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{{Short description|City in Baja California, Mexico}} | |||
{{Infobox settlement | {{Infobox settlement | ||
| name = Mexicali | | name = Mexicali | ||
| official_name = |
| official_name = | ||
| nickname = The City that Captured the Sun | | nickname = The City that Captured the Sun | ||
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage | |||
| photo1a = Rectoria-uabc (cropped).JPG | |||
| image_caption = Clockwise from top: ], Calafia ], Monument to the ] in Mexicali (]) in Friendship Square, ] of ], Monument to the four Pioneer ] in the Civic Center, Hotel del Norte, Culture House (former ] School), Mexicali ], ], ] ] (former ]), ] Land Company, ] | |||
| photo1b = Plaza Calafia - panoramio - rocksas (cropped).jpg | |||
| image_shield =Coat_of_Arms_Mexicali.png | |||
| |
| photo2a = Monumento lazaro cardenas 2020 (cropped).png | ||
| photo2b = Catedral de Mexicali (Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) Mexicali,Estado de Baja California Norte,México (6105030116).jpg | |||
| pushpin_label_position = bottom | |||
| photo2c = Avance de Punta Este Corporativo en Agosto 2018 (cropped).jpg | |||
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Mexicali in Mexico | |||
| photo3a = Bosque de la ciudad Mexicali.jpg | |||
| coordinates_region = MX | |||
| |
| spacing = 2 | ||
| |
| position = center | ||
| |
| color_border = white | ||
| color = white | |||
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Baja California}} ] | |||
| size = 280 | |||
| subdivision_type2 = ] | |||
| foot_montage = Top: ] (left), Plaza Calafia (right); middle: ] Monument (left), Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral (center), Punta Este (right); bottom: Bosque de la Ciudad Park. | |||
| subdivision_name2 = ] | |||
}} | |||
| government_footnotes = | |||
| |
| image_flag = Flag of Mexicali.svg | ||
| |
| image_shield = Escudo de armas de Mexicali.svg | ||
| |
| pushpin_map = Mexico Baja California#Mexico#North America | ||
| pushpin_label_position = bottom | |||
| established_title = Founded | |||
| |
| pushpin_map_caption = | ||
| |
| subdivision_type = Country | ||
| |
| subdivision_name = Mexico | ||
| |
| subdivision_type1 = ] | ||
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon|Baja California}} ] | |||
| area_land_km2 = | |||
| subdivision_type2 = ] | |||
| area_water_km2 = | |||
| subdivision_name2 = ] | |||
| population_as_of = 2015 | |||
| |
| government_footnotes = | ||
| |
| government_type = ] | ||
| leader_title = ] | |||
| population_total = 1 025 743 | |||
| leader_name = Norma Alicia Bustamante Martínez (]) | |||
| population_density_km2 = 81.94 | |||
| |
| established_title = Founded | ||
| established_date = March 14, 1903 | |||
| population_density_urban_km2 = | |||
| unit_pref = Metric | |||
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = | |||
| |
| area_footnotes = | ||
| area_total_km2 = 113.7 | |||
| population_demonym = Mexicalense, ] | |||
| |
| area_land_km2 = | ||
| |
| area_water_km2 = | ||
| |
| population_as_of = 2018 | ||
| |
| population_footnotes = | ||
| population_note = | |||
| latd = 32 |latm=39 |lats=48 |latNS=N | |||
| population_total = 1032686 | |||
| longd = 115 |longm=28 |longs=04 | longEW=W | |||
| population_density_km2 = 6066.62 | |||
| coordinates_display = d | |||
| population_urban = 1,102,342 | |||
| elevation_footnotes = | |||
| population_density_urban_km2 = | |||
| elevation_m = 8 | |||
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = | |||
| elevation_ft = 27 | |||
| |
| population_metro = | ||
| population_demonym = Mexicalense, ] | |||
| postal_code = 21000-21399 (urban area) | |||
| |
| demographics_type1 = ] | ||
| demographics1_footnotes = | |||
| website = | |||
| |
| demographics1_title1 = Year | ||
| demographics1_info1 = 2023 | |||
| demographics1_title2 = Total | |||
| demographics1_info2 = $25.1 billion<ref name="TelluBase">{{cite web|url=https://tellusant.com/repo/tb/tellubase_factsheet_mex.pdf|publisher=Tellusant|title=TelluBase—Mexico Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)| access-date = 2024-01-11}}</ref> | |||
| demographics1_title3 = Per capita | |||
| demographics1_info3 = $21,300 | |||
| timezone = ] | |||
| utc_offset = −8 | |||
| timezone_DST = ] | |||
| utc_offset_DST = −7 | |||
| coordinates = {{coord|32|39|48|N|115|28|04|W|region:MX|display=inline,title}} | |||
| elevation_footnotes = | |||
| elevation_m = 8 | |||
| elevation_ft = 27 | |||
| postal_code_type = ] | |||
| postal_code = 21000-21399 (urban area) | |||
| area_code = ] | |||
| website = | |||
| footnotes = | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Mexicali''' ( |
'''Mexicali''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|pron|ˌ|m|ɛ|k|s|ɪ|ˈ|k|æ|l|i}}; {{IPA|es|mexiˈkali|lang|MexicaliPronunciation.ogg}})<ref>] (2000) ''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary.'' Harlow, Essex: Pearson, p. 478.</ref> is the capital city of the ] of ]. The city, which is the seat of the ], has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the ] is home to 1,000,000 inhabitants on both sides of the ]. Mexicali is a regional economic and cultural hub for the border region of ]. | ||
Mexicali was founded at the turn of the 20th century, when the region's agricultural economy experienced a period of boom. The city rapidly expanded throughout the 20th century, owing to the proliferation of ]s in the city, making the Mexicali economy more interconnected with businesses from across the border. Today, Mexicali is a major manufacturing center and an emerging tourist destination. | |||
The city maintains a highly educated and skilled population, as the city has modernized and become an important population center in the desert region. | |||
Mexicali's economy has been historically based on agricultural products, and to this day it remains a large sector of the economy. As time has progressed, however, its economy has gradually gone from being agricultural to include industry, mainly ]s. Companies such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] have built ] plants in the city. | |||
Mexicali is the national pioneer for the aerospace industry in Mexico, when ] (former ]) decided to establish an operation in 1966. Rockwell Collins it's the oldest company under the ] program nationwide. | |||
Founded on March 14, 1903, Mexicali is situated on the ] adjacent to its sister city ], with which it forms a dual-state, international population center, ]. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
] | |||
The Spaniards arrived in the area after crossing the ]'s "]" or Devil's Road. This led to the evangelization of the area by Catholic missionaries and also to the reduction of native populations in the region. Nowadays, indigenous ] people still inhabit a small government-protected corner of the Colorado River delta near the junction of the ] and the Colorado. The Cocopah mostly work on agricultural ]s or fishing.<ref name="bajaweb">{{cite web |url=http://www.baja-web.com/mexicali/mexicali.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991128085610/http://baja-web.com/mexicali/mexicali.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 28, 1999 |title=Baja Web Mexicali |access-date=2008-11-02}}</ref> | |||
The early European presence in this area was limited to ]'s and subsequent Spanish expeditions across the ] and subsequent travelers on the ] opened by them. Also the presence of the ] who attempted to establish a mission in what is now Fort Yuma. They left after a revolt by the ] in 1781. After this, the Spanish had little to do with the northeastern corner of the ], perceiving it as an untamable, flood-prone desert delta.<ref name="bajaweb" /> Later in the 1820s, the Mexican authorities reopened the Sonoran Road and restored peaceful relations with the Yuma People.<ref>George William Beattie, "Reopened the Anza Road", ''The Pacific Historical Review'', Vol. 2, No. 1. (Mar., 1933), pp. 52–71</ref> | |||
===Early history=== | |||
The Spaniards arrived to the area after crossing the ]'s "]" or Devil's Road. This led to the evangelization of the area by Catholic missionaries and also to the reduction of native populations in the region. Nowadays, indigenous ] people still inhabit a small government-protected corner of the Colorado River delta near the junction of the ] and the Colorado. The Cocopah mostly work on agricultural ]s or fishing.<ref name="bajaweb">{{cite web |url=http://www.baja-web.com/mexicali/mexicali.htm |title=Baja Web Mexicali |accessdate=2008-11-02}}</ref> | |||
===19th century=== | |||
The early European presence in this area was limited to ]'s and subsequent Spanish expeditions across the ] and subsequent travelers on the ] opened by them. Also the presence of the ] who attempted to establish a mission in what is now Fort Yuma. They left after a revolt by the ] in 1781. After this, the Spanish had little to do with the northeastern corner of the ], perceiving it as an untamable, flood-prone desert delta.<ref name="bajaweb"/> Later in the 1820s, the Mexican authorities reopened the Sonoran Road and restored peaceful relations with the Yuma People.<ref>George William Beattie, "Reopened the Anza Road", ''The Pacific Historical Review'', Vol. 2, No. 1. (Mar., 1933), pp. 52-71</ref> | |||
In the mid-19th century, a geologist working for the ] came to the delta area, discovering what the native Yumans had known for centuries: that the thick river sediment deposits made the area prime farming land. These sediments extended far to the west of the river itself, accumulating in a shallow basin below the Sierra de Cucapá.<ref name="bajaweb" /> However, from this time period until the 1880s, the area was almost completely unpopulated, mostly due to its harsh climate. In 1888, the federal government granted a large part of northern Baja California state, including Mexicali, to Guillermo Andrade, with the purpose of colonizing the area on the recently created border with the United States. However, around 1900, the only area with any real population, aside from the Cocopah, were concentrated in ], to the east of Mexicali.<ref name="EncMuc">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/bajacalifornia/municipios/02002a.htm |title=Enciclopedia de los Municipios Baja California Mexicali |access-date=2008-11-03 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414235817/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/bajacalifornia/municipios/02002a.htm |archive-date=2012-04-14}}</ref> | |||
The Sonoran Road provided a route for American fur trappers, and later American troops of ] and ] passing through the area during the ]. The annexation of most of ] soon was followed by the ] that saw a flood of gold seekers from Mexico on the Sonora Road, especially from Sonora, and from the United States via the ]. Herds of cattle and sheep were driven into California across this desert trail also. | |||
This route became a U. S. Mail and ] route in 1857 when the ] and in 1858 ] route passed along the Alamo and New Rivers and established stations there including its ] in the vicinity of a Laguna along the New River in what is now ], Mexicali in 1858. This mail route remained in use until 1877 when the ] came to ] making it obsolete. | |||
===Late 19th century=== | |||
In the mid-19th century, a geologist working for the ] came to the delta area, discovering what the native Yumans had known for centuries: that the thick river sediment deposits made the area prime farming land. These sediments extended far to the west of the river itself, accumulating in a shallow basin below the Sierra de Cucapá.<ref name="bajaweb"/> However, from this time period until the 1880s, the area was almost completely unpopulated, mostly due to its harsh climate. In 1888, the federal government granted a large part of northern Baja state, including Mexicali, to Guillermo Andrade, with the purpose of colonizing the area on the recently created border with the United States. However, around 1900, the only area with any real population, aside from the Cocopah, were concentrated in ], to the east of Mexicali.<ref name="EncMuc">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/bajacalifornia/municipios/02002a.htm |title= Enciclopedia de los Municipios Baja California Mexicali |accessdate=2008-11-03 |language=Spanish }}</ref> | |||
===20th century=== | ===20th century=== | ||
] | |||
In 1900, the U.S.-based ] received permission from the government of ] to cut a ] through the delta's Arroyo Alamo, to link the dry basin with the ]. To attract farmers to the area, the developers named it the "]". In 1903, the first 500 farmers arrived; by late 1904, 405 km² (100,000 acres) of valley were irrigated, with 10,000 people settled on the land harvesting cotton, fruits, and vegetables. The concentration of small housing units that straddled the border was called Calexico on the U.S. side and Mexicali on the Mexican side.<ref name="bajaweb"/> Led by '']'' publisher ], one company controlled 800,000 hectares of land in northern Baja California by 1905, and began to build the irrigation system for the Valley. However, instead of using Mexican labor to dig the ditches, Chandler brought in thousands of Chinese laborers.<ref name="bajaweb"/> Mexicali became culturally more Chinese than Mexican. | |||
] | |||
In 1900, the U.S.-based ] received permission from the government of ] to cut a ] through the delta's Arroyo Alamo, to link the dry basin with the ]. To attract farmers to the area, the developers named it the "]". In 1903, the first 500 farmers arrived; by late 1904, 405 km<sup>2</sup> (100,000 acres) of valley were irrigated, with 10,000 people settled on the land harvesting cotton, fruits, and vegetables. The concentration of small housing units that straddled the border was called Calexico on the U.S. side and Mexicali on the Mexican side.<ref name="bajaweb" /> Led by '']'' publisher ], one company controlled 800,000 hectares of land in northern Baja California by 1905, and began to build the irrigation system for the Valley. However, instead of using Mexican labor to dig the ditches, Chandler brought in thousands of Chinese laborers.<ref name="bajaweb" /> Mexicali became culturally Chinese influenced. | |||
The Mexican side was named Mexicali (a ] composed of "Mexico" and "California") by Coronel Agustín Sanguinéz. Initially the area belonged to the municipality of ].<ref name="EncMuc"/> The town of Mexicali was officially created on 14 March 1903 when ] was named as the town's first authority and Assistant Judge (''juez auxiliar'').<ref name="bajaweb"/> On January 29, 1911, Mexicali was ] during the ]. Mayor Baltazar Aviléz declared the municipality of Mexicali on November 4, 1914 and called for elections to creation of the first ] or |
The Mexican side was named Mexicali (a ] composed of "Mexico" and "California") by Coronel Agustín Sanguinéz. Initially the area belonged to the municipality of ].<ref name="EncMuc" /> The town of Mexicali was officially created on 14 March 1903 when ] was named as the town's first authority and Assistant Judge (''juez auxiliar'').<ref name="bajaweb" /> On January 29, 1911, Mexicali was ] during the ]. Mayor Baltazar Aviléz declared the municipality of Mexicali on November 4, 1914, and called for elections to creation of the first ] or municipality, which was then headed by Francisco L. Montejano.<ref name="EncMuc" /> | ||
] of ] in Downtown Mexicali]] | |||
], is situated south of the Mexico–US border]] | |||
In the 20th century, the Colorado Riverland Company, a U.S. based company, was dedicated to renting Mexican land to farmers; however, these farmers were almost always foreigners, such as Chinese, East Indians and Japanese. The Mexicans were employed only as seasonal laborers. This situation led to the agrarian conflict known as the "Asalto a las Tierras" (Assault on the Lands) in 1937.<ref name="EncMuc"/> in which Mexican land was taken by Mexicans. | |||
In the 20th century, the Colorado Riverland Company, a U.S.-based company, was dedicated to renting Mexican land to farmers; however, these farmers were almost always foreigners, such as Chinese, East Indians and Japanese. Mexicans were employed only as seasonal laborers. This situation led to the agrarian conflict known as the "{{ill|El Asalto a las Tierras|es|lt=Asalto a las Tierras}}" (Assault on the Lands) in 1937.<ref name="EncMuc" /> in which Mexican land was taken by Mexicans. | |||
Agricultural production continued to increase during the 20th century. Cotton became the most important crop and it help develop the textile industry. In the early 1950s, the Mexicali Valley became the biggest cotton-producing zone in the country and in the 1960s, production reached more than half a million parcels a year. Currently, the Valley still is one of Mexico's most productive agricultural regions, mostly producing wheat, cotton and vegetables. The city of Mexicali is one of Mexico's most important exporter of asparagus, broccoli, carrots, green onions, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes and tomatoes to the world.<ref name="bajaweb"/> | |||
] | |||
Agricultural production continued to increase during the 20th century. Cotton became the most important crop and helped develop the textile industry. In the early 1950s, the Mexicali Valley became the biggest cotton-producing zone in the country and in the 1960s, production reached more than half a million parcels a year. | |||
The first factories appeared in the 1960s with the end of the Bracero program. A 1988 study found 100 factories in the city, including 10 electronics manufacturers, 25 auto parts manufacturers, 27 textile plants and nine plastics companies. Most maquiladoras are run by US companies, followed by Mexican, South Korean, and Japanese companies.<ref name=sol /> | |||
The government of the municipality was reorganized when the Baja California territory became the 29th state in 1953.<ref name="EncMuc"/> | |||
===21st century=== | ===21st century=== | ||
Today Mexicali is an important center for ] (assembly plant) production in the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, metallurgical, and health items as well as manufacturing and exporting products to various countries.<ref name="Mexicali History">{{cite web |title=Mexicali History |publisher=Trust for Mexicali Tourism |url= |
Today Mexicali is an important center for ] (assembly plant) production in the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, metallurgical, and health items as well as manufacturing and exporting products to various countries.<ref name="Mexicali History">{{cite web |title=Mexicali History |publisher=Trust for Mexicali Tourism |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicaliturismo.com%2Fesp%2Fpages%2Fmexicali.php%3Fidweb%3D1 |access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref> | ||
The ] occurred on Easter Sunday about {{Convert|60|km|abbr=on}} south-southeast of Mexicali.<ref Name="usgs">{{cite web|author=] |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/ci14607652.php |title=Magnitude 6.9 – Baja California, Mexico |date=April 4, 2010 |access-date=April 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406193028/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/ci14607652.php |archive-date=April 6, 2010}}</ref> This very large magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred at 15:40:40 local time (UTC−8) according to the U.S. Geological Survey. With a maximum ] of VII (''Very strong''), it was felt in northern ] near the United States–Mexico border, and was also felt in western cities such as ], ], ] and parts of Arizona. | |||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
] metro, showing Mexicali and the surrounding ] on the bottom half and ] and ] on the top half]] | |||
The Mexicali Valley is one of the largest and most fertile valleys in Mexico.<ref name="Mexicali Economy">{{cite web |title=Economy |url=http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicaliturismo.com%2Fesp%2Fpages%2Fmexicali.php%3Fidweb%3D7&act=url |accessdate=March 10, 2011 }}</ref> In the Valley, they grow over fifty different crops and it's similar in production to the ]. National and international industries have invested in Mexicali and surrounding cities to take advantage of its tax-free status given to industry.<ref name="Mexicali Economy" /> The Mexicali Valley is a primary source of water for the region, which is the largest irrigation district in Mexico. | |||
The Mexicali Valley is one of the largest and most fertile valleys in Mexico.<ref name="Mexicali Economy">{{cite web |title=Economy |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mexicaliturismo.com%2Fesp%2Fpages%2Fmexicali.php%3Fidweb%3D7&act=url |access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref> Over fifty different crops are grown in the valley, which is similar in production to the ]. National and international industries have invested in Mexicali and surrounding cities to take advantage of its tax-free status given to industry.<ref name="Mexicali Economy" /> The Mexicali Valley is a primary source of water for the region, which is the largest irrigation district in Mexico. | |||
A study by Instituto Mexicano de la Competitividad has listed Mexicali as Mexico's most polluted air of large cities, with a ] rating of 137 for the year 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldetijuana/notas/n3172249.htm|title=Homepage|website=www.oem.com.mx}}</ref> It is thought that the reason is lack of pavement (dust) and lack of wind, especially in summer. The city is grappling with huge amounts of trash "from old appliances, to ] and used tires, some of which comes from the United States."<ref name=basura>{{cite news |work=El Sol |location=Salinas |title=Un basurero toxicology prolifera en la Frontera |trans-title=A toxic garbage dump proliferates on the border |author=Ian James |agency=The Desert Sun |page=1A}}</ref> Mexican government agencies in the border region have not made pollution a priority, and weak enforcement of environmental standards is considered a reason that multinationals locate factories there, along with low wages.<ref name=sol>{{cite news|title=En la frontera, un cuidad de maquiladoras esta pagando un alto precio en contamination |trans-title=At the border, a city of maquiladoras is paying a high price in contamination |author=Ian James |work=El Sol |location=Salinas |page=1A|agency=The Desert Sun |date=December 15, 2018}}</ref> In general, maquiladoras are supposed to return any toxic waste to its country of origin, but in some cases it can be handled in Mexico.<ref name=basura /> | |||
===Ecology=== | ===Ecology=== | ||
Despite its arid desert location, Mexicali is watered through a system of aquifers in the valley. Under a ], the city is "guaranteed an annual quantity of {{convert|1,500,000|acre.ft|km3}} to be delivered" from the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crc.nv.gov/1944mexicanwatertreaty.htm |title=The Mexican Water Treaty |publisher=Crc.nv.gov |access-date=2011-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217211309/http://crc.nv.gov/1944mexicanwatertreaty.htm |archive-date=2009-12-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, a proposed concrete lining in the United States on the All-American Canal would cut off billions of leaked gallons of water, which is used to irrigate onions, alfalfa, asparagus, squash and other crops in Mexicali.<ref>{{cite news |last=Archibold |first=Randal C. |work=The New York Times |title=Border Fight Focuses on Water, Not Immigration |date=July 7, 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/us/07border.html?scp=8&sq=mexicali&st=nyt |access-date=2008-06-19}}</ref> | |||
The nearby ] ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1401-00- |
The nearby ] ]<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Volcanism Program | Cerro Prieto | Summary|url=http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1401-00-|publisher=Volcano.si.edu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012104350/http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1401-00-|archive-date=12 October 2004|access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref> is adjacent to the ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cfe.gob.mx/es/LaEmpresa/generacionelectricidad/visitasvirtuales/cerroprietogeotermoelectrica/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320112124/http://www.cfe.gob.mx/es/LaEmpresa/generacionelectricidad/visitasvirtuales/cerroprietogeotermoelectrica/|url-status=dead|title=Portal CFE|archive-date=March 20, 2007|website=www.cfe.gob.mx}}</ref> which creates high volumes of pollutants including ]. As of 2014, the government are creating a zone of exclusion, due to the alarming amount of pollutants and contamination that has permeated throughout miles around the geothermal plant of Cerro Prieto.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mercury in freshwater fish and clams from the Cerro Prieto geothermal field of Baja California, Mexico|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/70789150/mercury-freshwater-fish-clams-from-cerro-prieto-geothermal-field-baja-california-m-xico|date=August 1988|publisher=EBSCO Host Connection|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322002209/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/70789150/mercury-freshwater-fish-clams-from-cerro-prieto-geothermal-field-baja-california-m-xico|archive-date=2014-03-22|access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> | ||
===Climate=== | ===Climate=== | ||
Because of its low annual precipitation, Mexicali has an ] (''BWh''), featuring long, extremely hot summers and mild to warm winters. Under the criteria for the ], Mexicali maintains desert weather temperatures every year, receiving only {{convert|70.9|mm}} of precipitation annually over 16 precipitation days on average. On December 12, 1932, the city experienced snowfall.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--not stated-->|title=Weather breaks 30-year precedent by blanketing Imperial Valley in snow|url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CC19321213|work=Calexico Chronicle|location=Calexico, California|date=December 13, 1932|access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mexicali686.com/nevada-en-mexicali.html|website=Mexicali686|title=El día que nevó en Mexicali|lang=es}}</ref> Rainfall usually occurs in the winter months of December, January and February. Summer rainfall in the city is infrequent, although in some years thunderstorms and the remnants of tropical storms and hurricanes passing over Baja California from the Pacific can sometimes drop heavy rainfall (most likely in August and September). A notable example was ] in 1976, which dropped several inches of rain in the area. During winter time, Mexicali is affected by the snow storms that pass by the town of ] located in the ], about 45 minutes west of the city, causing a decrease in temperature that lasts from two days to one week. July is the hottest month with a mean at {{convert|33.9|C|F|abbr=on}} and an average high at {{convert|42.3|C|F|abbr=on}}, while January is the coolest month with a mean at {{convert|13.1|C|F|abbr=on}} and an average low at {{convert|5.8|C|F|abbr=on}}. | |||
{{Climate chart | |||
|Mexicali | |||
|5|20|13.0 | |||
|7|23|9.1 | |||
|10|26|7.9 | |||
|13|30|1.3 | |||
|17|35|0.8 | |||
|21|40|0.3 | |||
|26|42|1.5 | |||
|26|42|8.1 | |||
|22|38|9.1 | |||
|16|32|8.9 | |||
|10|25|4.6 | |||
|6|20|10.9 | |||
| source = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/MXBC0004?from=36hr_bottomnav_business |title=Average Weather for Mexicali, BC - Temperature and Precipitation |publisher=Weather.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-22}}</ref> | |||
| float = right | |||
}} | |||
Because of its low annual precipitation, Mexicali has an ] (''BWh''). Under the criteria for the ], Mexicali maintains desert weather temperatures every year. In December 12, 1932, the city experienced snowfall. Rainfall usually occurs in the winter months of December, January and February. Although Summer is extremely dry in Mexicali, one of every two days there is an end moisture content. In 2008, during the months of July and August there were several heavy thunderstorms that let down large amounts of rain and hail. Summer rainfall in the city is infrequent. During winter time, Mexicali is affected by the snow storms that pass by the town of ] located in the ], about 45 minutes west of the city, causing a decrement in temperature that lasts from two days to one week. | |||
{{clear}} | |||
On 28 July 1995, the Mexicali area recorded a temperature of {{convert|52.0|C|F|abbr=on}}, which is the highest temperature ever recorded in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/early-summer-heat-broils-northern-hemisphere.html|author=Christopher Burt|title=Early Summer Heat Broils Northern Hemisphere|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319151445/https://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/early-summer-heat-broils-northern-hemisphere.html|archive-date=19 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=García Cueto |first1=O.R. |last2=Santillán Soto |first2=N. |last3=Quintero Núñez |first3=M. |last4=Ojeda Benítez |first4=S. |last5=Velázquez Limón |first5=N. |title=Extreme temperature scenarios in Mexicali, Mexico under climate change conditions |journal=Atmósfera |date=October 2013 |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=509–520 |doi=10.1016/S0187-6236(13)71092-0 |doi-access=free}}</ref> | |||
The summer temperatures in Mexicali are significantly higher than ], the other major city in Baja California. This is caused by the temperatures in Tijuana being moderated by the ocean, but nearby inland areas such as Mexicali being significantly hotter. However, the hot desert climate seen in Mexicali is actually not unusual for similar parallels, seen in ], ] for example. | |||
{{Weather box | {{Weather box | ||
| location = Mexicali ( |
| location = Mexicali (1951–2010) | ||
| metric first = yes | | metric first = yes | ||
| single line = yes | | single line = yes | ||
Line 136: | Line 130: | ||
| Apr record high C = 41.0 | | Apr record high C = 41.0 | ||
| May record high C = 47.0 | | May record high C = 47.0 | ||
| Jun record high C = |
| Jun record high C = 51.4 | ||
| Jul record high C = 52. |
| Jul record high C = 52.4 | ||
| Aug record high C = |
| Aug record high C = 50.4 | ||
| Sep record high C = 47.1 | | Sep record high C = 47.1 | ||
| Oct record high C = 47.4 | | Oct record high C = 47.4 | ||
| Nov record high C = 39.8 | | Nov record high C = 39.8 | ||
| Dec record high C = 31.3 | | Dec record high C = 31.3 | ||
|year record high C = 52. |
|year record high C = 52.4 | ||
| Jan high C = 20.5 | | Jan high C = 20.5 | ||
| Feb high C = 23.0 | | Feb high C = 23.0 | ||
Line 183: | Line 177: | ||
| Dec low C = 5.7 | | Dec low C = 5.7 | ||
|year low C = 14.9 | |year low C = 14.9 | ||
| Jan record low C = |
| Jan record low C = -7.0 | ||
| Feb record low C = -3.5 | | Feb record low C = -3.5 | ||
| Mar record low C = -0.9 | | Mar record low C = -0.9 | ||
Line 196: | Line 190: | ||
| Dec record low C = -8.0 | | Dec record low C = -8.0 | ||
|year record low C = -8.0 | |year record low C = -8.0 | ||
| |
|rain colour = green | ||
| Jan rain mm = 10.6 | | Jan rain mm = 10.6 | ||
| Feb rain mm = 7.2 | | Feb rain mm = 7.2 | ||
Line 224: | Line 218: | ||
| Dec rain days = 2.2 | | Dec rain days = 2.2 | ||
|year rain days = 16.0 | |year rain days = 16.0 | ||
| source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional<ref name=SMN>{{cite web |url=http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL02033.TXT |title=Estado de Baja California-Estacion: Mexicali (DGE) |work=Normales Climatologicas 1951–2010 |language=es |publisher=Servicio Meteorológico Nacional |access-date=6 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105326/http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL02033.TXT |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> | |||
| source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional<ref name = SMN >{{cite web | |||
| source 2 = ''El Sol de México'', Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Twitter, and ''La Voz de la Frontera''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.elsoldemexico.com.mx/mexico/sociedad/mexicali-se-derrite-rompe-record-historico-de-calor-con-51.4c-6863446.html|title=Mexicali se derrite: rompe récord histórico de calor con 51.4°C|work=El Sol de México|language=Spanish|date=June 18, 2021|accessdate=June 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=1422995758702288898|user=conagua_clima|title=Ayer, las #Temperaturas más altas se...|date=4 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lavozdelafrontera.com.mx/local/registro-mexicali-52.4-grados-ayer-seguiran-altas-temperaturas-hasta-el-viernes-12213421.html|title=Registró Mexicali 52.4 grados ayer; seguirán altas temperaturas hasta el viernes|work=La Voz de la Frontera|date=9 July 2024|first=Mariela|last=Tapia|access-date= 1 September 2024|language=es}}</ref> | |||
| url = http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL02033.TXT | |||
| title = Estado de Baja California-Estacion: Mexicali (DGE) | |||
| work = Normales Climatologicas 1951-2010 | |||
| language = Spanish | |||
| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | |||
| accessdate = 6 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
}} | }} | ||
==Economy== | |||
In its beginnings Mexicali was an important center for cotton production for export, until synthetic fabrics reduced the worldwide demand for the fiber. Currently, horticulture is the most successful agricultural activity with scallion (green onion), and asparagus being among the most important crops. Cotton and wheat are still grown, but low government price guarantees and subsidies make wheat farmer protests an annual event. There is an annual agri-business fair, which if unfunded by public money given to by the government, it would have been dead a decade ago, named AGROBAJA, in March of every year, drawing people by the thousands, from all over Mexico and before the crisis, from the United States. | |||
The current prospects for economic growth in Mexicali rely on in-bond and assembly plants (maquiladoras), which come due to low wages and loose worker right laws, include companies like, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Mexicali is also home to many food processing plants such as ], ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
===Silicon Border and Unaccounted Public Money Controversy=== | |||
{{Main|Silicon Border}} | |||
Silicon Border is an empty {{convert|40|km2|acre|adj=on}} development supposedly tailored to the specific needs of high-technology manufacturing and is situated in the outskirts of Mexicali, along the western border of the U.S. and Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconborder.com/semiconductors.html|title=Silicon Border |publisher=Silicon Border |date=2004-07-14 |accessdate=2011-06-22}}</ref> The aim of the empty manufacturing park, which began in 2004, was to transform Mexicali into the world's next semiconductor manufacturing center, if the world economy was fine. The Mexican federal and Baja California state governments have given away $2 million of public money to private hands, without a referendum for the design of the project and the laying of a few streets and lamp posts that can be seen on the premises as the only work done, so far. However, no authorities nor the private frontmen of the project, have given the public, any account on what the public money was spent on, so far. To no avail, former President ] offered 10 years of a tax rate as low as 3% to foreign owned maquiladora, which is much lower than the paying rate by national industry owners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconborder.com/location-incentives |title=Incentives |publisher=Silicon Border Development |year=2012 |accessdate=2014-02-06}}</ref> | |||
The premises sit empty as of February 2014<ref></ref> and the current financial crisis makes it very difficult to envisage any change in the coming years, if ever. | |||
===Tourism=== | |||
] | |||
Mexicali also relies on tourism as a medium to generate revenue, and visitors cross by foot or by car from ], United States, every day. Tourists are mainly attracted to local ]s, restaurants, pharmacies, bars and dance clubs. Near the border, in walking distance, there are many shops and stalls selling Mexican curios and souvenirs. Arizona and Nevada residents look for medical and dental services in Mexicali, since they tend to be less expensive than in the United States. Pharmacies sell some drugs without a prescription and at much lower cost than in the US, but some medications still require a doctor's prescription, although several accessible doctor offices are located near the border as well. | |||
Mexico's drinking age is 18 years old (vs. 21 in the United States) which makes it a common weekend destination for many high school and college students from Southern California. | |||
Mexicali hosts ], one of the world's most important events in ]. Since 1997, Baja Prog has been in the eyes of the world for being an event gathering the best bands of the progressive rock scene.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} | |||
Mexicali hosts four main shopping malls, the most visited being Plaza La Cachanilla, located a mile away from the US border. The mall hosts a variety of shops, which sell a wide array of items, ranging from cheap Mexican curios to expensive imports. The Plaza La Cachanilla also represents a common place for people to socialize, especially during Summer days when the weather reaches high temperatures, many families come and spend the day inside the air-conditioned mall. | |||
In regards to recreation, according to its extreme climate, has bath halls, bowling alleys, traditional cantinas, car clubs, strip clubs, movie theaters, museums, a zoo, a convention center, supermarkets, and fast food restaurants for every choice of food. | |||
Galerias del Valle, holds a ] Supercenter, a 12-screen movie theater Cinepolis, two casinos, and a food court, plus a large array of stores that sell many items needed for daily living. It is located on Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas at Calle 11. | |||
==Cityscape== | |||
] metropolitan area]] | |||
===City districts=== | |||
{{Main|Municipality of Mexicali#Boroughs}} | |||
The municipality of Mexicali is divided into the city main and 14 Administrative Districts, which are mainly located in the outskits of the city and the largest populations in the Mexicali Valley. These Distrital offices offer municipal services such as Urban Planning, Vital Statistics, Street-Vending Inspection, Compliance, Public Works and Community Development and are, each, supervised by a Municipal Delegate. | |||
Civic Center - In this sub-area are located the main federal, state and municipal buildings. Not far from the Civic Center is the New River, where there are other prominent buildings and premises like the CEART (State Center for the Arts) and the Mexicali Zoo. | |||
=== Chinatown === | |||
{{Main|Chinatown, Mexicali}} | |||
] | |||
The city claims to have the largest per capita concentration of residents of Chinese origin in Mexico, around 5,000. The ] came to the area as laborers for the Colorado River Land Company, an American enterprise which designed and built an extensive irrigation system in the Valley of Mexicali. Some immigrants came from the United States, often fleeing anti-Chinese policies there, while others sailed directly from China. Thousands of Chinese were lured to the area by the promise of high wages, but that never materialized.<ref name="CPA">{{cite web |last= Cummings |first= Joe |url=http://www.cpamedia.com/history/sharks_fin_tacos/ |title= Mexicali's Chinatown: Sharks fin Tacos and Barbecued Chow Mein |accessdate=2008-10-25 }}</ref> | |||
Since 2000, new migrants from China to Mexicali come from many of the same areas as before 1960, with perhaps 90% from Guangdong or Hong Kong.<ref>Auyón Gerardo, Eduardo. 2003. El dragón en el desierto: los pioneros chinos en Mexicali. Mexicali, Baja California: Centro de Investigación de la Cultura China</ref> | |||
==Demographics== | ==Demographics== | ||
] | |||
{{Historical populations | {{Historical populations | ||
|align=right | |align=right | ||
| footnote = <ref>, Baja California (Mexico): Federal State & Major Cities |
| footnote = <ref>, Baja California (Mexico): Federal State & Major Cities – Statistics & Maps on City Population</ref> | ||
|1910|462 | |1910|462 | ||
|1921|6782 | |1921|6782 | ||
Line 291: | Line 240: | ||
|2005|653046 | |2005|653046 | ||
|2010|689775 | |2010|689775 | ||
|2020|854186 | |||
}} | }} | ||
As of |
As of 2020, the city of Mexicali had a population of 854,186.<ref name="INEGI">{{cite web|title=Mexicali|url=https://www.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/productos/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/nueva_estruc/702825197735.pdf|language=es|access-date=6 February 2024}}</ref> | ||
The city itself had a 2005 census population of 653,046, whereas the ]'s population was 895,962. It is the 13th largest municipality in Mexico as of the Census 2005 with population estimates exceeding one million alone. |
The city itself had a 2005 census population of 653,046, whereas the ]'s population was 895,962. It is the 13th largest municipality in Mexico as of the Census 2005 with population estimates exceeding one million alone. | ||
The population is constantly growing due to the number of ]s in the area, lack of urban planning, and migrational aspects, like seasonal labor and the constant in-and-out flow of immigrants to the U.S. or into Mexico. | |||
==Environment== | |||
A study by Instituto Mexicano de la Competitividad has listed Mexicali as Mexico's most polluted air of large cities, with a ] rating of 137 for the year 2010.<ref>http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldetijuana/notas/n3172249.htm</ref> It is thought that the reason is lack of pavement (dust) and lack of wind, especially in summer. No information for PM5 or ] was given. ], ], and ] rounded up the highest PM10 list in the study. | |||
== |
==Economy== | ||
Mexicali's economy has been historically based on agricultural products, and they remain a large sector of the economy. However, its economy has gradually gone from being agricultural to include industry, mainly ]s—duty-free factories in which parts from the ] are imported, assembled, and then returned to the United States as finished products. Currently, the ] still is one of Mexico's most productive agricultural regions, mostly producing wheat, cotton and vegetables. The city is one of Mexico's most important exporters of asparagus, broccoli, carrots, green onions, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes and tomatoes to the world.<ref name="bajaweb"/> | |||
{{main|List of schools in Mexicali}} | |||
] | ] | ||
In its beginnings Mexicali was an important center for cotton production for export, until synthetic fabrics reduced the worldwide demand for the fiber. Currently, horticulture is the most successful agricultural activity with scallion (green onion), and asparagus being among the most important crops. Cotton and wheat are still grown, but low government price guarantees and subsidies make wheat farmer protests an annual event. There is an annual agri-business fair, which if unfunded by the government, would have been dead a decade ago, named AGROBAJA, in March of every year, drawing people by the thousands, from all over Mexico and before the crisis, from the United States. | |||
] | |||
According to a previous census conducted by the ] (INEGI)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/mexicocifras/default.aspx?ent=02/ |title=Página oficial de la INEGI |publisher=Inegi.org.mx |date= |accessdate=2011-06-22}}</ref> in 2008, the number of students who have graduated from Mexicali's public and private schools are as follows: | |||
The current prospects for economic growth in Mexicali rely on in-bond and assembly plants (maquiladoras), which come due to low wages and loose worker right laws, include companies like, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Mexicali is also home to many food processing plants such as ], ], ], ], ], and ]. In December 2018 there were 180 in all, employing 70,000 people.<ref name=sol /> | |||
Pre-scholar students: 18,648<br> | |||
Primary school students: 17,272<br> | |||
Secondary school students: 12,337<br> | |||
Technical education students: 531<br> | |||
Baccalaureate students: 6,152 | |||
Mexicali became the national center for the aerospace industry in Mexico when ] established an operation there in 1966. Rockwell Collins is the oldest company under the ] program nationwide. | |||
Some public universities in the city include ], ] and the ]. Private universities include ], ] and ]. | |||
===Silicon Border=== | |||
==Culture== | |||
] | |||
]]] | |||
{{Main|Silicon Border}} | |||
The residents of Mexicali (''Mexicalenses'') call themselves "Cachanillas" (due to a local plant, the ], used by the Cucapah tribe to build shacks) and are from culturally diverse backgrounds, and it is among the most ethnically diverse cities in Mexico, with people from various Native American, European, African, East Asian, and Middle Eastern origins.<ref>{{es icon}} </ref> | |||
Silicon Border is an empty {{convert|40|km2|acre|adj=on|sp=us}} development supposedly tailored to the specific needs of high-technology manufacturing and is situated in the outskirts of Mexicali, along the western border of the U.S. and Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconborder.com/semiconductors.html |title=Silicon Border |publisher=Silicon Border |date=2004-07-14 |access-date=2011-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071121/http://www.siliconborder.com/semiconductors.html |archive-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The aim of the empty manufacturing park, which began in 2004, was to transform Mexicali into the world's next semiconductor manufacturing center, if the world economy was fine. The Mexican federal and Baja California state governments have given away $2 million of public money to private hands, without a referendum for the design of the project and the laying of a few streets and lamp posts that can be seen on the premises as the only work done. Neither authorities nor the private frontmen of the project have given the public any account on what the public money was spent on. Former president ] offered ten years of a tax rate as low as 3% to foreign-owned factories.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconborder.com/location-incentives |title=Incentives |publisher=Silicon Border Development |year=2012 |access-date=2014-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307153814/http://siliconborder.com/location-incentives |archive-date=2014-03-07 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
The premises sit empty as of October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/545/sili097.jpg/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222225947/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/545/sili097.jpg/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2014|title=sili097.jpg – Click to see more photos|website=ImageShack}}</ref> | |||
There is a very popular song called "Puro Cachanilla" also known as "El Cachanilla" that identifies people from Mexicali. | |||
===Tourism=== | |||
In 2004, there were 11 theaters<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sic.conaculta.gob.mx/infraestructura/teatros/todo.php3?J=10 |title=Sistema de Información Cultural - Conaculta - Mexico |publisher=Sic.conaculta.gob.mx |date= |accessdate=2011-06-22}}</ref> in the city: | |||
]]] | |||
Mexicali also relies on tourism as a medium to generate revenue, and visitors cross by foot or by car from ], United States, every day. Tourists are mainly attracted to local ]s, restaurants, pharmacies, bars and dance clubs. Near the border, in walking distance, there are many shops and stalls selling Mexican curios and souvenirs. Arizona and Nevada residents look for medical and dental services in Mexicali, since they tend to be less expensive than in the United States. Pharmacies sell some drugs without a prescription and at much lower cost than in the US, but some medications still require a doctor's prescription, although several accessible doctor offices are located near the border as well. | |||
Mexico's drinking age is 18 years old (vs. 21 in the United States) which makes it a common weekend destination for many high school and college students from Southern California. | |||
#Teatro del Estado. | |||
#Teatro de Casa de Cultura de Mexicali. Idem. | |||
#Teatro del CREA | |||
#Teatro Universitario de Mexicali, it is mainly used for UABC ceremonies and occasionally for plays. | |||
#Teatro al Aire Libre de Rectoría which hasn´t been used in the last 30 years. | |||
#Teatro del Seguro Social that was inaugurated in the 1970s. | |||
#Teatro al aire libre del Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior CETYS unveiled on September 2006. | |||
#Teatro del Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior CETYS. | |||
#IMAX Theatre at the Sol del Niño Museum | |||
#Centro Estatal de las Artes with multiple theater and convention center | |||
Mexicali |
Mexicali hosts ], one of the world's most important events in ]. | ||
] | |||
Mexicali hosts four main shopping malls, the most visited being Plaza La Cachanilla, located a mile away from the US border. The mall hosts a variety of shops, which sell a wide array of items, ranging from cheap Mexican curios to expensive imports. The Plaza La Cachanilla also represents a common place for people to socialize, especially during summer days when the weather reaches high temperatures, many families come and spend the day inside the air-conditioned mall. | |||
For recreation, Mexicali has bath halls, bowling alleys, traditional cantinas, car clubs, strip clubs, movie theaters, museums, a zoo, a convention center, supermarkets, and fast food restaurants for every choice of food. | |||
==Sports == | |||
Mexicali has many sites where people from all over the country visit, as well as visitors from United States and Canada, such as the ] arena, Plaza ], where one or two bullfights are organized along the year. Mexicali also has a professional 18-hole ] "Club Campestre" where both national and international championships have taken place. | |||
Galerias del Valle, holds a ] Supercenter, a twelve-screen Cinepolis movie theater, two casinos, a food court, and a large array of stores that sell many items needed for daily living. It is located on Boulevard Lázaro Cárdenas at Calle 11. | |||
===Basketball=== | |||
==Education== | |||
Mexicali's ] teams are the ''Bomberos de Mexicali'' of the CIBACOPA Pacific Circuit and ''Soles de Mexicali'' of the ] (LNBP) of Mexico. Soles lifted the National Trophy as the 2006/2007 LNBP Champions. Their stadium is the "]" located in the "Ciudad Deportiva de Mexicali". | |||
{{main|List of schools in Mexicali}} | |||
]]] | |||
According to a previous census conducted by the ] (INEGI)<ref>{{cite web|title=Página oficial de la INEGI|url=http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/mexicocifras/default.aspx?ent=02/|publisher=Inegi.org.mx|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722230208/http://www.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/mexicocifras/default.aspx?ent=02%2F|archive-date=2011-07-22|access-date=2011-06-22}}</ref> in 2008, the number of students who have graduated from Mexicali's public and private schools are as follows: | |||
Pre-scholar students: 18,648<br>Primary school students: 17,272<br>Secondary school students: 12,337<br>Technical education students: 531<br>Baccalaureate students: 6,152 | |||
The ''Bomberos de Mexicali'' were founded in 2010 and participate in the Pacific Coast Basketball Circuit, CIBACOPA. The team demonstrated strong results in the first leg of its inaugural season, yet was negatively affected by the April 4th earthquake of the Mexicali region, seeing its second leg play out as a road team in Tijuana’s Municipal Auditorium. Due to the earthquake and its aftershocks, the Civil Protection Ministry of Mexicali ceased all massive events within closed structures. The Bomberos look to return in 2011 with reinforcements and a competitive team that will vie for the league title. Bomberos arrived to Mexicali and reached an agreement with the Municipal Government to renovate the hardwood of the Mexicali Gymnasium and call the Silver Colossus their home. | |||
Some public universities in the city include ], ] and the ]. Private universities include ], ] and ]. | |||
Mexicali was also home to the now defunct franchise Calor de Mexicali (Mexicali Heat), which participated in the 2007 edition of the Pacific Coast Basketball Circuit. They played their home games at the "Gimnasio de Mexicali" located on "Avenida Reforma". | |||
==Culture== | |||
Mexicali was also home to a 2006 ] franchise, the ] (The Sentinels). | |||
] | |||
The residents of Mexicali (''Mexicalenses'') call themselves "Cachanillas" (due to a local plant, the ], used by the Cucapah tribe to build shacks) and are from culturally diverse backgrounds. It is among the most ethnically diverse cities in Mexico, with people from various Native American, European, African, East Asian, and Middle Eastern origins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mexicali.gob.mx|url=http://www.mexicali.gob.mx/ImagenesCS/CONAMM/index.html|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008120735/http://www.mexicali.gob.mx/ImagenesCS/CONAMM/index.html|archive-date=October 8, 2007}}</ref> | |||
There is a very popular song called "{{ill|Puro Cachanilla|es}}" also known as "El Cachanilla" that identifies people from Mexicali. This song was originally recorded in 1963 by the ranchero singer Caín Corpus and written by the famous mexican composer {{ill|Antonio Valdéz Herrera|es}}. | |||
===Soccer=== | |||
"Ciudad Deportiva" houses a ] stadium where ''Cachanillas de Mexicali'', a ] team plays. | |||
]]] | |||
The home of the Pioneros del Valle, also a Mexican third division football team, is located in the Mexicali Valley. | |||
In 2004, there were 8 theaters<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sic.conaculta.gob.mx/infraestructura/teatros/todo.php3?J=10 |title=Sistema de Información Cultural – Conaculta – Mexico |publisher=Sic.conaculta.gob.mx |access-date=2011-06-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210125037/http://sic.conaculta.gob.mx/infraestructura/teatros/todo.php3?j=10 |archive-date=2006-02-10}}</ref> in the city: Teatro del Estado, Teatro de Casa de Cultura de Mexicali. Idem, Teatro del CREA, Teatro Universitario de Mexicali, Teatro al Aire Libre de Rectoría, Teatro del Seguro Social, and Centro Estatal de las Artes. | |||
Mexicali also has the ] festival, a series of progressive rock concerts that take place during four consecutive days in springtime. It is hosted by ], a ] band from Mexicali. | |||
===Baseball=== | |||
In addition, "Ciudad Deportiva" is the location of the "B-Air" stadium where the professional ] team "]" plays every season. The Águilas de Mexicali is a Mexican baseball team playing for the ] in Mexicali, Baja California. The team was founded on October 14, 1976. They have won the championship three times, 1985-1986 (coach Benjamin Reyes), in 1988-1989 (coach Dave Machemer), in 1998–99 (coach Francisco Estrada). The team also won the 1986 Caribbean Series, played in Venezuela. The "Águilas de Mexicali" were formed in 1976 and have been a member of the Mexican Pacific League since. They are located in the border city of Mexicali, Baja California and have won three LMP pennants. Their brightest moment came when they won the 1986 Caribbean Series, only becoming the second Mexican team to take the title. Mexicali was the host for the Caribbean Series in 2009. | |||
===La Chinesca=== | |||
The Azules de Mexicali is a professional Mexican baseball team which plays in the ], the main supporting league of the "LMP". | |||
{{Main|La Chinesca}} | |||
The city claimed to have the largest per capita concentration of residents of Chinese origin in Mexico, around 5,000 until 2012 when the ] surpassed that number at 15,000 Chinese immigrants. The ] came to the area as laborers for the Colorado River Land Company, an American enterprise which designed and built an extensive irrigation system in the Valley of Mexicali. Some immigrants came from the United States, often fleeing anti-Chinese policies there, while others sailed directly from China. Thousands of Chinese were lured to the area by the promise of high wages, but that never materialized.<ref name="CPA">{{cite web|last=Cummings |first=Joe |url=http://www.cpamedia.com/history/sharks_fin_tacos/ |title=Mexicali's Chinatown: Sharks fin Tacos and Barbecued Chow Mein |access-date=2008-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207122604/http://www.cpamedia.com/history/sharks_fin_tacos/ |archive-date=2009-02-07}}</ref> | |||
Since 2000, new migrants from China to Mexicali come from many of the same areas as before 1960, with perhaps 90% from Guangdong or Hong Kong.<ref>Auyón Gerardo, Eduardo. 2003. El dragón en el desierto: los pioneros chinos en Mexicali. Mexicali, Baja California: Centro de Investigación de la Cultura China</ref> | |||
Mexicali young baseball players, through the Little League program, have played three times in the Little League World Series in ]; first in 1985 Félix Arce Little League representing the United States West, and then in 2005 and 2007 the Seguro Social Little League, represented Mexicali.<ref name="Federación Mexicana de Béisbol">{{cite web |title=IMSS MEXICALI, A LA SERIE MUNDIAL DE WIILIAMSPORT |url=http://www.femebe.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=569 |accessdate=15 August 2011 }}</ref> | |||
==Sports== | |||
===American football=== | |||
] bullring, named after Queen Calafia, ]]] | |||
The team plays in the newly built convention center, while local businessmen negotiate a deal for an ] team with the ] under ownership of the ] in 2008. {{Citation needed|date=June 2007}} The owners announced they made a new team, the Mexicali Borregos Salvajes but has not officially joined af2 but could play in the Mexican Pro American Football League in games against teams from across Mexico. {{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} | |||
Mexicali has many sites visited by people from across the country, as well as by visitors from the U.S. and Canada, such as the ] arena, Plaza ], where one or two bullfights are held yearly. Mexicali also has a professional 18-hole ], Club Campestre, where both national and international championships have taken place. | |||
The city's professional ] team is ] of the ] (LNBP). Soles lifted the national trophy as the 2006–07, 2014–15, 2017–18, and 2019–20 LNBP Champions. Their stadium, the ], is located in Ciudad Deportiva de Mexicali. The ''Bomberos de Mexicali'' were founded in 2010 and participated in the Pacific Coast Basketball Circuit, ]. Another defunct franchise, Calor de Mexicali (Mexicali Heat), participated in the 2007 edition of the league. They played their home games at the Gimnasio de Mexicali located on Avenida Reforma. Mexicali was also home to a 2006 ] franchise, the ] (The Sentinels). | |||
==Infrastructure== | |||
] | |||
Ciudad Deportiva houses a ] stadium where ] in the ] and ''Cachanillas de Mexicali'', a ] team plays. The home of the Pioneros del Valle, also a Mexican third division football team, is located in the Mexicali Valley. | |||
===Transportation=== | |||
In addition, Ciudad Deportiva is the location of Farmacias Sta Maria formally known as ], where the ] play, competing in winter ]'s ] (LMP). The Centinelas de Mexicali are a professional team which plays in the ], the main development league for the LMP. Young Mexicali baseball players have played in the ] five times; first in 1985, with the Félix Arce Little League representing the United States West region, and then in 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2015 the Seguro Social Little League representing Mexicali.<ref name="Federación Mexicana de Béisbol">{{cite web |title=IMSS MEXICALI, A LA SERIE MUNDIAL DE WIILIAMSPORT |url=http://www.femebe.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=569 |access-date=15 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330194636/http://www.femebe.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=569 |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> | |||
====Land==== | |||
==Transportation== | |||
] | |||
Mexicali is located at a Junction of major interstates and federal highways. These include ], leading from ] to the ] where the cities of ] and ] dominate, ], which leads east to ] and west to ], and ] connecting San Felipe with Mexicali. Other roads lead southwest to ] or north to the ]. | Mexicali is located at a Junction of major interstates and federal highways. These include ], leading from ] to the ] where the cities of ] and ] dominate, ], which leads east to ] and west to ], and ] connecting San Felipe with Mexicali. Other roads lead southwest to ] or north to the ]. | ||
The road system in the city of Mexicali and its conurbation is very complex. Over the urban area long boulevards are traversed from one end of which most are 6 lanes with a median of 2 lanes. The backbone of the city is the Lazaro Cardenas Boulevard extending from east to west |
The road system in the city of Mexicali and its conurbation is very complex. Over the urban area long boulevards are traversed from one end of which most are 6 lanes with a median of 2 lanes. The backbone of the city is the Lazaro Cardenas Boulevard extending from east to west. Other important boulevards include: Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Benito Juárez, Anáhuac, Justo Sierra, Venustiano Carranza, Manuel Gómez Morin, Francisco L. Montejano, Cetys, Héctor Terán Terán, Independencia and Heroico Colegio Militar, among others. There are two corridors within the city: New River Ecological Corridor, which is guided in the ancient New River bed, and the Palaco Industrial Corridor,<ref>Palaco Industrial Corridor</ref> this crosses the southern Industrial zone of Mexicali. There is also the beltway, located in the east of the city, connecting the Lazaro Cardenas Blvd. with Islas Agrarias Blvd.<ref>Islas Agrarias</ref> and the road to Colonia Abasolo,<ref>Colonia Abasolo</ref> and this in turn with the Airport Road. | ||
===Airport=== | |||
Within the urban area there are vehicular bridges, like the Lázaro Cárdenas-Benito Juárez Blvds. underpass, Héctor Terán Terán-San Felipe Hwy underpass, Adolfo López Mateos-Independencia Bridge, and Lázaro Cárdenas-Adolfo Lopez Mateos Distributor. The latter has a 15-m high bridge which makes it the highest in northwestern Mexico. It was also designed with first-world seismic technology, which supports earthquakes of similar magnitude as 7.2 degrees Richter of the day April 4, 2010. | |||
]]] | |||
The city is linked to other Mexican cities by ], which serves the city and the surrounding towns. | |||
===Public transit=== | |||
On 6 January 2011 at a press conference, the city of Mexicali, led by Francisco José Pérez-Tejada Padilla, along with the state governor José Guadalupe Osuna Millán, unveiled the modernized Palaco Industrial Corridor. This project would have been the largest and most expensive in the history of road infrastructure in Mexicali with an initial investment of 285 million pesos and 546 million more for the installation of the Express Line 1 (Fast Transportation bus line), with a total investment of 831 million pesos. The new Palaco Industrial Corridor began constructions in March 2011, with 6 lanes and berms at the edges that included two additional lanes to service the BRT. Its opening was planned for Wednesday, March 14, 2012.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} | |||
There are some bus routes across the city and its urban area, where companies like Atusa Plus, Cachanilla, Amarillo y Blanco, among others, offer this service. | |||
==International relations== | |||
However, the project sits unable to be used since the Chief Architect for the project, who is the brother of the City Mayor, mis-measured the lanes on which the buses were to travel on, which ended up being more narrow than needed, rendering the whole project useless. Nobody knows where the tonnes of unused cement lay and what was done with it and the money was never spent.<ref>http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lacronica.com%2FEdicionEnLinea%2FNotas%2FNoticias%2F23052013%2F706664-Hubo-inconsistencias-en-proyecto-del-SRT-en-Palaco-Sidue.html</ref> | |||
===Sister cities=== | |||
]]] | |||
===Metropolitan transit=== | |||
Mexicali has the following ]: | |||
In the past 10 years, the public transport system has improved with the implementation of modern units. Currently there are over 40 routes across the city and its urban area, where companies like Atusa, Getusmex, among others, offer this service. The fees for bus service marked by the Municipal Transportation System are: | |||
* {{flagicon|USA}} ], ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us/about/sister_cities.asp|title=City of San Bernardino – Sister Cities|website=www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us|access-date=2019-12-02|archive-date=2022-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617020316/http://www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us/about/sister_cities.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
*Modern service unit with A/C: 11.00 pesos, although they change the amount in units which have no Air Conditioning on. | |||
* {{flagicon|PRC}} ], China | |||
*Standard service unit without A/C: 6.50 pesos | |||
* {{flagicon|ROK}} ], South Korea | |||
* {{flagicon|USA}} ], United States | |||
====Air==== | |||
*{{flagicon|USA}} ], United States | |||
The city is linked to other Mexican cities by the ], which serve the city and the surrounding towns. | |||
====Sea==== | |||
The proposed canal linking the Gulf of California with Mexicali, by way of Laguna Salada, would provide sea transportation to and from the Gulf from other important west coast cities and regional inland centers such as ], ], and ]. | |||
==View== | |||
</ref>]] | |||
{{clear}} | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Portal|Mexico}} | |||
* '']'' | * '']'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist |
{{reflist}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{Sister project links|Mexicali}} | {{Sister project links|Mexicali|voy=Mexicali}} | ||
* INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática | * INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática | ||
{{Baja California}} | {{Baja California}} | ||
{{MexicoStateCapitals}} | {{MexicoStateCapitals}} | ||
{{Portal bar|Mexico}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 20:08, 27 December 2024
City in Baja California, Mexico Place in Baja California, MexicoMexicali | |
---|---|
Top: Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali (left), Plaza Calafia (right); middle: Lázaro Cárdenas Monument (left), Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral (center), Punta Este (right); bottom: Bosque de la Ciudad Park. | |
FlagCoat of arms | |
Nickname: The City that Captured the Sun | |
MexicaliShow map of Baja CaliforniaMexicaliShow map of MexicoMexicaliShow map of North America | |
Coordinates: 32°39′48″N 115°28′04″W / 32.66333°N 115.46778°W / 32.66333; -115.46778 | |
Country | Mexico |
State | Baja California |
Municipality | Mexicali |
Founded | March 14, 1903 |
Government | |
• Type | Ayuntamiento |
• Municipal President | Norma Alicia Bustamante Martínez (MORENA) |
Area | |
• City | 113.7 km (43.9 sq mi) |
Elevation | 8 m (27 ft) |
Population | |
• City | 1,032,686 |
• Density | 6,066.62/km (15,712.5/sq mi) |
• Urban | 1,102,342 |
Demonym(s) | Mexicalense, cachanilla |
GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
• Year | 2023 |
• Total | $25.1 billion |
• Per capita | $21,300 |
Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
Postal code | 21000-21399 (urban area) |
Area code | +52 686 |
Mexicali (English: /ˌmɛksɪˈkæli/; Spanish: [mexiˈkali] ) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California. The city, which is the seat of the Mexicali Municipality, has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the Calexico–Mexicali metropolitan area is home to 1,000,000 inhabitants on both sides of the Mexico–United States border. Mexicali is a regional economic and cultural hub for the border region of The Californias.
Mexicali was founded at the turn of the 20th century, when the region's agricultural economy experienced a period of boom. The city rapidly expanded throughout the 20th century, owing to the proliferation of maquiladoras in the city, making the Mexicali economy more interconnected with businesses from across the border. Today, Mexicali is a major manufacturing center and an emerging tourist destination.
History
The Spaniards arrived in the area after crossing the Sonoran Desert's "Camino del Diablo" or Devil's Road. This led to the evangelization of the area by Catholic missionaries and also to the reduction of native populations in the region. Nowadays, indigenous Cocopah people still inhabit a small government-protected corner of the Colorado River delta near the junction of the Hardy and the Colorado. The Cocopah mostly work on agricultural ejidos or fishing.
The early European presence in this area was limited to Anza's and subsequent Spanish expeditions across the Colorado Desert and subsequent travelers on the Sonora Road opened by them. Also the presence of the Jesuits who attempted to establish a mission in what is now Fort Yuma. They left after a revolt by the Yuma in 1781. After this, the Spanish had little to do with the northeastern corner of the Baja California Peninsula, perceiving it as an untamable, flood-prone desert delta. Later in the 1820s, the Mexican authorities reopened the Sonoran Road and restored peaceful relations with the Yuma People.
19th century
In the mid-19th century, a geologist working for the Southern Pacific Railroad came to the delta area, discovering what the native Yumans had known for centuries: that the thick river sediment deposits made the area prime farming land. These sediments extended far to the west of the river itself, accumulating in a shallow basin below the Sierra de Cucapá. However, from this time period until the 1880s, the area was almost completely unpopulated, mostly due to its harsh climate. In 1888, the federal government granted a large part of northern Baja California state, including Mexicali, to Guillermo Andrade, with the purpose of colonizing the area on the recently created border with the United States. However, around 1900, the only area with any real population, aside from the Cocopah, were concentrated in Los Algodones, to the east of Mexicali.
20th century
In 1900, the U.S.-based California Development Company received permission from the government of Díaz to cut a canal through the delta's Arroyo Alamo, to link the dry basin with the Colorado River. To attract farmers to the area, the developers named it the "Imperial Valley". In 1903, the first 500 farmers arrived; by late 1904, 405 km (100,000 acres) of valley were irrigated, with 10,000 people settled on the land harvesting cotton, fruits, and vegetables. The concentration of small housing units that straddled the border was called Calexico on the U.S. side and Mexicali on the Mexican side. Led by Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler, one company controlled 800,000 hectares of land in northern Baja California by 1905, and began to build the irrigation system for the Valley. However, instead of using Mexican labor to dig the ditches, Chandler brought in thousands of Chinese laborers. Mexicali became culturally Chinese influenced.
The Mexican side was named Mexicali (a portmanteau composed of "Mexico" and "California") by Coronel Agustín Sanguinéz. Initially the area belonged to the municipality of Ensenada. The town of Mexicali was officially created on 14 March 1903 when Manuel Vizcarra was named as the town's first authority and Assistant Judge (juez auxiliar). On January 29, 1911, Mexicali was briefly "liberated" by the Liberal Party of Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. Mayor Baltazar Aviléz declared the municipality of Mexicali on November 4, 1914, and called for elections to creation of the first ayuntamiento or municipality, which was then headed by Francisco L. Montejano.
In the 20th century, the Colorado Riverland Company, a U.S.-based company, was dedicated to renting Mexican land to farmers; however, these farmers were almost always foreigners, such as Chinese, East Indians and Japanese. Mexicans were employed only as seasonal laborers. This situation led to the agrarian conflict known as the "Asalto a las Tierras [es]" (Assault on the Lands) in 1937. in which Mexican land was taken by Mexicans.
Agricultural production continued to increase during the 20th century. Cotton became the most important crop and helped develop the textile industry. In the early 1950s, the Mexicali Valley became the biggest cotton-producing zone in the country and in the 1960s, production reached more than half a million parcels a year.
The first factories appeared in the 1960s with the end of the Bracero program. A 1988 study found 100 factories in the city, including 10 electronics manufacturers, 25 auto parts manufacturers, 27 textile plants and nine plastics companies. Most maquiladoras are run by US companies, followed by Mexican, South Korean, and Japanese companies.
21st century
Today Mexicali is an important center for maquiladora (assembly plant) production in the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, metallurgical, and health items as well as manufacturing and exporting products to various countries.
The 2010 Baja California earthquake occurred on Easter Sunday about 60 km (37 mi) south-southeast of Mexicali. This very large magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred at 15:40:40 local time (UTC−8) according to the U.S. Geological Survey. With a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong), it was felt in northern Baja California near the United States–Mexico border, and was also felt in western cities such as Tijuana, San Diego, Los Angeles and parts of Arizona.
Geography
The Mexicali Valley is one of the largest and most fertile valleys in Mexico. Over fifty different crops are grown in the valley, which is similar in production to the Imperial Valley. National and international industries have invested in Mexicali and surrounding cities to take advantage of its tax-free status given to industry. The Mexicali Valley is a primary source of water for the region, which is the largest irrigation district in Mexico.
A study by Instituto Mexicano de la Competitividad has listed Mexicali as Mexico's most polluted air of large cities, with a PM10 rating of 137 for the year 2010. It is thought that the reason is lack of pavement (dust) and lack of wind, especially in summer. The city is grappling with huge amounts of trash "from old appliances, to electronic waste and used tires, some of which comes from the United States." Mexican government agencies in the border region have not made pollution a priority, and weak enforcement of environmental standards is considered a reason that multinationals locate factories there, along with low wages. In general, maquiladoras are supposed to return any toxic waste to its country of origin, but in some cases it can be handled in Mexico.
Ecology
Despite its arid desert location, Mexicali is watered through a system of aquifers in the valley. Under a 1944 water treaty, the city is "guaranteed an annual quantity of 1,500,000 acre-feet (1.9 km) to be delivered" from the Colorado River. However, a proposed concrete lining in the United States on the All-American Canal would cut off billions of leaked gallons of water, which is used to irrigate onions, alfalfa, asparagus, squash and other crops in Mexicali.
The nearby Cerro Prieto volcano is adjacent to the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station, which creates high volumes of pollutants including mercury. As of 2014, the government are creating a zone of exclusion, due to the alarming amount of pollutants and contamination that has permeated throughout miles around the geothermal plant of Cerro Prieto.
Climate
Because of its low annual precipitation, Mexicali has an arid climate (BWh), featuring long, extremely hot summers and mild to warm winters. Under the criteria for the Köppen climate classification, Mexicali maintains desert weather temperatures every year, receiving only 70.9 millimetres (2.79 in) of precipitation annually over 16 precipitation days on average. On December 12, 1932, the city experienced snowfall. Rainfall usually occurs in the winter months of December, January and February. Summer rainfall in the city is infrequent, although in some years thunderstorms and the remnants of tropical storms and hurricanes passing over Baja California from the Pacific can sometimes drop heavy rainfall (most likely in August and September). A notable example was Hurricane Kathleen in 1976, which dropped several inches of rain in the area. During winter time, Mexicali is affected by the snow storms that pass by the town of La Rumorosa located in the Sierra de Juárez, about 45 minutes west of the city, causing a decrease in temperature that lasts from two days to one week. July is the hottest month with a mean at 33.9 °C (93.0 °F) and an average high at 42.3 °C (108.1 °F), while January is the coolest month with a mean at 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and an average low at 5.8 °C (42.4 °F).
On 28 July 1995, the Mexicali area recorded a temperature of 52.0 °C (125.6 °F), which is the highest temperature ever recorded in Mexico.
Climate data for Mexicali (1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 34.0 (93.2) |
34.0 (93.2) |
39.5 (103.1) |
41.0 (105.8) |
47.0 (116.6) |
51.4 (124.5) |
52.4 (126.3) |
50.4 (122.7) |
47.1 (116.8) |
47.4 (117.3) |
39.8 (103.6) |
31.3 (88.3) |
52.4 (126.3) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.5 (68.9) |
23.0 (73.4) |
26.0 (78.8) |
29.7 (85.5) |
35.0 (95.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
42.3 (108.1) |
41.5 (106.7) |
38.7 (101.7) |
32.5 (90.5) |
25.3 (77.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
31.2 (88.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.1 (55.6) |
15.3 (59.5) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.3 (70.3) |
25.8 (78.4) |
30.5 (86.9) |
33.9 (93.0) |
33.5 (92.3) |
30.4 (86.7) |
24.3 (75.7) |
17.5 (63.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
23.1 (73.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.8 (55.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
20.9 (69.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.5 (77.9) |
22.1 (71.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
9.8 (49.6) |
5.7 (42.3) |
14.9 (58.8) |
Record low °C (°F) | −7.0 (19.4) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
0.0 (32.0) |
6.0 (42.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
13.5 (56.3) |
14.5 (58.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 10.6 (0.42) |
7.2 (0.28) |
5.8 (0.23) |
1.6 (0.06) |
0.5 (0.02) |
0.2 (0.01) |
3.8 (0.15) |
10.1 (0.40) |
7.5 (0.30) |
8.4 (0.33) |
4.9 (0.19) |
10.3 (0.41) |
70.9 (2.79) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.7 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 16.0 |
Source 1: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | |||||||||||||
Source 2: El Sol de México, Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Twitter, and La Voz de la Frontera |
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1910 | 462 | — |
1921 | 6,782 | +1368.0% |
1930 | 14,842 | +118.8% |
1940 | 18,775 | +26.5% |
1950 | 64,609 | +244.1% |
1960 | 174,540 | +170.1% |
1970 | 263,498 | +51.0% |
1980 | 341,559 | +29.6% |
1990 | 438,377 | +28.3% |
1995 | 505,016 | +15.2% |
2000 | 549,873 | +8.9% |
2005 | 653,046 | +18.8% |
2010 | 689,775 | +5.6% |
2020 | 854,186 | +23.8% |
INEGI: Archivo Histórico de localidades |
As of 2020, the city of Mexicali had a population of 854,186.
The city itself had a 2005 census population of 653,046, whereas the municipality's population was 895,962. It is the 13th largest municipality in Mexico as of the Census 2005 with population estimates exceeding one million alone.
The population is constantly growing due to the number of maquiladoras in the area, lack of urban planning, and migrational aspects, like seasonal labor and the constant in-and-out flow of immigrants to the U.S. or into Mexico.
Economy
Mexicali's economy has been historically based on agricultural products, and they remain a large sector of the economy. However, its economy has gradually gone from being agricultural to include industry, mainly maquiladoras—duty-free factories in which parts from the United States are imported, assembled, and then returned to the United States as finished products. Currently, the Mexicali Valley still is one of Mexico's most productive agricultural regions, mostly producing wheat, cotton and vegetables. The city is one of Mexico's most important exporters of asparagus, broccoli, carrots, green onions, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes and tomatoes to the world.
In its beginnings Mexicali was an important center for cotton production for export, until synthetic fabrics reduced the worldwide demand for the fiber. Currently, horticulture is the most successful agricultural activity with scallion (green onion), and asparagus being among the most important crops. Cotton and wheat are still grown, but low government price guarantees and subsidies make wheat farmer protests an annual event. There is an annual agri-business fair, which if unfunded by the government, would have been dead a decade ago, named AGROBAJA, Agrobaja in March of every year, drawing people by the thousands, from all over Mexico and before the crisis, from the United States.
The current prospects for economic growth in Mexicali rely on in-bond and assembly plants (maquiladoras), which come due to low wages and loose worker right laws, include companies like, Selther, Daewoo Electronics, Mitsubishi, Honeywell, Paccar, Vitro, Skyworks Solutions, CareFusion, Bosch, Price Pfister, Gulfstream, United Technologies Corporation, Kenworth, Kwikset and Collins Aerospace. Mexicali is also home to many food processing plants such as Nestlé, Jumex, Bimbo, Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, and Sabritas. In December 2018 there were 180 in all, employing 70,000 people.
Mexicali became the national center for the aerospace industry in Mexico when Rockwell Collins established an operation there in 1966. Rockwell Collins is the oldest company under the maquiladora program nationwide.
Silicon Border
Main article: Silicon BorderSilicon Border is an empty 40-square-kilometer (9,900-acre) development supposedly tailored to the specific needs of high-technology manufacturing and is situated in the outskirts of Mexicali, along the western border of the U.S. and Mexico. The aim of the empty manufacturing park, which began in 2004, was to transform Mexicali into the world's next semiconductor manufacturing center, if the world economy was fine. The Mexican federal and Baja California state governments have given away $2 million of public money to private hands, without a referendum for the design of the project and the laying of a few streets and lamp posts that can be seen on the premises as the only work done. Neither authorities nor the private frontmen of the project have given the public any account on what the public money was spent on. Former president Vicente Fox offered ten years of a tax rate as low as 3% to foreign-owned factories.
The premises sit empty as of October 2022.
Tourism
Mexicali also relies on tourism as a medium to generate revenue, and visitors cross by foot or by car from Calexico, United States, every day. Tourists are mainly attracted to local taco stands, restaurants, pharmacies, bars and dance clubs. Near the border, in walking distance, there are many shops and stalls selling Mexican curios and souvenirs. Arizona and Nevada residents look for medical and dental services in Mexicali, since they tend to be less expensive than in the United States. Pharmacies sell some drugs without a prescription and at much lower cost than in the US, but some medications still require a doctor's prescription, although several accessible doctor offices are located near the border as well.
Mexico's drinking age is 18 years old (vs. 21 in the United States) which makes it a common weekend destination for many high school and college students from Southern California.
Mexicali hosts Baja Prog, one of the world's most important events in progressive rock.
Mexicali hosts four main shopping malls, the most visited being Plaza La Cachanilla, located a mile away from the US border. The mall hosts a variety of shops, which sell a wide array of items, ranging from cheap Mexican curios to expensive imports. The Plaza La Cachanilla also represents a common place for people to socialize, especially during summer days when the weather reaches high temperatures, many families come and spend the day inside the air-conditioned mall.
For recreation, Mexicali has bath halls, bowling alleys, traditional cantinas, car clubs, strip clubs, movie theaters, museums, a zoo, a convention center, supermarkets, and fast food restaurants for every choice of food.
Galerias del Valle, holds a WalMart Supercenter, a twelve-screen Cinepolis movie theater, two casinos, a food court, and a large array of stores that sell many items needed for daily living. It is located on Boulevard Lázaro Cárdenas at Calle 11.
Education
Main article: List of schools in MexicaliAccording to a previous census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) in 2008, the number of students who have graduated from Mexicali's public and private schools are as follows:
Pre-scholar students: 18,648
Primary school students: 17,272
Secondary school students: 12,337
Technical education students: 531
Baccalaureate students: 6,152
Some public universities in the city include Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali, Universidad Politécnica de Baja California and the Mexicali Institute of Technology. Private universities include Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior, University of the Valley of Mexico and Xochicalco University.
Culture
The residents of Mexicali (Mexicalenses) call themselves "Cachanillas" (due to a local plant, the cachanilla, used by the Cucapah tribe to build shacks) and are from culturally diverse backgrounds. It is among the most ethnically diverse cities in Mexico, with people from various Native American, European, African, East Asian, and Middle Eastern origins.
There is a very popular song called "Puro Cachanilla [es]" also known as "El Cachanilla" that identifies people from Mexicali. This song was originally recorded in 1963 by the ranchero singer Caín Corpus and written by the famous mexican composer Antonio Valdéz Herrera [es].
In 2004, there were 8 theaters in the city: Teatro del Estado, Teatro de Casa de Cultura de Mexicali. Idem, Teatro del CREA, Teatro Universitario de Mexicali, Teatro al Aire Libre de Rectoría, Teatro del Seguro Social, and Centro Estatal de las Artes.
Mexicali also has the Baja Prog festival, a series of progressive rock concerts that take place during four consecutive days in springtime. It is hosted by CAST, a progressive rock band from Mexicali.
La Chinesca
Main article: La ChinescaThe city claimed to have the largest per capita concentration of residents of Chinese origin in Mexico, around 5,000 until 2012 when the Tijuana La Mesa District surpassed that number at 15,000 Chinese immigrants. The Chinese immigrants came to the area as laborers for the Colorado River Land Company, an American enterprise which designed and built an extensive irrigation system in the Valley of Mexicali. Some immigrants came from the United States, often fleeing anti-Chinese policies there, while others sailed directly from China. Thousands of Chinese were lured to the area by the promise of high wages, but that never materialized.
Since 2000, new migrants from China to Mexicali come from many of the same areas as before 1960, with perhaps 90% from Guangdong or Hong Kong.
Sports
Mexicali has many sites visited by people from across the country, as well as by visitors from the U.S. and Canada, such as the bullfighting arena, Plaza Calafia, where one or two bullfights are held yearly. Mexicali also has a professional 18-hole golf course, Club Campestre, where both national and international championships have taken place.
The city's professional basketball team is Soles de Mexicali of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP). Soles lifted the national trophy as the 2006–07, 2014–15, 2017–18, and 2019–20 LNBP Champions. Their stadium, the Auditorio del Estado, is located in Ciudad Deportiva de Mexicali. The Bomberos de Mexicali were founded in 2010 and participated in the Pacific Coast Basketball Circuit, CIBACOPA. Another defunct franchise, Calor de Mexicali (Mexicali Heat), participated in the 2007 edition of the league. They played their home games at the Gimnasio de Mexicali located on Avenida Reforma. Mexicali was also home to a 2006 American Basketball Association franchise, the Centinelas de Mexicali (The Sentinels).
Ciudad Deportiva houses a football stadium where Mexicali Fútbol Club in the Mexican Second Division and Cachanillas de Mexicali, a Mexican Third Division team plays. The home of the Pioneros del Valle, also a Mexican third division football team, is located in the Mexicali Valley.
In addition, Ciudad Deportiva is the location of Farmacias Sta Maria formally known as Estadio B'Air, where the Águilas de Mexicali play, competing in winter baseball's Mexican Pacific League (LMP). The Centinelas de Mexicali are a professional team which plays in the North Sonora League, the main development league for the LMP. Young Mexicali baseball players have played in the Little League World Series five times; first in 1985, with the Félix Arce Little League representing the United States West region, and then in 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2015 the Seguro Social Little League representing Mexicali.
Transportation
Mexicali is located at a Junction of major interstates and federal highways. These include Interstate 8, leading from San Diego to the Arizona Sun Corridor where the cities of Phoenix and Tucson dominate, Federal Highway 2, which leads east to San Luis Río Colorado and west to Tijuana, and Federal Highway 5 connecting San Felipe with Mexicali. Other roads lead southwest to Ensenada or north to the Imperial Valley.
The road system in the city of Mexicali and its conurbation is very complex. Over the urban area long boulevards are traversed from one end of which most are 6 lanes with a median of 2 lanes. The backbone of the city is the Lazaro Cardenas Boulevard extending from east to west. Other important boulevards include: Adolfo Lopez Mateos, Benito Juárez, Anáhuac, Justo Sierra, Venustiano Carranza, Manuel Gómez Morin, Francisco L. Montejano, Cetys, Héctor Terán Terán, Independencia and Heroico Colegio Militar, among others. There are two corridors within the city: New River Ecological Corridor, which is guided in the ancient New River bed, and the Palaco Industrial Corridor, this crosses the southern Industrial zone of Mexicali. There is also the beltway, located in the east of the city, connecting the Lazaro Cardenas Blvd. with Islas Agrarias Blvd. and the road to Colonia Abasolo, and this in turn with the Airport Road.
Airport
The city is linked to other Mexican cities by Mexicali International Airport, which serves the city and the surrounding towns.
Public transit
There are some bus routes across the city and its urban area, where companies like Atusa Plus, Cachanilla, Amarillo y Blanco, among others, offer this service.
International relations
Sister cities
Mexicali has the following sister cities:
- San Bernardino, United States
- Nanjing, China
- Gumi, North Gyeongsang, South Korea
- Sacramento, California, United States
- Calexico, California, United States
See also
References
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- Palaco Industrial Corridor
- Islas Agrarias
- Colonia Abasolo
- "City of San Bernardino – Sister Cities". www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
External links
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
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Mexicali (capital) | ||
Topics | ||
Major cities | ||
Regions | ||
Metro areas | ||
Municipalities | ||
- Mexicali
- Mexicali Municipality
- Populated places in Baja California
- Capitals of states of Mexico
- Cities in Mexico
- Calexico, California
- Communities in the Lower Colorado River Valley
- Populated places in the Colorado Desert
- Populated places established in 1903
- 1903 establishments in Mexico
- Mexico–United States border crossings