Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Guadalajara

 
Dictionary: Gua·da·la·ja·ra   (gwŏd'l-ə-hä'rə, gwä'dä-lä-hä') pronunciation

A city of west-central Mexico west-northwest of Mexico City. At an altitude of more than 1,525 m (5,000 ft), it is noted for its glassware and pottery. Population: 1,600,000.

 

Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

City (pop., 2000: city, 1,646,183; metro. area, 3,677,531), capital of Jalisco state, west-central Mexico. Mexico's second largest city, it lies near the Río Grande de Santiago at an elevation of about 5,100 ft (1,550 m). Founded by the Spanish in 1531, it was relocated several times under pressure from Indians. In 1810 it was occupied briefly by the independence leader Miguel Hidalgo. Since 1940 it has become a major industrial producer while retaining a rich agricultural trade. The governor's palace, begun in 1743, is a noted example of Spanish Mexican architecture. Guadalajara is the site of two universities.

For more information on Guadalajara, visit Britannica.com.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Guadalajara
Top
Guadalajara (gwä'THälähä'), city (1990 pop. 1,650,042), capital of Jalisco state, SW Mexico, second largest city of Mexico. The metropolitan area includes close to 3 million people. Guadalajara is a beautiful, spacious city on a plain more than 5,000 ft (1,524 m) high and surrounded by mountains. It is a modern commercial metropolis with many picturesque survivals of the Spanish colonial era. The mild, clear, dry climate has made it a popular health resort, and because of its charm it is often called "Perla del Occidente" (Pearl of the West).

Guadalajara is also an important communications and industrial center. Industry is aided by direct rail service to the United States and by a hydroelectric plant utilizing the Juanacatlán falls on the Santiago River. Food processing, the manufacture of xerographic and photographic equipment, plastics, chemicals, electronic products, and motor vehicles are among the leading industries. The region around the city is important for agriculture and livestock raising; some coal is also mined. The most famous products of Guadalajara and its environs are intricately designed and finely worked glassware and pottery.

Founded by Cristóbal de Oñate c.1530, Guadalajara was moved twice, before and during the Mixtón War, because of military pressure by the region's native inhabitants; it was permanently established in 1542, the date chosen as its official founding. Guadalajara became the seat of the audiencia of Nueva Galicia. Easily captured in 1810 by Hidalgo y Costilla during the war against Spain, the city was the center of reform activities. Again in 1858, in the War of Reform, it was briefly occupied by the liberals under Benito Juárez.

The city's notable public buildings include the cathedral, finished in 1618 after more than 50 years of work, and the governor's palace, begun in 1643. The cathedral, which houses B. E. Murillo's The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, has been partially destroyed several times by earthquakes and represents a conglomerate of architectural styles. The governor's palace, with murals by J. C. Orozco, is an excellent example of Spanish colonial architecture. The Univ. of Guadalajara and the Instituto Cultural Cabaña also contain Orozco murals. The ornate Teatro Degollado is modeled on Milan's La Scala.


Geography: Guadalajara
Top
(gwahd-l-uh-hah-ruh)

City in southwestern Mexico.

  • Its mild, dry climate makes it a popular health resort.
  • Much architecture from the Spanish colonial era survives in the city.

Weather: Guadalajara, Mexico
Top
AccuWeather® 5-Day Forecast for

Sunday HI:  79°F / 26°C
LO: 42°F / 5°C
Monday HI:  78°F / 25°C
LO: 44°F / 6°C
Tuesday HI:  78°F / 25°C
LO: 44°F / 6°C
Wednesday HI:  78°F / 25°C
LO: 46°F / 7°C
Thursday HI:  76°F / 24°C
LO: 44°F / 6°C
Last updated November 23, 2009 05:09 (EST)

Dialing Code: The telephone dialing code for: Guadalajara, Mexico
Top

The country code is: 52
The city code is: 33


Local Time: Guadalajara, Mexico
Top

It is 4:38 AM, November 23, in Guadalajara (Mexico).

Maps: Guadalajara
Top
Wikipedia: Guadalajara, Jalisco
Top
Guadalajara

Flag

Seal
Location of Guadalajara within Jalisco
Guadalajara is located in Mexico
Guadalajara
Location of Guadalajara within Jalisco
Coordinates: 20°40′00.17″N 103°21′01.23″W / 20.6667139°N 103.3503417°W / 20.6667139; -103.3503417
Country  Mexico
State  Jalisco
Foundation 1542
Government
 - Mayor Jorge Aristoteles Sandoval (PRI)
Area
 - City 151 km2 (58.3 sq mi)
 - Metro 2,734 km2 (1,055.6 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 - City 1,579,174
 - Density 10,458/km2 (27,086.1/sq mi)
 - Metro 4,300,000
 - Metro Density 1,572/km2 (4,071.5/sq mi)
 - Demonym Tapatío
Time zone Central Standard Time (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) Central Daylight Time (UTC-5)
Website guadalajara.gob.mx

Guadalajara (English pronunciation: /ˌɡwɑːdələˈhɑrə/,[1] Spanish: [waðalaˈhaɾa]) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of the state and in the western-Pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,579,174 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality.[2] The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area includes seven other adjacent municipalities and has a population of 4,095,715 in 2008, making it the second most populous metropolitan area in Mexico, behind Mexico City.[2][3] The municipality is the most densely populated in Mexico after Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl in the State of Mexico.[4]

Guadalajara is situated at an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft).

Contents

Etymology

The city is named after the Spanish city of Guadalajara, with the name originating from the Arabic wād al-ḥaŷara (واد الحجارة o وادي الحجارة), meaning "Valley of Stones"; the literal translation of the Iberian name (Arriaca), meaning "stony river". The native name for the Guadalajara valley, Atemajac, in Nahuatl language, seems to be also related to this meaning, from atl (water), tetl (stone), and maxatli (to bifurcate), i.e. "stone bifurcating the water", in reference to the river crossing the old city (San Juan de Dios river, now flowing under the Calzada Independencia avenue), or perhaps in reference to the monumental cliff (in Spanish "farallón") emerging from the Oblatos canyon, limiting the North of the valley.

The modern city

The city has hosted several important international events, such as the first Cumbre Iberoamericana in 1991, the Third Summit of Heads of State and Governments from Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union in 2004, the Encuentro Internacional de Promotores y Gestores Culturales in 2005, and will be the host city of the 2011 Panamerican Games. It was also named the American Capital of Culture in 2005, Ciudad Educadora (Educator City) in 2006 and the first Smart City in Mexico due to its use of technology in development.[5]

In its 2007 survey entitled "Cities of the Future", FDi magazine ranked Guadalajara highest among major Mexican cities, and designated Guadalajara as having the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city behind Chicago. FDI Magazine also ranked the city as the most business-friendly Latin American city in 2007.[6]

Guadalajara is also known as Mexico's silicon valley due to its strong electronics industry,[7] and is also considered Mexico's high tech capital due to its leadership in software and informatics development.[7]

History

Guadalajara Cathedral.

Guadalajara was founded in 1531 by the Spanish explorer Cristóbal de Oñate, who had been commissioned by the conquistador Nuño de Guzmán. The original settlement consisted of 42 inhabitants settled on the Mesa del Cerro, near the border with Nochistlán in the province of Teúl, known today as San Juan de Los Lagos. The name Guadalajara came from the birthplace of Nuño de Guzmán in Spain.

Guzmán and Cristóbal de Oñate decided to relocate to a place with more water, fewer dust storms, and better transportation. They began this project in May 19, 1533, and by August 8, 1533 they had moved the town to its second location, near Tonalá. Two years later, in March 1535, they again moved the town to a new location.

On November 8, 1539 the emperor Charles V granted a coat of arms and the title of City to Guadalajara.

After a serious attack by indigenous Mexicans in September 28, 1541 during the War of the Mixtón, it was decided once more to relocate the city and re-establish it again in the Atemajac Valley.

Today's city of Guadalajara was founded at this site by Crístobal de Oñate on February 14, 1542, by Royal decree of King Charles V.

During the Colonial era, Guadalajara became the capital of Nueva Galicia and prior to the War of Independence it was the capital of the Intendencia of Guadalajara.

19th century

The city had a central role at the beginning of the war of Independence (1810-21), being the place where Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla made his famous declaration of the abolition of slavery. Guadalajara became the capital of Jalisco on May 27, 1824. In 1845 was concluded the Hospicio Cabañas, designed by the architect Manuel Tolsá in the late 17th century, and whose construction lasted for over fifty years. Since its inception and until 1882 this building was The House of Mercy (Casa de la Misericordia), an asylum for orphans. Later this building became one of the landmarks of the city, hosting the historical murals of José Clemente Orozco. During the Mexican War (1846-47) the city was invaded by American troops. During the empire of Maximilian of Habsburg (1864-67) it was also occupied by the French troops of Napoleon III. In the Reform War Guadalajara received president Benito Juárez, who was about to be shot by the Conservative army, and was saved by intervention of the poet Guillermo Prieto. During the Porfiriato the city reached economic and cultural splendor, and hosted the first modern bands and symphonic orchestras of western Mexico, as well as music and painting schools, and was one of the first centers of artistic photography in this period, with the work of José María Lupercio. The literature of this epoch is represented by Ireneo Paz, grandfather of the poet Octavio Paz, and by Mariano Azuela, founder of the literature of the Mexican Revolution.

20th century

The beginning of the 20th century brought the end of the Porfiriato as the Mexican revolution unfolded. Guadalajara emerged from the revolution relatively untouched. After the Cristero War, peace returned to Guadalajara. For a long period the city prospered and developed in various areas. Medium and large companies emerged, and the areas around the residential nucleus began to grow out from the center. New architectural concepts were introduced which decorated the city with various building styles from 1920 to 1980. The city underwent multiple urban planning cycles during every government administration.[citation needed] New zones and commercial areas were born, and the creation of transnational companies and the arrival of international industries made the city prosperous. The first shopping centers appeared, which also were among the first being constructed in the country and in Latin America.[citation needed] The city expanded quickly, eventually merging with the municipality of Zapopan. Many important developments occurred during this period: Expo Guadalajara, light rail, shopping centers, hotels, the expansion of streets and avenues, and the development of road infrastructure, services, tourism, and industrial infrastructure. This accelerated development was stopped by the gas explosions of April 22, 1992; hundreds of houses, avenues, streets, companies and infrastructure were seriously damaged, leaving losses calculated at a one billion dollars in one of the most tragic events in the history of Guadalajara. This event, combined with the economic crisis of 1994, resulted in the loss of industrial power for Guadalajara;[citation needed] the investigation lasted more than 11 years without finding sufficient evidence to name a guilty party. The investigations are now closed and the events were deemed accidental.

Population

Minerva Roundabout and the Fiesta Americana Hotel.

The Municipality of Guadalajara has the largest population of any city in the state of Jalisco, with an estimated population of 1,579,174 as of 2008.[2] Of these, almost everyone (1,579,128 inhabitants) were living in the central city, or the localidad of Guadalajara.[2] The population of the municipality has stagnated, and even declined, slowly but steadily since the early 1990s.[3] However, the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area also includes the municipalities of Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, El Salto, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos [8] and Juanacatlán, which together totaled about 4.3 million inhabitants in 2008.[2][3] Guadalajara is the second most populous metropolitan area in Mexico after Mexico City.

Climate

Under the Koppen climate classification, Guadalajara has a humid subtropical climate, featuring dry and mild winters and warm and wet summers. Guadalajara's climate is influenced by its high altitude and the general seasonality of precipitation patterns in western North America. Although the temperature is mild year-round, Guadalajara has very strong seasonal variation in precipitation. The North American Monsoon brings a great deal of rain, whereas for the rest of the year, the climate is very arid. The extra moisture in the wet months moderates the temperatures, resulting in cooler days and warmer nights during this period. The highest temperatures are usually reached in May averaging 32°C, before the onset of the wet season. March tends to be the driest month and July the wettest, with an average of 249 millimetres (9.8 in) of rain, over a quarter of the annual average of about 921 millimetres (36.3 in) .[9]

Weather data for Guadalajara, Mexico
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high °C (°F) 24
(75)
26
(79)
28
(82)
30
(86)
32
(90)
30
(86)
27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
27
(81)
26
(79)
24
(75)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16
(61)
17
(63)
19
(66)
21
(70)
23
(73)
24
(75)
22
(72)
22
(72)
22
(72)
20
(68)
18
(64)
16
(61)
Average low °C (°F) 7
(45)
7
(45)
9
(48)
12
(54)
14
(57)
17
(63)
17
(63)
17
(63)
16
(61)
13
(55)
9
(48)
7
(45)
Precipitation mm (inches) 18
(0.71)
5
(0.2)
3
(0.12)
8
(0.31)
33
(1.3)
168
(6.61)
249
(9.8)
208
(8.19)
150
(5.91)
48
(1.89)
18
(0.71)
13
(0.51)
Source: Weather Channel[10]
Guadalajara
Climate chart
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
18
 
24
7
 
 
5
 
26
7
 
 
3
 
28
9
 
 
8
 
30
12
 
 
33
 
32
14
 
 
168
 
30
17
 
 
249
 
27
17
 
 
208
 
27
17
 
 
150
 
27
16
 
 
48
 
27
13
 
 
18
 
26
9
 
 
13
 
24
7
average max. and min. temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm
source: http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/MXJO0043?from=36hr_bottomnav_business]]

Economy

Guadalajara is one of the ten largest cities in Latin America in terms of GDP, the geographical location of the city and its communications infrastructure make it very favourable for commerce and trade with the rest of the country, and the city attracts investors and commerce worldwide. In 1987, the Expo Guadalajara Convention Centre was created and, since then, it has been hailed as the most important centre of its kind the country. Guadalajara has more than 25,000 lodging rooms.

A Lanix computer factory located in Guadalajara

The city is the national leader in development and investment of shopping malls. Many shopping centers have been built, such as Plaza Galerias, one of the largest shopping centers in Latin America.

Guadalajara is experiencing fast-growing development. A product of the current development projects,Puerta de Hierro has become one of the most important districts in Guadalajara. Buildings in Puerta de Hierro include Aura Altitude, a project of 42 floors that has been recently finished.[11] The construction of Andares, a shopping complex, is almost completed.[12] More buildings are on their way in the Puerta de Hierro district, such as Torre G, Torre Zapopan and Pleyades. Providencia Country has many scheduled apartment projects.

In its 2007 survey entitled "Cities of the Future", FDi magazine ranked Guadalajara highest among major Mexican cities, and designated Guadalajara as having the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city behind Chicago. FDI Magazine also ranked the city as the most business-friendly Latin American city in 2007.[13]

Industry

Torre Chapultepec.

Secondary activities consist of industrial production of textiles and metalwork. During the 1990s the city's industrial sector experienced a decline, but it has since regained its position as the industrial capital of western Mexico.[14]

The nutrition industry exports most of its products (juice, tinned fruits, sweet products, sauces, canned food and food products in general). Of these products 60% are exported to national destinations while 40% are sent to the United States. In fact, Guadalajara products are leaders in the Latin market in the United States. In the pharmaceutical industry, Guadalajara and Mexico City together play the most important role in national production. At the moment, Guadalajara is known as the "the Mexican Silicon Valley," due to its electronics industry. The city is the main software producer in the country, and also is a leading producer of electronic and digital components. Such high-technology companies as General Electric, IBM, Intel, Freescale, Hitachi, Hewlett Packard, Siemens, Flextronics ,TCS and Jabil have facilities in the city or its suburbs.

Beyond technology, the city also has a thriving textile industry that exports products throughout Mexico. The fashion industry is another growing sector; designers, photographers, agencies, coordinators, models, and people associated with this sector are supported by the Chamber of the Industry of Clothing (CAINVE) and the Chamber the Industry of Calzado (CAIC). Other dynamic and important productive sectors are the footwear industry and leather production.

Tourism

Galerias Mall.
Inside Galerias Mall.

The tertiary activities of Guadalajara are based on tourism: the academic, entertainment, sport and cultural tourism. With an expectation for high growth within the next five years, tourism is now one of the most important sectors in the Guadalajaran economy. It is an important tourist destination center in itself and serves as an axis of an array of nearby tourist destinations (Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Mazatlan).

Guadalajara is well connected by modern highways to Mexico City, to the Northwest and to the major beach resorts of Manzanillo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Guadalajara's airport is the third most active of the country (after Mexico City and Cancún) with direct flights to many Mexican and American cities. It also has a lively and distinctive network of car-free streets.

Commerce

Commerce is another of the most dynamic activities of the city. National product transactions, growth and investment in commercial centers, commercial expositions and fairs, transportation, and communications have all contributed to the growth of commerce in Guadalajara. The geographical location of the city makes it strategic for commerce. Services in the city are of all types: financiers, professionals, communal, social, personal technicians, maintenance, and tourism.

Airport

The city is served by the Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport, also known as Guadalajara International Airport (IATA code: GDL). It is located 16 kilometers south of downtown Guadalajara on the highway to Chapala. Opened in 1966, the airport is the third busiest in Mexico, after Mexico City International Airport and Cancún International Airport.[15]

Guadalajara's International Airport is composed of two runways and two terminals. It is a major airport for connections, acting as a hub for Mexicana, Aeroméxico Connect, a secondary hub for Aeroméxico and a focus city for Volaris. Flights are offered to several destinations within Mexico, the United States, Central America, with connections to Europe and South America.

Along with Mexico's main carriers, Aeroméxico, Mexicana and Aviacsa, the airport is also served by most U.S. airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and US Airways and Panama's Copa Airlines to Panama City. Numerous low-cost airlines also serve the airport, flying to Mexican destinations. Charter service is common with Magnicharters the primary operator. Other newly-launched carriers serving Guadalajara include Interjet and Volaris.

Education

Guadalajara's University, Rectory Building.

Guadalajara is an important nucleus of universities and educational centers with national prestige, such as Universidad de Guadalajara (U.D.G.), Universidad Panamericana, ITESO, Universidad Guadalajara LAMAR, Universidad Marista de Guadalajara, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (U.A.G.) and Universidad Tecnologica de Jalisco (UTJ).[16]

The Universidad de Guadalajara established in October 12, 1791,is a public decentralized university, has its main campuses and administrative offices here. This University is the second largest in Mexico, the fourth oldest in North America and the fourteenth oldest in Latin America. It is regarded as one of the most significant Universities in Mexico in terms of student population, only behind the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and ranks among the largest in the world.

Guadalajara is also home to ITESO, a Jesuit university, and has campuses of several private schools such as Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM), ITESO, Tec de Monterrey (ITESM), Universidad Panamericana (UP),Universidad Marista de Guadalajara (UMG),Universidad Guadalajara LAMAR (UGLAM), and Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA), as well as the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), which was founded in 1935 and is the oldest private university in Mexico. The UAG Faculty of Medicine has over 8,000 graduates practicing medicine in all 50 states of the U.S.A. In addition, the city hosts The American School Foundation of Guadalajara (ASFG). ASFG has 1420 students in pre-school through twelfth grade; it is the only US-accredited school in Guadalajara. ASFG has the only British library in Guadalajara and the second largest collection of books published in English among the private schools in Mexico.

Culture

Guadalajara's "Los Arcos"

Its cultural wealth has taken on an important role in the tourist sector; the city hosts many of the main cultural events in the country and is a main destination for people who visit Mexico. Guadalajara hosts an important community of artists and people interested in art and culture. Recognizing culture as a key factor in the development of Guadalajara, the Guggenheim Foundation has approved the construction of the Guggenheim Guadalajara, which would be the sixth Guggenheim museum in the world. Originally slated to open by 2007, construction has been delayed repeatedly. It is now hoped that the museum will be constructed in time for the 2011 Pan-American Games.

Philharmonic Orchestra of Jalisco playing at the Degollado Theater of Guadalajara.

Guadalajara hosts music festivals and open-air art and photography shows on Chapultepec Avenue. Guadalajara is a city with a great number of contemporary artists in the country;in dance, theater, music, photography, cinema, design, architecture, etc.; it also has pioneers in the experimental arts. The federal government represents and supports the cultural movement, but the young people are a very important point in the diffusion, creation, support and consumption of the culture in Guadalajara, becoming a whole lifestyle for tapatío young people.

The city is home to several cultural festivals, like the May Cultural Festival, Fiestas de Octubre, which consists of many families gathering together at one of the most famous auditoriums of the city called "Auditorio Benito Juarez", where several entertaining events take place. Popular singers of the time become the main attraction, and even children get to have some fun and enjoy the fair and a family meal from one of the many stands providing traditional mexican dishes. Not to mention the famous face painting, which is also one of the traditional activities provided at this event. There are also other significant events that take place in this city throughout the year, such as Zapopum!, the Guadalajara Municipal Fair Book, Fair of Mariachi and Charreria, Guadalajara Contemporary Dance festival, CHROMA, Fotoseptiembre, Ambulart, Independient Film Festival and international festivals like the Guadalajara International Film Festival, which has helped Mexican cinema to develop a strong international presence over the past 20 years. The cinema is supported by industrialists and institutes in the city who have collaborated in the support of several contemporary films. Also, the Guadalajara International Book Fair[17] is celebrated in November and is the most important Spanish-language book fair in the world. Every year a special guest, either a country or a region, goes to this fair to showcase its culture. The fair also organizes the children's book fair Papirolas. The city is also host to several dance and ballet companies such as the Chamber Ballet of Jalisco, the Folkloric Ballet of the University of Guadalajara, and University of Guadalajara Contemporary Ballet. After concluding eight years of ballet instruction, many have emigrated to companies like the National Company of Dance, the Ballet of Chicago or the Ballet of Boston.

Contemporary music has been an important factor within the new cultural movement. Guadalajara has many artists and fans of this music genre. The city has been named "Electronic Capital of Mexico" in honor of its representation in Mexico and the world with its practitioners of electronic music, and for being host of the principal electronic music events.

This city has been the cradle and dwelling of distinguished poets, writers, painters, actors, film directors and representatives of the arts, such as: Alexander Zohn, José Clemente Orozco, Doctor Atl, Roberto Montenegro, José Fors, Mathias Goeritz (who taught at the University of Guadalajara), Scott Neri, Javier Quintero Oria, Paula Santiago, Carlos Orozco Romero, Luis Barragán, Federico Fabregat, Raul Anguiano, Juan Soriano, Alejandro Colunga, Fernanda Guerra, and Mauricio Toussaint and the freeplay guitarist and music composer for the movies El Mariachi and The Legend of Zorro, Paco Renteria; important exponents of Literature such as: Juan Rulfo, Francisco Rojas, Agustín Yañez, Elías Nandino, Idella Purnell, Jorge Souza, among others; classic repertoire composers like Gonzalo Curiel, José Pablo Moncayo, Antonio Navarro, Ricardo Zohn, Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez and Gabriel Pareyon; film directors like Felipe Cazals, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Erik Stahl, Guillermo del Toro and actors like Katy Jurado, Enrique Alvarez Felix and actual exponents like Gael García Bernal. Cultural tourism is one of the most important economic activities. Guadalajara was the American Capital of Culture for 2005.

Architecture

Neo-classical Metropolitan cathedral.

The city has a rich variety of architectural styles, ranging from the baroque to the modern. The city's colonial architecture is a product of French and Spanish trends that were current in Europe at the time of Guadalajara's initial settlement. The historic downtown district contains several examples of neoclassical architecture such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Degollado theater and surrounding buildings, as well as the large residential houses of the Lafayette district (many of which have since been converted to boutiques or restaurants). During Porfirio Diaz's presidency the French style of architecture invaded the city due to the passion of then president Porfirio Dìaz for the currents of French style. Also, Italian architects were the ones in charge to giving form to the gothic structures that rise in the city. The passage of time has shaped the diversity of the city's architecture, from baroque to the churrigueresco, neogothic and neoclassic, to the Art Deco and lines of the postmodernistas.

Torre Cube in Puerta de Hierro, award-winning architecture.

Guadalajara is formed by 1,500 colonies (city areas); the first area of the city contains mostly houses of 2 levels, with architectural styles from the churrigueresco, baroque and European concepts of the 19th century. The first area of the city contains the centric zones and their environs, like the district of the Sanctuary, Mezquitan, Analco, San Juan de Dios and the Centro area (downtown).

Towards the west of the first area rise the larger houses of the 19th century; these take into account distinguished personalities in the city's history, neoclassic structures, and the large houses of the Porfiriato era. This area includes neighborhoods like Lafayette, Jardines del Bosque, Americana, Moderna, and Arcos de Vallarta, in which their respective expansions correspond to constructions of the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. A second area features the blossoming of the new architectural tendencies of the 1960s and 1970s, and includes the track of colonies like Providencia, Vallarta San Jorge, etc. Between the two is an area of postmodernist architecture, the Art Deco, followed by styles reflecting the architectural legacy of one of the worldwide icons of the Mexican architecture, Luis Barragán, who was born and raised in Guadalajara.

The city has many prestigious residential developments and private communities; Puerta de hierro, Colinas de San Javier, Bugambilias City, las Cañadas, el Palomar, Santa Anita, Valle Real, Country Club, etc. Limits of the city are formed by middle-class colonies and habitational developments constructed like a part of governmental plans. The western part of the city includes the middle class and upper-income neighborhoods and the eastern part the working class areas. The city extends towards the west in neighborhoods like Pine of the Calm, Las Fuentes, La Estancia, Colli Urbano, annexing its metropolitan zone to the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zuñiga. It is anticipated that approximately five hundred more colonies in the ZMG will be created by the year 2010.

Cuisine

Guadalajara has many traditional dishes, such as pipian,pozole, tamales, sopes, enchiladas, tacos, Valentina Chicken, and a variety of "Mexican Antojitos". Another common dish is "Carne en su Jugo" a kind of meat soup, which is a part of tapatío culture. Guadalajara has a large variety of restaurants, from American restaurant franchises to more traditional Mexican fare. The Vallarta and Colonia Americana neighborhoods are known for their restaurants and nightclubs situated in former mansions from the 1940s. Guadalajara is also known for its famous 'tortas ahogadas', which consist of bolillo, a special kind of bread, filled with pork and beans, then drowned (hence the name ahogada which means drowned in Spanish) with a special salsa that makes the bread soft. This is a popular dish in Jalisco.

Sport

Football (soccer) is the most popular recreational sport in Guadalajara. There are three major football clubs; F.C. Atlas A.C., Club Deportivo Guadalajara and UAG Tecos. Atlas and Guadalajara share the Estadio Jalisco, while Estadio Tres de Marzo in Zapopan is the home of the UAG Tecos.

Another popular sport is charreada or charrería, which is Mexico's national sport.

The people of the city also practice golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball and many other sports and disciplines. The state of Jalisco, where the city is located, is the National Olympic Games champion, winning the national championship 9 consecutive times in all disciplines. The main training center, the CODE complex, is in the city of Guadalajara.

The city also holds the National championship in basketball, American football and ice hockey. The city will host the 2011 Pan American Games, and is bidding to host the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

Guadalajara Film Festival with inflatable screen

Guadalajara is the home of Lorena Ochoa, ranked the #1 female golfer in the world since 2007 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.

Film Festival

The International Film Festival in Guadalajara is today Mexico’s most important film festival, the world’s most important showcase for Mexican and Ibero-American film novelties, and certainly the most active forum for attracting and negotiating projects and works-in-progress in Latin America.

1992 explosion

Guadalajara is also known for the great disaster of April 22, 1992, which took place in the downtown district of Analco. Numerous explosions originated in the sewer system, which was inexplicably saturated with gasoline. During a four-hour period several explosions destroyed kilometers of streets. In particular, Gante Street was severely damaged. The force of the explosion was such that newspaper pictures showed a bus which had landed on top of a two-story building. Official figures record 206 deaths, nearly 500 injured and 15,000 homeless. The affected area can be recognized by its more modern architecture, in stark contrast with the surrounding area's much older buildings. To date, Pemex, the state-owned oil company, has not accepted any responsibility for the enormous amount of gasoline found in the sewage system, although it has agreed to create a fund to compensate the families affected by this catastrophe.

Sister cities

Sister cities
Flag City Country Year
Costa Rica Alajuela Costa Rica[18] 1983
United States Albuquerque United States[18] 1985
Peru Arequipa Peru
United States Atlanta United States[18] 2009
Philippines Batangas Philippines
Venezuela Caracas Venezuela[18] 1976
Philippines Cebu Philippines[18] 1976
Peru Lima Peru[18] 1976
Spain Ceuta Spain
Spain Cigales Spain[18] 1992
United States Cleveland United States[18] 1976
Brazil Curitiba Brazil[18] 1995
South Korea Daejeon South Korea[18] 1997
Philippines Dagupan Philippines[18]
United States Downey United States[18] 1960
Spain Guadalajara Spain[18] 1982
Guam Hagåtña Guam[18] 1976
United States Kansas City United States[18] 1993
Jamaica Kingston Jamaica[18] 1976
Poland Krakow Poland[18] 1978
Japan Kyoto Japan[18] 1978
United States Lansing United States[18] 1990
United States Compton United States
Mexico Magdalena de Kino Mexico[18] 1984
Equatorial Guinea Malabo Equatorial Guinea[18] 1976
Italy Milan Italy[18] 1976
Mexico Nochistlán Mexico[18] 1997
Spain Oñati Spain[18] 2002
Panama Panama City Panama[18] 1976
United States Portland United States[18] 1983
United States St. Louis United States[18] 1993
Russia Saint Petersburg Russia[19]
United States San Antonio United States[18] 1974
Costa Rica San José Costa Rica[18]
El Salvador San Salvador El Salvador[18] 1976
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Dominican Republic[18]
Spain Seville Spain[18] 1977
Honduras Tegucigalpa Honduras[18] 1976
United States Tucson United States[18] 1972
Poland Wroclaw Poland[18] 1995
People's Republic of China Xiamen China[18]

See also

Pop culture

  • In the movie Fun in Acapulco starring Elvis Presley, he makes a very amusing and well choreographed musical of the song "Guadalajara".
  • Desi Arnaz recorded the song "Guadalajara". Desi also sang it in the I Love Lucy episode "The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub".
  • The creator of the popular cartoon character Speedy Gonzalez stated that if speedy had a place of birth it would have been Jalisco.
  • Guadalajara is the birth-place of Mexican and U.S. movie star Gael Garcia Bernal.
  • Ted Kennedy sang a piece of the song "No te rajes Jalisco" while on America's number one radio show Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo morning show.
  • In Kirsty Maccoll's song "In These Shoes", the city is mentioned.
  • In the popular show Family Guy while in a bank robbery, Peter Griffin asks the hostages to name a location for a game of improv and an old lady replies "Guadalajara, Mexico"
  • In the television series, Ugly Betty, Betty on her first day of working wears a poncho that says Guadalajara.
  • The city is jokingly referred to in Jurassic Park III.
  • In the song, "My Old School" by Steely Dan, Guadalajara is mentioned in the lyrics. The lyrics go: "Oh no, Guadalajara won't do.", "Well I did not think the girl could be so cruel.", "And I'm never going back to my old school."
  • The Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Predator was filmed in the vicinity of the city and in Puerto Vallarta.
  • Guadalajara was a small part of the filming spot of the record-breaking audience soap opera, Destilando Amor.
  • In the episode "Sara Like Puny Alan" of Two and a Half Men, Guadalajara is mentioned from the two brothers, Charlie Harper and Alan Harper.
  • In an episode of Friends, "The One with Joey's New Brain", the character of Joey ask to the character of the special guest, Susan Sarandon, where is the new job that she got?, and she said: "A film in Guadalajara".
  • In the worldwide popular game Street Fighter 2, T. Hawk's stage is The Cabanas Orphanage (Hospicio Cabanas).
  • In the fifteenth episode of the sixth season of That 70s Show, called "Who are you" Jackie says that her mom went to a bar called "La Cucaracha" in Guadalajara. "La Cucaracha" is a real bar close to Plaza del Sol in Guadalajara.
  • Escape From Tijuanafilm made in Mexico and USA directed by Erik Stahl real name Erik De La Torre Stahl born in Guadalajara, Jalisco 03/09/1969. Recently the Charles Aidikoff Screening Academy Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences presented Erik Stahl's film tv documentary "Voila Paris Je T'Aime"& "Uganda Africa Children need help". Stahl singer and composer from the music band CHAOS was seen as well in Grammys Awards 2007 & Oscars Academy Awards 2007.
  • Las Tontas No Van al Cielo, a famous soap opera was filmed in Guadalajara. Other films from Erik Stahl include Road of Silence, 2nd Adam and Last Confession.
  • Nine Inch Nails video “We’re In This Together” was filmed on location in Guadalajara, Mexico
  • The movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" contains several scenes in the historical center in Guadalajara.
  • In the Nickelodeon show, iCarly, in the episode iReunite with Missy, when Sam hears that someone knocked the door she yells to Carly "If it's Freddie's mom tell her I moved to Guadalajara."
  • In Spain there's a city also called Guadalajara. Many people of either city don't know about this.

References

  1. ^ Guadalajara, entry in Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1), accessed March 18, 2008, retranscribed into IPA
  2. ^ a b c d e Consejo Nacional de Población, México; Proyecciones de la Población de México 2005-2050 Retrieved on 2008-10-18.
  3. ^ a b c Consejo Nacional de Población, México; Delimitación de las zonas metropolitanas de México 2005 Retrieved on 2008-10-18.
  4. ^ Scripta Nova
  5. ^ Boletín Informativo - Portal Ayuntamiento de Guadalajara
  6. ^ FDi Magazine - Cities of the Future
  7. ^ a b IJALTI Jalisco
  8. ^ Is this an error? Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos is a small town 75 km south of Guadalajara. It is the last population centre before Lake Chapala. (Source: Guía Roji, Por las carreteras de México, 2005. Map 24.) Possibly this should be Ixtlahuacán del Río, as close as Tlajomulco and Juanacatlán, only to the north.
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "[http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/MXJO0043?from=36hr_bottomnav_business Weather Channel: Historical Weather for Guadalajara, Mexico dateformat=mdy http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/index.php?destination=rio-de-janeiro]". http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/MXJO0043?from=36hr_bottomnav_business. 
  11. ^ Aura Desarrollos
  12. ^ :::Andares Megadesarrollo::: BIENVENIDOS
  13. ^ FDi Magazine
  14. ^ "A Fertile Ground For Efficient Supply Chains". Keller Publishing. 2000. http://www.glscs.com/archives/7.00.LatinAmerica.htm?adcode=90. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 
  15. ^ Passenger Statistics for 2007 http://www.aeropuertosgap.com.mx/index.php?tpl=doc&noticiaid=1148&noticiafecha=2008-01-11&srctpl=&section=ESTADISTICAS&menu=ESTADISTICAS
  16. ^ List of Universities at SEP http://educacion.jalisco.gob.mx/index.html
  17. ^ Feria Internacional de Libro or FIL
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Sister Cities, Public Relations, Guadalajara municipal government. Accessed on line March 18, 2008.
  19. ^ Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, Business Petersburg, issue 54, 2007-03-30

External links


Translations: Guadalajara
Top

Dansk (Danish)
n. - Guadalajara

Français (French)
n. - Guadalajara

Deutsch (German)
n. - Guadalajara

Português (Portuguese)
n. - Guadalajara

Español (Spanish)
n. - Guadalajara

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
瓜达拉哈拉

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 瓜達拉哈拉

한국어 (Korean)
그와더러하러 (스페인 중부의 한 도시)

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮גואדלחרה‬


Shopping: Guadalajara
Top
 
 
Learn More
Chapala (lake of west-central Mexico)
Mazatlán (city of western Mexico on the Pacific Ocean)
Tepic (city of western Mexico)

What is guadalajara's population? Read answer...
What is the population of guadalajara? Read answer...
What is the climate in Guadalajara Mexico in spring? Read answer...

Help us answer these
What transportation will get me to guadalajara's?
What is the population in Guadalajara?
How long is the flight from Birmingham to Guadalajara?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Read more
Geography. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.  Read more
Weather. © 2008 AccuWeather, Inc.  Read more
Answers Corporation Dialing Code. © 1999-2009 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Local Time. Copyright © 2009 - Chaos Software. All rights reserved.  Read more
 Maps. ©2008 Google. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Guadalajara, Jalisco" Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

Mentioned in

  • Chapala (lake of west-central Mexico)
  • Mazatlán (city of western Mexico on the Pacific Ocean)
  • Tepic (city of western Mexico)
  • Zapopan (city of southwest Mexico)