| Ojinaga | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
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|
  Ojinaga
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| Coordinates: 29°33′20″N 104°25′0″W / 29.55556°N 104.416667°WCoordinates: 29°33′20″N 104°25′0″W / 29.55556°N 104.416667°W | |
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Chihuahua |
| Municipality | Ojinaga |
| Population (2005) | |
| - Total | 18,378 |
Ojinaga (Manuel Ojinaga) is a town and seat of the municipality of Ojinaga, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. As of 2005, the town had a total population of 18,378.[1] It is a rural bordertown on the U.S.-Mexico border, with the city of Presidio, Texas, directly opposite, on the U.S. side of the border. Ojinaga is situated where the Río Conchos drains into the Río Bravo del Norte (Rio Grande). Presidio and Ojinaga are connected by the Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge.
History
Ojinaga was founded around AD 1200 by the Pueblo Native Americans, who were later assimilated by Uto-Aztecan speakers. Ojinaga was first visited by Spanish explorers (led by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca) in 1535.
During the Mexican Revolution, Ojinaga was the scene of the Battle of Ojinaga, between Pancho Villa's revolutionaries and government troops. The U.S. writer Ambrose Bierce may have died there, although that is uncertain.
Considered one of the most unspoiled Mexican border towns[citation needed], Ojinaga still retains its rural culture and environment, with relatively little pollution and urban problems. Some of the most famous norteño musicians are from Ojinaga, such as Polo Urías, Adolfo Urías, Los Diamantes de Ojinaga, Los Rieleros del Norte, Conjunto Primavera, Los Jilgueros del Arroyo, and Los Norteños de Ojinaga. These artists, unlike many other norteño bands who use solely accordions as the lead instrument, use saxophones and accordions together to create a uniquely Ojinaga-styled norteño music.
Because of its location on the Río Bravo border between Chihuahua and the U.S. state of Texas, Ojinaga has sometimes been a station for narcotic smuggling and illegal immigration. The creation of the "La Entrada al Pacífico" or "The Entrance to the Pacific", has made Ojinaga and Presidio, Texas, into an inland trade corridor between the two countries. The route extends into Odessa-Midland, Texas, which is the major hub for west Texas. Odessa and Midland which have 100,000 people each will benefit greatly from this corridor. Several changes have also had to be made to the port of entry in Presidio, Texas, to accommodate the growing amount of traffic crossing the border. Truck lanes for heavy vehicles have also been added.thanks
See also
References
- ^ Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. Principales resultados por localidad 2005 (ITER). Retrieved on October 13, 2008
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