San Juan del Río
Encyclopedia
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San Juan del Río is a city (2005 census pop. 120,984) and administrative seat of the surrounding San Juan del Río Municipality (pop. 208,462) in the central Mexican
state
of Querétaro
. The population in July, 2007 is calculated in 128,270 for the city and 217,980 for the municipality.
The city and municipality both rank second in population in the state. The municipality has an area of 799.9 km² (308.8 sq mi).
It is located on the country's central plateau (altiplano), 50 km (31.1 mi) south-east of state capital Santiago de Querétaro
, at 20°23′N 99°59′W and an elevation of 1,922 metres (6,306 ft). Famous for its opals, mined at nearby La Trinidad, it is also an agricultural center (corn, wheat, sugarcane, beans, alfalfa, fruit, and livestock) and has some light industry. A number of wineries are also located in the vicinity.
It is connected to Santiago de Querétaro and Mexico City
by the mainline freight railway and Federal Highway 57.
chieftain
that converted to Catholicism
and dropped his Native name Conín
. San Juan was one of the first Spanish settlements outside the Valley of Mexico
and thus marked the beginning of the colonisation of Northern and Western Mexico, including the city of Querétaro
which was founded one month later. The settlement became important since it was an obliged stop en route to the rich mining regions of Guanajuato
, Zacatecas
and San Luis Potosí
.
San Juan del Río is a city (2005 census pop. 120,984) and administrative seat of the surrounding San Juan del Río Municipality (pop. 208,462) in the central Mexican
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...
state
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
of Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
. The population in July, 2007 is calculated in 128,270 for the city and 217,980 for the municipality.
The city and municipality both rank second in population in the state. The municipality has an area of 799.9 km² (308.8 sq mi).
It is located on the country's central plateau (altiplano), 50 km (31.1 mi) south-east of state capital Santiago de Querétaro
Santiago de Querétaro
Santiago de Querétaro is the capital and largest city of the state of Querétaro, located in central Mexico. It is located 213 km northwest of Mexico City, 96 km southeast of San Miguel de Allende and 200 km south of San Luis Potosí...
, at 20°23′N 99°59′W and an elevation of 1,922 metres (6,306 ft). Famous for its opals, mined at nearby La Trinidad, it is also an agricultural center (corn, wheat, sugarcane, beans, alfalfa, fruit, and livestock) and has some light industry. A number of wineries are also located in the vicinity.
It is connected to Santiago de Querétaro and Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
by the mainline freight railway and Federal Highway 57.
History
The city was founded on the Feast of Saint John the Baptist June 24, 1531 by Fernado de Tapia, an OtomíOtomi people
The Otomi people . Smaller Otomi populations exist in the states of Puebla, Mexico, Tlaxcala, Michoacán and Guanajuato. The Otomi language belonging to the Oto-Pamean branch of the Oto-Manguean language family is spoken in many different varieties some of which are not mutually intelligible.One of...
chieftain
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
that converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and dropped his Native name Conín
Conín
Conín was a native Mexican of the Otomi people, who helped the Spanish conquer territories in the central part of Mexico during the 16th century....
. San Juan was one of the first Spanish settlements outside the Valley of Mexico
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and thus marked the beginning of the colonisation of Northern and Western Mexico, including the city of Querétaro
Santiago de Querétaro
Santiago de Querétaro is the capital and largest city of the state of Querétaro, located in central Mexico. It is located 213 km northwest of Mexico City, 96 km southeast of San Miguel de Allende and 200 km south of San Luis Potosí...
which was founded one month later. The settlement became important since it was an obliged stop en route to the rich mining regions of Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas 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 Zacatecas....
and San Luis Potosí
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....
.
Cultural events
- January 17: Feast of San Antonio (Blessing of the Animals)
- February 2: Day of the Candelaria (Blessing of the Seeds)
- March 1: Jesusito de la Portería
- March 3: Feast of the Holy Cross
- Around June 24: City Fair , Feast of Patron Saint Saint John the Baptist and Anniversary of the City's Foundation.
- November 22: Feast of Santa Cecilia
- December 11: Procession of the Farolitos
Entertainment in San Juan del Río
- Goal 7 San Juan del Río Football 7 field "Goal 7"
External links
- Gobierno Municipal de San Juan del Río Official website
- El Portal de los sanjuanenses Pagina Comercial de San Juan del Rio