Monclova

Monclova

Coat of arms
Nickname(s): The Steel Capital
Monclova
Coordinates: 26°54′37″N 101°25′20″W / 26.91028°N 101.42222°W / 26.91028; -101.42222Coordinates: 26°54′37″N 101°25′20″W / 26.91028°N 101.42222°W / 26.91028; -101.42222
Country  Mexico
State  Coahuila
Municipality Monclova
Founded 25 July 1577
Founded by Alonso de León
Named for Melchor Portocarrero, 3rd Count of Monclova
Government
 • Type Municipio
 • Presidente Municipal Lic. Gerardo Garcia Castillo (PAN)
Elevation 620 m (2,030 ft)
Population (2015)
 • City 231,107 [1]
 • Metro 381,432 [1]
 • Metro density 29.88/km2 (77.4/sq mi)
Time zone UTC–6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC–5 (CDT)
Codigo Postal 25700
Area code(s) +52-866
Website monclova.gob.mx
Airport: Venustiano Carranza International Airport (LOV)

Monclova (Spanish pronunciation: [moŋˈkloβa]), is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. According to the 2015 census there were 231,107 inhabitants in the city.[1] Its metropolitan area has 381,432 inhabitants and has a population density of 29.88 inhabitants per square kilometers.[1] Monclova is the third largest city and metropolitan area in the state in terms of population, after Torreón and Saltillo.

The city accounts for the highest production of steel of Mexico and Latin America, hence its nickname "The Steel Capital".

Today Monclova has one of the highest commercial, industrial and financial developments, and it is currently one of the cities with the lowest poverty rates in Mexico. Its metropolitan area is among the 10 most competitive urban areas in the country, and it also has the highest labor productivity.


History

Established on July 25, 1577, Monclova became the first city in the region known as Coahuila and later as the State of Coahuila.

During the colonial period and the early 19th century, Monclova served as the capital of Nueva Extremadura. It remained the capital for a few years after Mexico's independence.

During the initial battle for independence from Spain, fleeing rebel leaders who had been captured at the Wells of Bajan were first taken to Monclova before the long trip to the city of Chihuahua. The captured leaders were Juan Aldama, Ignacio Allende, Miguel Hidalgo, and Jose Mariano Jimenez.[2]

With the adoption of the 1824 Constitution, which created the state of Coahuila y Tejas, the capital was transferred to Saltillo. In 1828, the decision was overturned when Monclova was declared the capital of the new state, but the state legislature continued to convene in Saltillo. On March 9, 1833, the state legislature settled the dispute in Monclova's favour, and the decision was ratified by President Antonio López de Santa Anna on December 2, 1834.

With the enactment of the 1836 Constitutional Laws by which the federal republic was converted into a centralised one, the state of Coahuila y Tejas was divided into two departments, Coahuila and Tejas (or Texas, as it would later become), and Saltillo was finalized as Coahuila's capital. However, 1835-36 was also the period of the Texas Revolution, and Texas became an independent republic.

Geography

Monclova sits at an altitude of 620 m above sea level. It is located at 26°54′37″N 101°25′20″W / 26.91028°N 101.42222°W / 26.91028; -101.42222, in the state's central region (Región Centro), in the east-central part of the state.

Climate

Monclova experiences a warm semi-arid climate, with a median yearly temperature of 22.0 °C (71.6 °F).

The median temperature of the coolest month, January, is 13.6 °C (56.5 °F), although the temperature can climb as high as 30 °C (86 °F) during some days and it can drop to 0 °C (32 °F) some nights. Probably the coldest snap in recent history took place on December 25, 1983 when the temperature plunged to −9.5 °C (14.9 °F).

On the other hand, temperatures during late spring and summer can have bouts of extreme heat, with evenings above 40 °C (104 °F) for many consecutive days. In recent decades the hottest records have climbed as high as 43 °C (109 °F) on July 13, 2005 and 45 °C (113 °F) on May 4, 1984. However nighttime low temperatures are typically 15 degrees cooler than daytime highs, due to the very arid conditions. Even in July, the warmest month, temperatures have gotten as low as 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) in 1975. The median temperature July is 28.6 °C (83.5 °F). A typical summer day has a low around 21 °C (70 °F) and a high near 35 °C (95 °F).

In 1976 the wettest month on record took place in July, with 287.3 mm (11.31 in) of rain, more than half the median yearly value of 376.7 mm (14.83 in) ; however the average wettest month is September with 78.5 mm (3.09 in) . The warmer months of the year are typically wetter than the cooler ones. Cold fronts in winter have the possibility of drastically reducing temperatures in the area, and are responsible for the little rainfall of such period. Even snowfall has occurred in Monclova some winters, although most years it is a phenomenon reserved only to the nearby mountains. Precipitation occurs an average of 47 days, out of which 6 will be thunderstorms and at least one day with hail.

Climate data for Monclova
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.5
(92.3)		 36.8
(98.2)		 39.8
(103.6)		 41.8
(107.2)		 45.2
(113.4)		 44.5
(112.1)		 43.8
(110.8)		 43.0
(109.4)		 45.5
(113.9)		 39.7
(103.5)		 38.5
(101.3)		 35.6
(96.1)		 45.2
(113.4)
Average high °C (°F) 19.7
(67.5)		 22.5
(72.5)		 27.4
(81.3)		 31.5
(88.7)		 34.0
(93.2)		 35.8
(96.4)		 35.4
(95.7)		 34.9
(94.8)		 31.7
(89.1)		 28.0
(82.4)		 24.2
(75.6)		 21.3
(70.3)		 28.9
(84)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.6
(54.7)		 14.9
(58.8)		 19.6
(67.3)		 24.0
(75.2)		 27.0
(80.6)		 29.1
(84.4)		 29.0
(84.2)		 28.6
(83.5)		 25.8
(78.4)		 21.7
(71.1)		 17.1
(62.8)		 14.2
(57.6)		 22.0
(71.6)
Average low °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9)		 7.4
(45.3)		 11.9
(53.4)		 16.6
(61.9)		 19.9
(67.8)		 22.4
(72.3)		 22.6
(72.7)		 22.3
(72.1)		 19.9
(67.8)		 15.4
(59.7)		 10.1
(50.2)		 7.1
(44.8)		 15.1
(59.2)
Record low °C (°F) −9.5
(14.9)		 −4.8
(23.4)		 −2.8
(27)		 4.0
(39.2)		 3.8
(38.8)		 13.0
(55.4)		 10.6
(51.1)		 2.2
(36)		 1.0
(33.8)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 −3.2
(26.2)		 −9.5
(14.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 12.2
(0.48)		 16.5
(0.65)		 8.1
(0.319)		 22.8
(0.898)		 40.2
(1.583)		 40.2
(1.583)		 42.2
(1.661)		 43.9
(1.728)		 78.5
(3.091)		 37.6
(1.48)		 19.5
(0.768)		 15.0
(0.591)		 376.7
(14.831)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 3.3 3.2 1.7 2.7 4.7 3.9 4.7 4.9 6.3 4.5 3.2 3.4 46.5
Average relative humidity (%) 53 51 43 45 52 55 48 50 56 59 55 56 52
Mean monthly sunshine hours 192 175 221 234 269 274 289 230 221 240 210 172 2,727
Source #1: Servicio Meteorológico National (humidity 1981–2000)[3][4]
Source #2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (sun, 1961–1990)[5][lower-alpha 1]

Economy

The city accounts for the highest production of steel of Mexico and Latin America, hence its nickname "The Steel Capital". In 1942 the steel factory Altos Hornos de Mexico was founded, accelerating the industrial development of Monclova.

Today Monclova has one of the highest commercial, industrial and financial developments, and it is currently one of the cities with the lowest poverty rates in Mexico. Its metropolitan area is among the 10 most competitive urban areas in the country, and it also has the highest labor productivity.

Tourism

Buildings and monuments

Stadium
  • The Santiago Apostol Parish Church - Construction of this building began in the second half of the eighteenth century. Its façade consists of carved cantera stone.
  • The San Francisco de Asis Parish Church - St. Francis of Assisi Church, seventeenth century.
  • Ermita de Zapopan Church - Due to damage caused during the revolution and to conserve original details like its bells and walls, restoration was carried out at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
  • El Polvorin (The Powder Magazine) - Museum with collections of anthropology, biology, sociology, watercolor art, geology, mathematics, communications, archery, guns, other weapons, and Mexican sexual culture.
  • Pape Museum Library - For 28 years, this cultural and recreational center, promoted by the Pape Foundation, has given seasonal expositions of artistic works. Its permanent exhibit chronologically illustrates the life and work of the couple Harold and Lou Pape. It also has an auditorium for 300 people where plays and musical concerts are performed. Next to the museum is the Harold R. Pape Library.
  • Meteorological Observatory - The observatory is the largest in the state with a 16-inch opening. Controlled by a computer, it integrates a highly sophisticated video system that projects live images of the sun, the moon, and the planets onto a black and white screen. This observatory was constructed by the government to educate the people about the difference between astronomy and astrology.
  • Venustiano Carranza International Airport - The city's airport.

Parks and gardens

  • Xochipilli Park I and II - More than 20 hectares (49 acres) intended for relaxation and recreational activities form this original concept from the Papes. Its complete facilities include large sports and cultural spaces surrounded by green areas, lakes, rivers, fountains, and waterfalls.
  • The Main Square
  • The Zoo

Sister Cities

Notable people from Monclova

  • Joakim Soria, relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, Formerly for: Pittsburgh Pirates & Detroit Tigers
  • Susana Zabaleta, actress, opera singer and judge on Televisa TV contests
  • Raúl Flores Canelo (Monclova, Coahuila, México, 19 de abril de 1929-3 de febrero de 1992), bailarín, escenógrafo, coreógrafo y diseñador. Fue uno de los artistas mexicanos más importantes del siglo XX, cuya obra es reconocida a nivel Internacional.

Notes

  1. ↑ Station ID for Monclova, Coah. is 76342 Use this station ID to locate the sunshine duration

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Número de habitantes. Coahuila de Zaragoza". www.cuentame.inegi.org.mx.
  2. ↑ Fehrenbach,T.R.,(1995, updated). Fire and Blood: a history of Mexico, New York: Da Capo Press, p.331.
  3. ↑ "NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1951-2010" (in Spanish). Servicio Meteorológico National. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1981–2000" (PDF) (in Spanish). Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Station 76342: Monclova, Coah". Global station data 1961–1990—Sunshine Duration. Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Monclova100908 (8 June 2016). "Trade mission aims to expand ties with Sister City in Mexico: Office of Media Relations: Texas State University". www.txstate.edu.

Sources

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