Tepic

 

(tāpēk') , city (1990 pop. 206,967), capital of Nayarit state, W Mexico, on the Tepic River. A commercial center on the coastal line of the Mexican National Railways and on a major highway, Tepic lies in a prosperous corn, sugarcane, and cattle-raising area. The city has sugar mills and textile factories. Wild mountain scenery surrounds Tepic, which, despite modernization, retains some of its colonial charm.

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°35′N, 104°54′W. 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.

Tourism

• 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.

Famous people

• Luis E. Miramontes: Chemist, co-inventor of the first contraceptive pill
• Amado Nervo
• Antonio Ayala: Olympic Basketball player. Played for the Mexican Olympic team at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
• 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.
• Monica del Rocio Cruz Perez: World famous breeder of chihuahua.
• Yolotzin Apatzingan Palomino Hermosillo: World famous activist pro-homosexual rights
• Rosario Valdez:(chayito)(Artist)
• Jesús Ramón Ramírez Ceceña: Grew up in Tepic. Played soccer on several 1st division teams in Mexico, Chivas USA and on the Mexican national team with his brother Nico.

Sports

Nayarit has small stadiums built for football (soccer), and baseball; the state has 3 sport private clubs (one has an excellent golf course), and has 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".

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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