life" and its climate "the best in the world."[7]
Xalapeños such as Ambrosio Alcalde and Antonio García fought hard to defend the city of Veracruz, but were taken prisoner. They were released and paroled, but after rejoining the fighting against the US, they were recaptured nearTeocelo, taken to Xalapa, sentenced to death and executed on 24 November 1847.[6] Today these two men are remembered as martyrs. An obelisk commemorates their sacrifice, between San Jose Church and Alcalde Market, named for Ambrosio Alcalde.[6] US forces marched on to capture Mexico City and departed after theTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
In November 1862 Xalapa was attacked in the French invasion; foreigners temporarily took control of the state capital. On 27 November 1867 the corpse of emperorMaximilian I of Mexico, who had been executed inQuerétaro, arrived and was held in San José, attended by the priest José María y Daza, then transferred to Veracruz the following day. The remains were shipped back toAustria for burial.[6]
In 1885 GeneralJuan de la Luz Enríquez increased the influence of Xalapa when he moved some legislative authority from Orizaba to Xalapa, in accordance with a decree issued in June 1884 by provisional GovernorJuan Manuel Fernández de Jáuregui. Enríquez and Swiss teacherEnrique C. Rébsamen in 1886 founded the Normal School in Xalapa, the first school of this type in the country.[6] Enríquez died in 1892, but the construction of the Normal School and founding of its other schools led to Xalapa becoming known as a center of learning, the "Athens of Veracruz".[6]
On 18 May 1911,Francisco I. Madero visited Xalapa. On 21 June of the same year a minor conflict occurred between federal forces and revolutionaries.[6]
Xalapa features anoceanic climate (Cfb) that borders on ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa) under theKöppen climate classification. The climate in Xalapa is humid, but the city is relatively cool being located in the mountains over 1400 meters above sea level. The climate can be variable, having a maximum temperature of 38.4 °C and a minimum ranging from 0 °C to 10 °C, but on average the temperature does not fluctuate greatly all year round with an average annual temperature of 18 °C. The warmer season in Xalapa tends to fall between March and reaching a peak in May when the average high reaches 28 °C and low of 16 °C. The cooler season is late December, January and February with an average low of 11 °C and an average high of 21 °C. Travelers to Xalapa will generally find that the most comfortable weather occurs from the beginning of November to mid-April, although they would be well-advised to bring warm clothing, as nighttime winter temperatures can occasionally drop to near 0 °C.
The average annualprecipitation is 1509.1 mm.[11] During the cooler winter months rainfall is at a minimum, with Xalapa receiving only 42 millimeters in January and 38 millimetres in February on average. Snow, however, is common in winter outside the city atPerote, located around 35 minutes from Xalapa. Very early in the morning, Xalapa often has a mist, giving it a characteristic mountain atmosphere. The greatest rainfall occurs during the summer months, particularly in June, when on average rainfall reaches 328 millimeters, remaining relatively high until mid-September.
Xalapa is situated in eastern-central Mexico, approximately 55 miles (89 km) northwest ofVeracruz city.[14] and roughly 350 kilometres fromMexico City.The municipality of Xalapa has an area of 118.45 square kilometres which comprises 0.16% of Veracruz state. It borders to the north withBanderilla,Jilotepec andNaolinco, to the east withActopan andEmiliano Zapata, to the south withCoatepec and the west withTlalnelhuayocan.[15]
Naolinco volcanic field, north of Xalapa city
Situated east, about 50 km (31 mi) away alongMexican Federal Highway 140 is theCofre de Perote National Park. The park covers an area of 117 km2 (29,000 acres), and consists of mainly forested mountains and hills. Its highest point ofCerro de Macuiltépetl rises 1522 metres above sea level. Other hills of prominence include the Cerro de Acalotépetl and the Cerro Colorado.
From Xalapa you can also see thePico de Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico (5,366m or 18,490 feet). It is also the third highest peak in North America.
Hydrographically, there are numerous streams and springs which are in the area around the city.[15] These include the rivers:Sedeño River,Carneros River,Sordo River,Santiago River, Zapotillo River,Castillo River and theCoapexpan River, 3 artificial lakes and the springs Chiltoyac, Ánimas, Xallitic, Techacapan and Tlalnecapan.[15]Jalcomulco is located 39 km (24 mi) southeast of Xalapa which has numerous natural features, such as the mouth of thePescados River.Cascada de Texolo (Texolo Waterfall) is located 19 km (12 mi) southwest of Xalapa, in the town ofXico. It is an 80 meters (260 feet) waterfall that drops into a lush canyon, home to numerous animal species.
With a population of 443,063 inhabitants in Xalapa City and 488,531 inhabitants in the municipality as 2020, Xalapa is the second biggest city and municipality in terms of population in Veracruz.[3] There are 63 localities, 6 classified as urban and 57 classified as rural, besides Xalapa-Enríquez, other localities includes Santa Bárbara (13,783 hab.), El Castillo (6,957 hab.), Lomas Verdes (6,502 hab.) and Las Fuentes (3,614 hab.).[3] 6,542 are classified as living in indigenous homes, 2,673 of which speak an indigenous language.[3]
Xalapa is often called the "Flower Garden of Mexico"[14] and flowers play an important role in the economy. Xalapa is one of the most important places forcoffee production in Mexico due to its ideal climate, and coffee beans are grown on both small holdings and large estates in the surrounding mountains.[14] The tobacco industry also forms a part of the local economy with the process of producing cigarettes, and the growing oftropical fruits.[14] Processed foods and beverages are also produced in Xalapa.[16]
Many people in Xalapa are employed by the government, since it is the state capital. Xalapa is also the head one of the five regional sections of the Tribunal Electoral (a level below the Supreme Court). This area encompasses seven states:Campeche,Chiapas,Oaxaca,Quintana Roo,Tabasco,Veracruz andYucatán. The other regional seats areMexico City,Toluca,Monterrey andGuadalajara.
Costco store with Centro Mayor Tower at the bottom
The city is a thriving center for commerce and many multinational companies have large retail stores and franchise restaurants in the city.
Xalapa also has a number of cinemas, some of them of substantial size, such as theCinepolis Museum (10 screens), Cinepolis the Americas (16 screens), and other cinemas, such as XTreme Cinemas in Crystal and Cinetix in Plaza Animas, which is a local movie theater. There are also several retail malls in Xalapa: Plaza Crystal, Plaza Museo, Plaza Animas (L.A. Fashion), Plaza Américas, and Plaza los Arcos.
The supermarket chainChedraui is based in Xalapa.[16]
GiantOlmec head, a mark of the indigenous civilizations of XalapaPicadas, a local dish served for breakfast
Xalapa is known as the "Athens of Veracruz" because of the strong cultural influence of its major university,Universidad Veracruzana (the main public university in the State of Veracruz). General Enriquez is known for policies encouraging the educational system in Xalapa.
Culturally, Xalapa has a wide variety of events associated with its theatres, museums, and street art. Many musicians and dancers frequently perform in the center in the nights, especially on special occasions and events of celebration or commemoration; they often dance thefandango.
Art has a keen following in Xalapa. The gallery,Pinacoteca Diego Rivera, located near the City Hall andParque Juárez in downtown, has the most numerous collection ofDiego Rivera's paintings in all of Mexico.[17]
Feast day of San José, Feast of Santiago Apostle, Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Jesus, Conception of Maria, and Expo-Fair International are all celebrated in the city. An important religious holiday is on 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating Mary the Mother of God patroness of the city. On 24 OctoberSan Rafael Guizar and Valencia are celebrated, with thousands of people from all over Mexico visiting their tomb that is in a chapel within the cathedral. The cathedral remains open all night and day during this event.
TheXalapa Cathedral is a mix ofBaroque andNeo-Gothic design built in 1773. It has a clock tower, the clock is originally from England.
Callejón Diamante (lit. Diamond Alley) is one of the more crowded streets at night because of its Bohemian atmosphere with cafes and an artists' colony. Callejón Jesús te Ampare is acobblestone street next to the Church of San José.
Patio Muñoz is a neighborhood built in the 19th century, with most of the original buildings intact. Here are held workshops in Veracruz-style painting, dance and music.
Parque Juárez is a park in central Xalapa.[19] Parque Juárez was the location of the Monastery of San Francisco. It is located among the four oldest neighborhoods of the city. Its central garden features enormousmonkey puzzle trees, art gallerys, an agora, workshops, an auditorium and a café.
TheJardín de Esculturas (Sculpture Garden) is a museum dedicated to sculpture, exhibiting works by nationally and internationally recognized artists.
In thePaseo de los Lagos, there used to be an ancient dam. Today it has footpaths surrounded by leafy trees, circling three lakes and a fresh-water spring.
TheParque de los Tecajetes is in a natural depression or ravine of the same name in the center of the city. Underneath is a fresh-water spring that feeds the aqueducts, artificial pools and canals of the park.
TheXalapa Museum of Anthropology houses the largest collection of artifacts fromMexican Gulf Coast cultures such as theOlmec, theHuastec and theTotonac with more than 25,000 pieces. The most notable pieces in the museum are the giant Olmec heads and the smaller Totonac ones. Some of the pieces in the museum date back to the Early Pre-Classic Period from 1300 BC −900 BC.[21]
Nearby is theHacienda del Lencero Its first owner was Juan Lencero, a soldier ofHernán Cortés. In 1842 it was purchased byAntonio López de Santa Anna for 45,000 pesos.[22] Today, it is a museum which displays furniture and personal belongings dating from the 19th century. It also has a chapel, spacious gardens and a lake surrounding the property which include a sculpture byGabriela Mistral who spent time there while in exile.
TheJardín Botánico Clavijero (Clavijero Botanical Garden) has an important collection of regional plants with sections dedicated to Mexican ornamental flowers, reconstructed mountain environments in Xalapa, ferns and the most extensive variety of pines in Mexico.[23]
Xalapa is home to theHalcones UV Xalapa, a very successful professional basketball team. They play in theLNBP
The team was created in 2003 and placed 3rd in the LNBP
In 2004 they were champions of the south division, and got second overall in the LNBP
In 2005 they were champions of the south division and champions of the LNBP
In 2006 they were champions of the south division, and got second in the LNBP. They also placed second in the Copa Independencia LNBP
In 2007 – 2008 they were champions of the south division and champions of the LNBP
In 2008 – 2009 they were champions of the south division and champions of the LNBP. They also placed second in theFIBA de las Americas.
Xalapa also has many sporting facilities. As of 2005, the city has 25 soccer fields, 95 volleyball fields, 95 basketball courts, 36 baseball fields, and 29 multiple-use fields.[24]
Every four years the Central American Games take place in cities all over Central America and the Caribbean. In 2012 Veracruz was chosen to host these games in 2014. Several events took place in Xalapa. The Track Cycling was held in the Velodrome, the Modern Pentathlon Swimming took place in the University Swimming Pool, the Athletics trials in the Hilberto Jara Corona Stadium, and Badminton and Table Tennis in the Omega Complex. All of this brought recognition in the sports world to Xalapa.[citation needed]
The Cuban athlete Sandra Mustelier, a member of the table tennis team, decided to flee the hotel where her team was staying two days before the opening of the Central American Games in Veracruz. The 28-year-old athlete did not collect her accreditation in Veracruz, a situation for which her teammates located her immediately by phone. When contacted, Mustelier herself informed her team of her defection. No investigation was undertaken by the Mexican authorities regarding this situation. Mustelier was considered to be a strong contender to win medals in table tennis.[citation needed]
The city is connected by the 140-D Highway with the cities of Veracruz, Puebla and Mexico City. Also the 140 Road provides a link between those cities.
The city of Xalapa is served by a small airport,El Lencero Airport,[30] located 15 minutes by road from the city. It is currently not served by any commercial airline.
Notable newspapers produced or circulated in Xalapa include www.Xalapa.MXDiario de Xalapa,Diario AZ,Diario el Portal de Xalapa,Diario la Opinión,Periódico Marcha,Periódico Al Calor Político,Periódico Agronómica,Milenio and theLíder.As well, important agency of news on line, like RadioVer www.radiover.com and magazine Revista Era www.revistaera.com t
^Diaz, B., 1963, The Conquest of New Spain, London: Penguin Books,ISBN0140441239
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^U.S. Grant (1990).Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant; Selected Letters. Library of America.ISBN0-940450-58-5.. . . and from what I saw I would be willing to make Jalapa my home for life with only one condition [that his wife could join him].(Letter to Julia Dent 24 April 1847)
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El Libro Azul del Estado de Veracruz (1923). México, el País del Porvenir (bilingual, Spanish and English). México, Compañía Editorial Pan-Americana, S. A. Edición facsimilar de la Editora del Gobierno, 2007; reprint 2008.
Trazos de una vida, bosquejos de una Ciudad. El pintor Carlos Rivera y Xalapa (2009) byAlicia Bazarte Martínez. México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional / Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz, 2009.
Politics and Privilege in a Mexican City (Stanford University Press, 1972), by Richard Fagen and William S. Tuohy
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