Cerritos, San Luis Potosí
Encyclopedia
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
, a state of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It was founded in 1826 by the state's congress
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different nations, constituent states, independent organizations , or groups....
. It is within the mid zone of the state called La Zona Media. Within its municipality it holds 100 villages. According to the 2000 census it has 20,703 people; however, it experienced tremendous growth within the following five years. Much of its recent growth can be credited to the construction of the cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
factory, Cemento Moctezuma, just on the outskirts of the city. During the decades of the 1960s and 1970s Casa Gloria was the main distributor in the city of Cerritos. Cerritos is a great place to start a family, since it is surrounded by natural boundaries and is very tranquil. Nowadays it is expanding its population and more housing is being built near the outskirts of the city.
Location
History
Cerritos began receiving inhabitants before the 17th century, it was then part of Guadalcázar. It was finally established by state decree in 1826. It was granted a train station which connected the state capital, San Luis PotosíSan Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
, and Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, a port in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. The Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
brought much destruction and famine in the early 1900s. During these years Cerritos was under the Cedillista campaign. Small skirmishes and battles, looting, and the absence of men whom left to fight were at the core of the problems for the town. Life in Cerritos did not return to normal until 1918.
Economy
Agriculture is the main economic activity. Corn, sorghum, beans, and pepper are the main crops. Cerritos was considered the main corn producer of the state, however due to the diversification of crops, it has since lost that title. Some livestock (cattle) and lumber (mesquite) is also produced for exportation. A major state bus company, Autobuses Cerritenses, is headquartered in Cerritos.Culture
Cerritos hosts an annual "Feria," or traveling carnivalTraveling carnival
A traveling carnival is an amusement show that may be made up of amusement rides, food vendors, merchandise vendors, games of chance and skill, thrill acts, animal acts or sideshow curiosities. A traveling carnival is not set up at a permanent location, like an amusement park, but is moved from...
in honor of the patron saint, San Juan Bautista
San Juan Bautista
San Juan Bautista is:* The Spanish-language name of Saint John the Baptist. See also the disambiguation page at San Juan. The name also may appear as a Spanish translation of the French Jean-Baptiste.As a toponym, San Juan Bautista may refer to:...
for about a week and a half until the main day on June 24. This carnival is made up of dozens of booths that sell artifacts, ceramics and pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, regional delicacies, food, drinks, games, literature, and small widgets among other things. Rides are also a main attraction of the carnival. A stage is also constructed for shows, regional and national folklore dances, musicians, speeches, and plays. Many tourists come from all parts of the state of San Luis Potosi and from the United States for this traditional event, though most tourists are really natives of the area who come from the United States after working in the crops throughout the year.
Notable residents
Latin Grammy Award winning band Grupo BryndisGrupo Bryndis
Grupo Bryndis is an internationally known Mexican musical group. Originated in Santa Paula, California, U.S.A . by their leader, guitarist and song-writer Mauro Posadas in 1983. Grupo Bryndis is also a Latin Grammy Award winner for best album in 2007...
"El Grupo Que Le Canta Al Amor".