Veracruz (), also known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico and the most populous city in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located along the coast in the central part of the state, southeast of the state capital Xalapa.
It is the most populous city in the state of Veracruz. Part of the city extends into the neighboring municipality of Boca del Río. At the 2020 census, Veracruz Municipality had a population of 607,209 inhabitants. The city of Veracruz had a population of 537,952 inhabitants, 405,952 in Veracruz municipality and 132,011 in Boca del Río municipality. Developed during Spanish colonization, Veracruz is Mexico's oldest, largest, and historically most significant port.
When the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés arrived in what is now Mexican territory on 22 April 1519, he founded a city, which he named Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, referring to the area's gold and dedicated to the "True Cross", because he landed on the Christian holy day of Good Friday, the day of the Crucifixion. It was the first Spanish settlement on the mainland of the Americas to receive a coat-of-arms. Its wealth attracted the raids of 17th-century pirates, against which fortifications such as Fort San Juan de Ulúa were built. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Veracruz was invaded on different occasions by France and the United States; in the aftermath of the 1914 Tampico Affair, US troops occupied the city for seven months. but, in the latter 20th century and into the 21st, the port has re-emerged as the main economic engine. It has become the principal port for most of Mexico's imports and exports, especially for the automotive industry.
Etymology
The name Veracruz (originally Vera Cruz), derives from the Latin Vera Crux (True Cross). Having established the settlement of Villa Rica (Rich Village) on Good Friday, 22 April 1519, Cortés dedicated the place to the True Cross as an offering.
History
Viceroyalty of New Spain (1518–1821)
thumb|left|[[Toltec carving representing the Aztec Eagle, found in Veracruz, 10th–13th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art.]]
thumb|left|Depiction of Veracruz and the [[San Juan de Ulúa|Castle of San Juan de Ulúa in 1615.]]
The Spanish captain Juan de Grijalva, along with Bernal Díaz del Castillo, first arrived in 1518 at the island later known as San Juan de Ulúa. The Spanish gave it that name because they landed on the Christian feast of John the Baptist (24 June), and in honor of the captain. De Ulúa is derived from the local name for the Aztecs, coluha or acolhua. The word for Aztec evolved into Ulúa.
While Veracruz itself was founded by Hernán Cortés who arrived in 1519, the area at the time was within the jurisdiction of Moctezuma II and his Aztec Empire. Cortés and his men landed at the shore opposite the island where Grijalva had moored, which has the pre-Hispanic name of Chalchihuecan. The name Villa Rica (rich village) referred to the gold that was found here and Vera Cruz (True Cross) was added because the Cortés expedition landed on Good Friday, a Christian holy day. The city gained its fourth title of "Heroic City".
Geography
thumb|left|Satellite view of Veracruz
As the municipal seat, the city of Veracruz is the governing authority for 128 other named localities during the 2010 census, forming a municipality with a territory of . The municipality is bordered by the municipalities of La Antigua, Boca del Río, Manlio Fabio Altamirano, Medellín, and Paso de Ovejas, with the Gulf of Mexico to the northeast, and has an average altitude of ten meters above sea level. The area is flat with little in the way of elevations and is crossed by the Medio, Grande and Tonayán Rivers. There are also beaches here such as the Sacrificios and Verde. Its climate is tropical with an average temperature of . Vegetation is mostly of the rainforest type, with many trees losing leaves during the winter dry season. Fauna mostly consists of birds, small mammals and insects. Visitors can kayak to the Isla de Sacrificios to observe seagulls, pelicans and the fish that inhabit the coral reef. In 1983, a study and initial cleanup project was undertaken at the island, which collected fifty tons of trash. Shortly thereafter, the island was closed to the public and since then, there has been a struggle among authorities, tour operators and fisherman as to the fate and uses of the island. However, access to the island has been restricted to research, teaching and the occasional sporting event. The wet season typically lasts from June to October, when a vast majority of the yearly precipitation falls. Large tropical thunderstorms occur nearly daily in the late afternoon, originating in the moist atmosphere above the Gulf of Mexico.
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
| Jan high C =24.7
| Feb high C =25.0
| Mar high C =27.4
| Apr high C =29.2
| May high C =31.1
| Jun high C =31.4
| Jul high C =31.2
| Aug high C =31.2
| Sep high C =30.8
| Oct high C =29.7
| Nov high C =27.7
| Dec high C =25.9
| Jan mean C =21.5
| Feb mean C =21.9
| Mar mean C =24.0
| Apr mean C =25.8
| May mean C =27.8
| Jun mean C =28.1
| Jul mean C =27.5
| Aug mean C =27.6
| Sep mean C =27.2
| Oct mean C =26.2
| Nov mean C =24.2
| Dec mean C =22.6
| Jan low C =18.4
| Feb low C =18.8
| Mar low C =20.7
| Apr low C =22.5
| May low C =24.6
| Jun low C =24.8
| Jul low C =23.8
| Aug low C =23.9
| Sep low C =23.6
| Oct low C =22.7
| Nov low C =20.7
| Dec low C =19.3
|Jan record high C = 34.7
|Feb record high C = 33.2
|Mar record high C = 39.2
|Apr record high C = 39.5
|May record high C = 39.5
|Jun record high C = 36.7
|Jul record high C = 37.0
|Aug record high C = 36.0
|Sep record high C = 35.4
|Oct record high C = 35.0
|Nov record high C = 34.0
|Dec record high C = 36.0
|year record high C = 39.5
|Jan record low C = 5.8
|Feb record low C = 7.2
|Mar record low C = 2.0
|Apr record low C = 9.0
|May record low C = 14.5
|Jun record low C = 17.0
|Jul record low C = 19.8
|Aug record low C = 13.2
|Sep record low C = 17.0
|Oct record low C = 12.0
|Nov record low C = 2.0
|Dec record low C = 0.2
|year record low C = 0.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 37.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 17.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 13.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 24.4
|May precipitation mm = 74.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 196.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 385.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 320.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 292.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 130.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 32.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 39.6
|year precipitation mm = 1564.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.3
|Feb precipitation days = 3.1
|Mar precipitation days = 3.8
|Apr precipitation days = 3.8
|May precipitation days = 5.0
|Jun precipitation days = 12.8
|Jul precipitation days = 18.5
|Aug precipitation days = 16.4
|Sep precipitation days = 15.4
|Oct precipitation days = 10.6
|Nov precipitation days = 6.2
|Dec precipitation days = 5.7
|year precipitation days = 106.7
| Jan humidity =81.0
| Feb humidity =79.0
| Mar humidity =74.0
| Apr humidity =77.0
| May humidity =72.0
| Jun humidity =73.0
| Jul humidity =79.0
| Aug humidity =80.0
| Sep humidity =79.0
| Oct humidity =77.0
| Nov humidity =79.0
| Dec humidity =81.0
| Jan sun =162.0
| Feb sun =165.0
| Mar sun =192.0
| Apr sun =205.0
| May sun =203.0
| Jun sun =207.0
| Jul sun =187.0
| Aug sun =177.0
| Sep sun =162.0
| Oct sun =170.0
| Nov sun =179.0
| Dec sun =161.0
|source = SMN
|date = August 2010
Culture
thumb|left|Ships at the 2022 Latin American Festival of Sailing
Because of its importance as Mexico's principal Caribbean and Atlantic sea port, Veracruz has always been a locus for the mixture of different cultures, particularly Spanish, Native Mexican, and African. During the colonial period, African slaves were imported to work in the fields and shipyards. Following Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821, immigrants from Italy and Cuba settled in the city. Carnaval here is the largest celebration in the country. The Naval Academy attracts both Mexican and international sailors and officers, adding to the cosmopolitan mix of the city. Veracruz has become a popular location for filming. The government has supported the development of filmmaking in the municipality.
Music
thumb|left|[[Son Jarocho players in a plaza in Veracruz's historic center]]
The song "La Bamba", made famous by Ritchie Valens, has its roots in the Veracruz "son" style of music, which originated in southern part of the state of Veracruz. It has African and Caribbean influence and is popular throughout Mexico, Latin America and the United States.
Traditional Veracruzian music is called "Son Jarocho". Although there are many types of son music found in Mexico, the Son Jarocho is typically associated with the city of Veracruz. Other types of son include "Son Comercial". This style is faster and flashier than the traditional Son Jarocho and can be heard in Mexican folkdance exhibitions, when Veracruz women with long white dresses and fans dance with partners also dressed in white. The Son Comercial developed in the 1940s from the Son Jarocho; in the 21st century it is so pervasive that many mistakenly believe it to be the first version. The Casa de Cultura has a workshops for traditional music and son singers can be heard just about anytime on the main plaza (Zócalo).
Cuisine
thumb|right|El Gran Café de la Parroquia is a famous cafe in Veracruz
Veracruz recipes use corn, beans and squash as staples, a practice dating to the indigenous peoples. Local diets also include indigenous tropical foods such as chili peppers, tomatoes, avocados, pineapples, papaya, mamey, sweet potatoes, peanuts and sapote fruit, all of which have been cultivated since pre-Columbian times. The Spanish introduced the use of herbs such as parsley, thyme, marjoram, bay laurel and coriander, as well as saffron, wheat, rice, almonds, olives/olive oil, garlic and capers.
thumb|right|[[:es:Faro de Venustiano Carranza|Venustiano Carranza Lighthouse]]
The Municipal Palace was built for the city council in 1608. The building was extensively remodeled in the 18th century. Its architectural style is a sober Baroque with a tower at one of the corners. Lookouts used this tower to keep watch on the ships entering and leaving the port. It has a large courtyard surrounded by wide arches and is the oldest city government building in Mexico.
thumb|left|[[Cathedral of Veracruz|Veracruz Cathedral, built 1731]]
In the port area are the Pemex Tower, the old lighthouse, which was the seat of government for Venustiano Carranza, and the Crafts Market. On Marina Mercante Street are located the Old Customs Building, the Postal and Telegraph twin buildings, as well as the old railroad terminal. In the 1920s, passenger traffic was such that the station had its own hotel. The Juárez Hemicycle Monument stands in front of the Civil Registry Building, which contains the first birth certificate issued in the country.
The malecón (boardwalk) stretches for kilometers along the Gulf of Mexico, leading from the city center into the suburbs. This area is popular at night, when people stroll and exercise, enjoying the ocean breezes. Near the city center, the malecón is crowded with merchants selling knick-knacks, souvenirs, jewelry made with seashells, and T-shirts.
thumb|right|The Palacio Federal de Veracruz
Jesús Arriaga, better known as Chucho el Roto, was held at Fort San Juan de Ulúa where he died. It is not known whether he died of natural causes, as a result of a fight with other prisoners or by other means. Chucho was a Robin Hood figure who lived during the 19th century.
Along with Fort San Juan de Ulúa, the city used to be walled in for protection against pirates and invasions. All that is left of these city walls is the Baluarte, a small fortress. The 1635 structure has thick, sturdy walls with cannons directed to cover sea approaches. Inside is a small museum featuring a collection of high-quality pre-Hispanic jewelry discovered in the 1970s by a fisherman.
thumb|left|Veracruz Aquarium
The Veracruz Aquarium was built in 1992 and is the largest and most important in Latin America. The Freshwater Gallery consists of thirteen exhibitions containing 562,177 liters of water. These exhibitions contain aquatic species from Asia, Africa, South America as well as Mexico. The Reef Tank is best known for its sharks. The Salt Water Gallery contains fourteen tanks with tanks dedicated to the species of Veracruz, the Red Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Another exhibit is devoted to sharks, containing 25 species that swim around visitors as they walk through a glass tunnel built through the tank. There is also an exhibit dedicated entirely to manatees.
The City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad) is located at the intersections of Zaragoza and Esteban Morales streets in the historic center. It is housed in a two-story building which is of neoclassic design built between the mid and latter 19th century. The main façade on Zaragoza Street has an enormous main door with posts, framed by Ionic pilasters, which reach to the upper floor, and topped by a pediment and a cornice. The building was originally constructed as an asylum. When the French invaded Veracruz in 1861, the building was commandeered for other purposes until 1870.
thumb|left|The [[Baluarte de Santiago]]
The asylum took it back and operated here for almost 100 years. New facilities were constructed for it south of the city, and the building was renovated for adaptive reuse as a museum. The City Museum was inaugurated in 1970 and contains exhibits relating to the history of Veracruz.
The Agustín Lara House Museum exhibits works, photographs and personal effects of the poet Agustín Lara, located in what was his house in Boca del Río just outside Veracruz.
thumb|right|Historic post office of Veracruz
In the 2000s, the port continues to handle all kinds of cargo. This is expected to rise once modernization efforts have finished, especially a truck bypass that leads directly from the highway to the port. The port handles 700,000 to 800,000 vehicles per year; the largest volume on the continent.
Education
thumb|left|[[Universidad Veracruzana]]
The Universidad Veracruzana was established in 1944. It was created by joining a number of professional and higher education establishments together. It is now the main center of higher education in the state of Veracruz, with five campuses and twenty-two satellite locations in the state. The student population is approximately 70,000, offering degrees in sixty different fields.
Private universities include Cristóbal Colón University, mainly dedicated to architecture and administration [http://www.ver.ucc.mx/] . UNIMEX was founded in 1991 and focuses on marketing, graphic design and law.
thumb|right|[[:es:Ilustre Instituto Veracruzano|Ilustre Instituto Veracruzano]]
The Veracruz Institute of Technology was founded in 1946 by Ismael Lagunes Lastra. It started out as the School of Arts and Letters, with a mission to train students for the jobs associated with the developing port and industrial base of the city. It started teaching students at the secondary and high school level, later adding bachelor's degree programs. In 1952, the school received a grant of lands by the federal and state governments to expand. Technical programs were added in the 1960s and have become the main part of the school's work, Veracruz Institute of Technology is famous due to its bachelor of engineering in biochemical engineering, masters and PhD about food science and biochemical engineering.
The Ilustre Instituto Veracruzano (Illustrious Veracruzan Institute) was founded in 1853.
Transportation
thumb|left|Veracruz Train Depot
Veracruz International Airport serves the city with daily service to Mexico City as well as international service to Dallas Fort Worth and Houston. The commercial passenger airlines to currently serve VER airport are Aeroméxico, United Airlines, American Airlines, Viva, Volaris and Aerus. In 2023, the airport handled 1,665,694 passengers.
thumb|right|[[Veracruz International Airport]]
Non-passenger rail transport (Kansas City Southern de México) connects Veracruz with Mexico City and the state capital, Xalapa.
Veracruz is linked to Mexico City by a four-lane toll highway which also passes through Córdoba and Puebla. Halfway between Veracruz and Córdoba, it is connected to the La Tinaja-Cosoleacaque toll highway which goes as far as Villahermosa, Tabasco. Another toll highway goes to Xalapa.
Urban transport formerly was provided by the Veracruz tram system, from 1908 to 1981. The city has buses, including trolley-replica tour buses that resemble former trams.
Sister cities
Veracruz is twinned with:
- Cádiz, Spain
- Callao, Peru
- Galveston, United States
- Havana, Cuba
- Laredo, United States
- Miami-Dade County, United States
- Mobile, United States
- Ordes, Spain
- Oviedo, Spain
- Pharr, United States
- Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
- San Jose, United States
- Santos, Brazil
- Seville, Spain
- Tampa, United States
- Valencia, Spain
- Valparaíso, Chile
Notable people
- Adolfo Ruiz Cortines (1889–1973), president of Mexico from 1952 to 1958
See also
- Boca del Río, Veracruz
- Veracruz Canyon
Notes
References
External links
- Museum of Veracruz—