Tepic

Tepic main plaza.

Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.

It is located in the central part of the state, at 21°30′30″N 104°53′35″W / 21.50833°N 104.89306°W / 21.50833; -104.89306. It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 metres, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Nearby are the extinct Sangangüey volcano and its crater lake. Tepic is the primary urban center of this rich agricultural region; major crops include sugarcane, tobacco and citrus fruits.

The city was founded in 1542. In the 2005 census, it reported a population of 295,204 people. Its surrounding municipality of the same name had a population of 336,403. The municipality has an area of 1,983.3 km² (765.8 sq mi).

It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic.

Main sights

• The 19th century Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), with a neo-classical portal.

• Cuatro Pueblos Museum, showcases the culture of the main four ethnic groups: huicholes, coras, tepehuanos and mexicaneros.

• Cathedral of the Purísima Concepción de María: this structure was built in the 18th century.

• The 16th century Temple of the Cruz de Zacate was originally a Franciscan convent; today it houses the State Ministry of Tourism.

• The Amado Nervo Museum displays photos and texts of poet Amado Nervo, who was born in this house in 1870.

• The Regional Museum of Anthropology and History offers archaeological exhibits and the ethnography of the Cora and Huichol indigenous peoples.

• In the Casa de la Cultura (House of the Culture) there are murals by Mexican artist José Meza as well as other periodic cultural and artistic exhibits.

Notable people

• Juan Escutia: Boy Hero of the Battle of Chapultepec. Born in Tepic, between 1828-1832, who on the morning of 13 September 1847, fought to prevent invading U.S. forces from capturing Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. After a brave defense, he is reported to have wrapped himself in the national flag and leaped to his death.
• Alexander Forbes, British consul to Mexico at Tepic, and author of the first English-language book on California.
• Luis E. Miramontes: Chemist, co-inventor of the first contraceptive pill
• La Chilindrina (María Antonieta de las Nieves)

Sports

Nayarit has small stadiums built for football (soccer), and baseball. Both demolished. and they already have the project to make new, modern, and bigger stadiums; the state has 3 sport private clubs. There are multiple football (soccer) fields and places to play "pick up games", indoor football (soccer) courts, a Basketball center/gym (with wooden flooring), several volleyball courts, a bowling alley. In Tepic, tennis is a popular sport, but the most popular is soccer. The city also boasts a bullring, as do most Mexican cities. Tepic has several state teams. Both the soccer and the basketball teams are named "Coras".

They have also futbol rapido which is like futsal, but you bounce the ball of the walls as you play; there is one by the old air port.

Twin towns

• Paramount, USA
• La Habana Vieja, Cuba
• Compostela, Mexico
• Sydney, Australia

References

• Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
• Nayarit Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

External links

• Ayuntamiento de Tepic Official website
• Map

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v • d • e   State of Nayarit Tepic (capital) Municipalities and municipal seats Acaponeta (Acaponeta) · Ahuacatlán (Ahuacatlán) · Amatlán de Cañas (Amatlán de Cañas)  · Bahía de Banderas (Valle de Banderas) · Compostela (Compostela) · El Nayar (Jesús María) · Huajicori (Huajicori) · Ixtlán del Río (Ixtlán del Río) · Jala (Jala) · La Yesca (La Yesca) · Rosamorada (Rosamorada) · Ruíz (Ruiz) · San Blas (San Blas) · San Pedro Lagunillas (San Pedro Lagunillas) · Santa María del Oro (Santa María del Oro) · Santiago Ixcuintla (Santiago Ixcuintla) · Tecuala (Tecuala) · Tepic (Tepic) · Tuxpan (Tuxpan) · Xalisco (Xalisco)