Saltillo

Saltillo is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila.

Saltillo is known for being one of the most industrialized cities in Mexico. It has a big automotive industry with many important companies operating there, such as General Motors, Stellantis, Daimler AG, Freightliner Trucks, BorgWarner, Plastic Omnium, Magna, and Nemak. The city is also close to other manufacturing centers, including Tesla's new plant in the neighboring city of Santa Catarina, Nuevo León.

Saltillo is also considered one of the most competitive cities in Mexico. It even holds the title of the safest capital city in Mexico.

History

Colonial era

Saltillo was founded in 1577 by a Spanish explorer named Alberto del Canto. It was called Villa de Santiago del Saltillo and is one of the oldest cities in northern Mexico. The city’s name comes from a small waterfall that gave water from a spring. You can still visit this spring at the Parish of the Holy Christ of the Ojo de Agua.

In 1591, the Spanish made a nearby town called San Esteban de Nueva Tlaxcala for their allies. Early on, Saltillo grew slowly because of problems with local groups and water. By the 1700s, Saltillo became an important trading place. It helped connect Mexico to areas farther north and supplied food and animals to nearby silver mines.

Early Mexico

In 1824, Saltillo became the capital of the state of Coahuila y Tejas, replacing another city. The city’s name was briefly changed to Leona Vicario, but it was changed back to Saltillo in 1831.

In the 1840s, Saltillo was involved in conflicts between Mexico and Texas. During the Mexican–American War in 1846–1847, American forces occupied Saltillo. A big battle happened nearby during this time.

Porfiriato and Mexican Revolution

Modern changes began in the late 1800s with railroads and new buildings. During the Mexican Revolution from 1910 to 1920, Saltillo saw many changes as different leaders took control.

20th century

In the 1920s and 1930s, new schools opened in Saltillo. By the mid-1900s, the city moved from farming to industry. In the 1970s and 1980s, car companies like General Motors and Chrysler opened factories. This earned Saltillo the nickname “Detroit of Mexico.” Today, the city keeps growing with many types of industries.

Geography

El Cerro del Pueblo, also called The Town Hill, and its large cross watch over the city of Saltillo. The city sits high up, which makes it colder and windier than nearby Monterrey. Saltillo is found in the dry Chihuahuan Desert close to the city of Arteaga. Big mountains called the Zapalinamé mountains surround the city on one side. These mountains are part of a larger mountain range known as the Sierra Madre Oriental.

Saltillo has a very dry climate, but because it is high up, it is not as hot as other desert cities. Summers are warm but nights are cool, and winters are sunny but chilly. Rain does not fall often, but when it does, it is usually in the summer. Though rare, snow sometimes falls in Saltillo.

Demographics

Population

Saltillo is one of the big cities in Mexico. In 2020, about 880,000 people lived there.

A chart shows how Saltillo's population changed from 1900 to 2020. The data comes from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

Economy

Saltillo is famous for making beautiful tiles and colorful woven blankets called sarapes. Big car companies like Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Chrysler have factories in Saltillo where they build many cars and trucks. A large part of the cars and trucks made in Mexico come from Saltillo.

The General Motors factory in Saltillo makes cars for people in Japan, Canada, Central America, and Mexico. Some of the cars they build include the Chevrolet C2, Chevrolet Monza, and Chevrolet Captiva, along with other models. The factory also helps make many big pickup trucks.

Education

Saltillo has many important universities. The main ones are the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, the Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo, the Tec de Monterrey Saltillo Campus, El Instituto de Filologia Hispanica, the Universidad Carolina, and the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro.

Government

Saltillo is the main city in its area, called a municipality. The person in charge of the city is the mayor, José María Fraustro Siller. He belongs to a group called the Partido Revolucionario Institucional, or PRI.

Sites of interest

Saltillo has many interesting places to visit, including theaters, cultural centers, and museums.

Cultural

• Fernando Soler City Theater: This theater was built in 1979 and shows plays, music, dance, and children's shows.

• Paraninfo del Ateneo Fuente: An auditorium at the Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, it holds events and has murals about science and arts.

• Casa Purcell Cultural Center: Built in the 19th century, this center now shows modern art.

• García Carrillo Theater Cultural Center: This center has a gallery and an auditorium for events.

• The Cultural Center Vito Alessio Robles: This old building shows history, personal items, and modern art.

• Coahuilense Institute of Culture: This place shows art and culture from the state, with a gallery, workshops, and a bookstore.

• El Recinto a Juárez: This place offers library services and holds plays and conferences.

• University Cultural Heritage Site: A very old house now shows the city's art.

• Aurora Morales de López University Cultural Site: A space for local artists to show their work.

Religious

• Cathedral of Santiago Apostol: Built in 1745, this is Saltillo’s main church. It has beautiful decorations and old paintings.
• Church of Santo Cristo del Ojo de Agua: This church has a famous statue and is on a hilltop.
• Parish of San Esteban: Founded in 1592.
• Temple of San Juan Nepomuceno: A church from the 19th century with paintings and sculptures inside.
• Sanctuary of Guadalupe: A church built in 1890 with a clock and special windows.

Museums

Saltillo has many museums, including:

• Museum of the Coahuilenses Presidents: Honors five presidents from Coahuila: Melchor Múzquiz, Francisco I. Madero, Eulalio Gutiérrez Ortiz, Roque González Garza, and Venustiano Carranza. It has photos and documents.
• Landín Chapel Museum: An old chapel with religious paintings.
• Museo de la Angostura: Remembers a battle victory in 1847.
• Catrina Museum: Shows the history of Catrina, who represents death, and serves hot chocolate every day.
• Bird Museum of Mexico: Has many preserved birds, mostly from Mexico. It is in an old college building.
• Museo del Normalismo: Shares the history of education in Coahuila.
• Museo del Sarape and Typical Costumes: Shows old clothes and sarapes.
• The Gyroscope Museum: A science museum.
• Rubén Herrera Museum: Shows artwork by Rubén Herrera and has space for events.
• MAG Graphic Arts Museum: Features works by José Guadalupe Posada, known for his prints.
• Cato Museum: Dedicated to a journalist.
• Museo del Horror: Focused on horror.

Culture

Saltillo's culture is similar to that of other places in Northern Mexico, but it also has some special traditions.

One famous tradition is the danza de matachines, a lively dance performed in Saltillo and many other places. The dancers wear colorful costumes with bows, feathers, and decorated skirts.

Another well-known item is the sarape, a colorful blanket-like garment that people in Saltillo and other parts of Mexico wear or use as a blanket, tablecloth, or even for decorating walls.

Saltillo is also famous for its pulque bread, a sweet bread that uses pulque—a drink made from the agave plant—as part of its recipe. This bread is a special treat in the city and some nearby areas.

The city has a famous music group called the Saltillo Rondalla, known for playing guitars and other instruments. They have made many recordings and traveled to many countries.

Sports

Saltillo has a long history of baseball. Some sources say the sport began there in the late 1800s. The city’s team, the Saraperos de Saltillo, joined the Mexican Baseball League in 1970. They have won three championships.

Other sports such as basketball, boxing, lucha libre, and ice hockey are also played in the Centro de Convenciones Arena Saltillo.

Transportation

Saltillo's air travel needs are met by Plan de Guadalupe International Airport. The airport is just a 15-minute trip from the city center. It handles cargo flights but does not have regular passenger flights. The city also has a good bus system and many taxis for travel.

Sister cities

Saltillo has several sister cities around the world. These include:

• Austin in the United States
• Canton in the United States
• Guatemala City in Guatemala
• Lansing in the United States
• Holguín in Cuba
• Tlaxcala City in Mexico
• Windsor in Canada

Notable people

Saltillo was called “the Athens of Mexico” in the 1900s because many important thinkers lived there. Some famous people from Saltillo are:

• Manuel Acuña, a writer from the 1800s known for his poetry.
• Rubén Aguirre, an actor famous for playing Professor Jirafales in El Chavo del Ocho.
• Vito Alessio Robles, a soldier, engineer, and writer who helped during the Mexican Revolution.
• Pedro Arce, a professional football player.
• Carlos Bee, a former U.S. Representative from Texas.
• Ernesto Boardman, an archer who won a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games.
• Humberto Elizondo, an actor in films and television.
• Eulalio Gutiérrez, who served as president of Mexico for a short time.
• Louis Febre, a composer known for his work on Smallville.
• Roque González Garza, a general who was acting president of Mexico for several months.
• Magda Guzmán, an actress.
• Rosario Ibarra, an activist and political figure.
• José Narro Robles, a former leader of a medical school.
• Abril Rodríguez, a beauty contestant.
• Andrés Soler, a star of Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema.
• Fernando Soler, an actor, director, and producer.
• Julio Torri, a writer and teacher.
• Karla Wheelock, a mountaineer and writer who was the first Iberoamerican woman to climb the Seven Summits.