Tampico

Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It sits on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about 10 kilometers (6 mi) inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and is directly north of the state of Veracruz. Today, Tampico is the fifth-largest city in Tamaulipas, with a population of 314,418 in the city itself and 929,174 in the larger metropolitan area.

In the early 1900s, Tampico became very important during Mexico's first oil boom. At that time, it was the main place for exporting oil in the Americas and was one of the busiest ports in the world. The money from oil helped build many beautiful buildings in the city, which people often compare to the style of Venice and New Orleans. The very first oil well in Mexico was drilled near Tampico in 1901 at Ébano.

Besides oil, Tampico also plays a big role in exporting other valuable materials such as silver, copper, and lumber. It also sends out wool, hemp, and many farm products. For moving goods by ship, the nearby port of Altamira handles most of the container traffic.

Etymology

Tampico comes from the word tam-piko in the Huastec language. This word means "place of otters."

History

The name "Tampico" comes from the Huastec language, meaning "place of water dogs," a reference to otters that lived in the area near the Pánuco River. For many years, people have lived in this region, with important early settlements like Las Flores.

In 1554, during the time when Spain ruled Mexico, a settlement called San Luis de Tampico was created. It was moved several times because of attacks. The city we know today was founded in 1823 after Mexico gained independence from Spain. It became a center for trading silver and goods from nearby farms.

In 1901, the first oil well in Mexico was drilled near Tampico, leading to growth and investment from the United States. Oil was shipped along rivers, and a canal was built to help move it to the port. During a time of conflict called the Mexican Revolution, there was a disagreement between American sailors and Mexican soldiers, which caused tension between the two countries. Later, Tampico grew by adding nearby areas like Ciudad Madero and developing modern transportation links.

Architecture

Tampico's downtown architecture is a colorful mix from the time when President Porfirio Díaz ruled. During the early 1900s oil boom, many big and beautiful buildings were built, making the city look like Venice or New Orleans. Many buildings have special balconies made of iron, similar to those found in New Orleans.

Important buildings include the grand Town Hall in Plaza de Armas and the Customs House near the docks. The downtown areas around Plaza de Armas and Plaza de Libertad have been restored to show off their history and attract visitors.

The Cathedral of Tampico, also called the Temple of the Immaculate Conception, was built in the late 1800s. It has tall columns and big doors, with two towers on top. Inside, there are beautiful paintings and a shiny white marble altar. A wealthy oil businessman from California, Edward Doheny, helped pay for the cathedral after he started his oil business in Tampico.

Demographics

According to the 2010 census, the city of Tampico had a population of 297,284 people, and the municipality of Tampico had 297,554 people. Both were the fifth largest in the state of Tamaulipas. The Tampico—Ciudad Madero—Altamira metropolitan area was estimated to have 859,419 people in 2010. The municipality covers an area of 92.73 square kilometres (35.80 mi²).

Geography

The city is located on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about 10 kilometers (6 mi) inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state of Veracruz.

Climate

Tampico has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw), with warm weather most of the year. Summers are hot, with average high temperatures of 32 °C (90 °F) in August. Winters are mild, with average January highs of 23 °C (73 °F). Rain falls often from June through October.

The city is very humid, especially in summer, and is near wetlands by the Gulf of Mexico. Cold winds sometimes pass through in autumn and winter. Tampico can be affected by hurricanes, though none have hit the city directly since 1966. Very rarely, the city has seen unusually cold temperatures, such as during a cold wave in 2011 when temperatures dropped to 0 °C (32 °F). Snow was once reported in Tampico in 1895, which is very rare for such a warm location.

Transportation

See also: Port of Tampico

The area around Tampico, including the cities of Ciudad Madero and Altamira, uses General Francisco Javier Mina International Airport, located in the northern part of Tampico. The airport has flights to major Mexican cities like Mexico City and Monterrey, and also offers daily flights to Houston, Texas and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

Tampico has strong railway connections for its port, which is equipped with warehouses and tools for loading oil tankers. Big roads link the city to the Pan-American Highway.

Food

Tampico is famous for its tasty food, especially seafood. The people there are nicknamed Jaibas, after crabs, and you can see crab symbols everywhere, like on sports team logos, bus sides, and park benches. Two popular local dishes are the "torta de la barda," a sandwich with lots of toppings, and the "tampiqueña," which is steak served with refried beans and tortillas with tomato sauce and cheese.

Education

The Autonomous University of Tamaulipas has one of its biggest campuses in Tampico, along with another in Ciudad Victoria. You can study many important subjects there, such as medicine, engineering, nursing, dentistry, architecture, and business.

Tampico also has many high schools, both private and public, where students can learn and grow.

Sports

The local football team, Tampico Madero F.C., was started in 1945 and is called La Jaiba Brava. They play in the second level of the Mexican football league system and have played at the 19,415-seat Estadio Tamaulipas since 1966.

In 1953, Tampico Madero won the top league in Mexico and also took home a special award. La Jaiba Brava won back-to-back cup titles in 1960 and 1961. The team moved between different league levels for many years but came back strong in the late 1970s. They were close to winning the top league again in 1985 and 1986 but were moved down to a lower league in the early 1990s.

Notable people

Tampico has been home to many famous people from different fields. Juan García Esquivel was a pianist and composer known for his unique lounge music. Ernesto Corripio Ahumada served as the Archbishop of Mexico. Linda Christian was a well-known actress, and Mauricio Garcés was an actor born as Mauricio Feres Yazbeck. Roberto Cantoral was a talented composer and songwriter.

Other notable individuals include writer Ana María Rabatté y Cervi, American novelist James Carlos Blake, and rock musician Rodrigo González. José Ángel Gurría Treviño has held important positions in Mexican and international government. Víctor Manuel Vucetich is a retired football player and current manager. Cecilia Suárez is a respected film and television actress, and Erika Alcocer Luna won a popular television music competition. Many more artists, athletes, and leaders have come from Tampico, making it a place of diverse talent.