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Gómez Palacio, Durango | |
|---|---|
 Main Square of Gómez Palacio | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: industrial capital of comarca lagunera | |
  Gómez Palacio, Durango Location in Mexico Show map of Durango Gómez Palacio, Durango Gómez Palacio, Durango (Mexico) Show map of Mexico | |
| Coordinates:25°34′40″N103°29′54″W / 25.57778°N 103.49833°W /25.57778; -103.4983325°33′40″N103°29′54″W / 25.56111°N 103.49833°W /25.56111; -103.49833 | |
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Durango |
| Municipality | Gómez Palacio |
| Population (2010) | |
• Total | 327,985 |
| Website | Official website |
Gómez Palacio is a city and its surroundingmunicipality in northeasternDurango,Mexico, adjacent to the border of the state ofCoahuila. The city is named in honor of former Durangogovernor,Francisco Gómez Palacio y Bravo.
As of 2010, the city of Gómez Palacio had a population of 327,985,[1] up from 304,515 as of 2005, making it the state's second-largest community. The municipality (including the city) population was 327,985.[1] The municipality's area is 990.2 square kilometres (382.3 sq mi). The municipality and city are part of a largemetropolitan area called theComarca Lagunera Metropolitan Area, which includesTorreón Municipality andMatamoros Municipality in Coahuila, as well asLerdo Municipality in Durango. The metropolitan area had an official population of 1,215,817 persons in 2010.
From the first half of the seventeenth century, the land within the triangle formed by San Juan de Casta (now Leon Guzman), Santiago de Mapimí (Mapimí) and Santa Maria de las Parras (Parras), formed part of the property of the Marquis of Aguayo and named Hacienda de San Lorenzo de la Laguna.
In 1848, after several modifications, the lands were purchased by Juan Ignacio Jimenez, fromCuencame. The purchase included the entrance of the river Nazas (Cañon de Calabazas), where he built Calabazas Dam and a system of canals and ditches to irrigate the lands of the Haciendas of Sacramento, Noé, Santa Rosa, Torreón and San Ignacio.
In 1880, his successors sold these properties to one of his managers, Spanish farmer Santiago Lavín Cuadra. In 1885, Lavín drafted the blocks that would be the beginning of the city. He created a public square in Hidalgo Street (now Independencia) and offered free land to those who agreed to plant trees to give the region a different look. The first deed was recorded September 15, 1885, now considered the city's founding date. Lavín named the town in honor of Francisco Gomez Palacio for his many achievements as governor, federal deputy, Secretary of the Interior and as an official in the government ofBenito Juárez.
The city was officially recognized by the State Congress December 21, 1905, by decree number 60.
On June 25, 1887, a legal society was formed that gave rise toLa Jabonera (The Soap), considered the city's most important industry. Another company was the spinning and weavingLa Amistad (Friendship) that received a land grant to set up their factory. Another wasLa Union (The Union), a shoe factory that became successful enough to compete with imported European and U.S. premium brands.
Upon founding the city, Cuadra ceded land to theMexican Central Railroad so that it could build a roundhouse and workshops, with the aim of expanding it to an entire railroad terminal. In 1907, a U.S. company transferred its Jimulco facilities toGómez Palacio and terminals for passenger and cargo trains were established. Over time, about 2,000 workers arrived. The trains were operated by U.S. personnel, who gradually trained Mexican workers to operate the trains. Mexican workers occupied vacancies left by departing Americans and by 1910, all positions were filled by Mexicans.
The city became one of the largestrailroad centers in the country, boosting the already thriving development. The outbreak of the revolutionary struggle caused the closure of many industries and businesses, especially affecting manual laborers. For many years, the railroad was the mainstay of the local economy. The roundhouse, workshops and terminals were changed toTorreon, Coahuila.
The installation of the Francke power plant in 1930 gave considerable impetus toindustrialization.
The first agricultural strike in the region occurred June 11, 1935, in the Hacienda of Manila, multiplying effects in other estates that resulted in the issuance of the decree of October 6, 1936, by which GeneralLázaro Cárdenas initiated the distribution of land to laborers throughout theComarca Lagunera.
As the busiest economy in the region and state, the city contributed nearly 45% ofGDP along withCiudad Lerdo and over 55% withLaguna Region ofDurango. Gómez Palacio hosts several industrial parks, including the newer Park Gómez Palacio Americas, Harrier Industrial Park with 588 companies and the Zone of International Connectivity, Laguna for international trade.
Manuel Banuelos, a pitcher for fourMajor League Baseball teams, was born in Gomez Palacio.[2]
Uriel Antuna, footballer
Andrade El Idolo, professional wrestler
Gómez Palacio has one sister city.:[3]
-South El Monte,California, USA{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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