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Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital city of the State of Jalisco. It is located in the central region of the state and west of Mexico’s Pacific area. With a population of 1.5 million, it is the second largest and most important city in the country.

The Metropolitan area includes adjacent municipalities and brings this population total to 6 million.

Guadalajara is at 1,600 m. of altitude hence favoring a spring-like climate.

Because of its culture, economy, history, industry and religion, this city has great influence over the rest of the country making it the second most important city in Mexico.

The city acquired its name after the arrival of the Spaniards whom baptized it from an Arab phrase meaning “valley of the stones”: Wādī al-Ḥijārah and from there it became Guadalajara.

The city has been a host to numerous International events such as the first Iberoamericana summit in 1991, Latin-American summit, Caribbean and European Union in 2004, International Cultural Promoters and Financial Managers in 2005 and in 2011, will be hosting the Pan-American Games.

The city is also recognized as a leader in electronic advancement and was named “The city of the future” over all other important cities in Mexico due to its enormous economic potential, its hospitality and good dealings with business people.

The city was founded in 1531 by the Spaniard Cristóbal de Oñate, commissioned by Nuño Guzmán. The initial population consisted in 42 inhabitants in Mesa del Cerro, close to the frontier with Nochistlán in the Province of Teúl, now known as San Juan de los Lagos. Guzmán and Oñate decided to search for more water and hence migrated towards a second location close to Tonalá. Two years later, they re-established in Valle de Atemajac, now known as the lovely city of Guadalajara.

During the Colonial period, Guadalajara was converted into the capital of Nueva Galicia. After the Independence war, it became the capital of an independent Guadalajara.

At the beginning of the XX century, at the end of the Porfiriato era, the Mexican revolution reached its apogee. Guadalajara then lived months of austerity and recession due to the revolution and it was only at the end of the Cristero war that peace finally returned to the city. Following this, the city started to prosper; medium to large enterprises emerged and the residential zones began to expand. New architectural concepts were introduced during that time and that is why constructions from the 20’s to the 80’s display such an unequaled richness. New commercial zones grew, trans-national companies established and anchored themselves in the city and helped it prosper. The city quickly grew and the municipality of Zapopan was created. This is when the most important developments began appearing, such as the Guadalajara Expo, the train, commercial centers, hotels, more effective communication routes, better services and the growth of industry and tourism was even greater and stronger.

Population

The municipality of Guadalajara is the greatest population center in Jalisco. Including the municipalities of Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and Salto it reaches some 6 million inhabitants.

The ethnic composition of the population is principally creole, mixed and native from areas nearby although it is now a cosmopolitan city that has blended with many other cultures from other cities and even other countries. However, Jalisco is the state with the most European descendants; the percentage of natives has always been fairly low.

Economy

The geographic location of the city allows for Guadalajara to have all the right conditions favorable to communication infrastructures and commerce. It is an attractive area for investors from around the world and that is the reason behind the construction of the Guadalajara Expo convention center.

You will find numerous commercial centers through-out the city and some, are considered the largest in Latin America. Guadalajara has a fast-paced economy and this is why its communication routes are so effective.

Alternative industries such as metallurgy and textile have successfully unfolded here. The export of nutritional products is almost as important internationally as it is nationally. Because the quality of the products from this region is at par with market leaders, a good quantity reaches the United States market. Our pharmaceutical industry, an equal to Mexico City’s, is of great importance on a global level.

High technology International companies such as HP, Siemens, GE, IBM and Intel have corporate offices here. And beyond technology, the textile industry exports raw materials for the fashion industry on a national level. This industry is growing daily along with the city’s production of designers, photographers, agencies, models, etc.

Tourism

Guadalajara depends in great part on tourism, whether it is pleasure, academic, sports related or cultural. The growth of this sector has been significant in the last few decades placing Guadalajara at the top of the list in the State as well as in the entire country.

The city is linked to Mexico City via modern highways and to more northern States and popular beach destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.

The International airport is the third most important in the country and receives flights and stop-overs from all over Mexico as well as the rest of the world.

Commerce

Another of the most important activities in the city is commerce. The growth of investments in commercial centers, convention centers and fairs is impressive. The geographic location of the region plays a role in this growth and personal, social, technical and tourism financial services are characteristic of Guadalajara.

Airport

Guadalajara’s Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport is located 16 kilometers south of the city on a stretch of highway leading to Chapala. Inaugurated in 1966, it has since become the third most important airport in the country.

The International airport has two terminals and services National airlines such as Aeroméxico, Mexicana, Interjet, Volaris amongst others and International airlines such as US Airways, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, etc.

Education

Guadalajara has a large number of mid to higher level education centers with prestigious worldwide recognition such as Universidad de Guadalajara, ITESO, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and Universidad Panamericana amongst others.

The Universidad de Guadalajara was established on the 12^th of October of 1791 and is the public university of the state. It is the second largest and most important in Mexico and ranks 4^th in Latin America.

Private universities, of equal quality and importance, have campuses here as well.  Those include ITESO, Universidad de Valle de México, TEC de Monterrey, Universidad Panamericana, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and Universidad del Valle Atemajac.

Culture

The cultural richness of the city has given it a big thrust in the tourism sector and Guadalajara is host to numerous cultural events. Culture as it turns out, has been key in the development of this city.

This city is also host to music, artistic and photography festivals. Artists from various disciplines such as dance, theater, music, photography, cinema, architecture, etc. have found a home in Guadalajara.

Festivals such as the May Cultural Festival, October Fiestas, International Book Fair, Mariachi and Carro Fair, Contemporary Dance Festival. International Movie Festival are only a few of those organized in Guadalajara.

The city has an extensive dance program presenting companies such as la Cámara de Ballet de Jalisco, Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad de Guadalajara and Contemporary Ballet of Universidad de Guadalajara.

The contemporary music movement has been an important one and a great number of artists and people who enjoy this genre are behind the nickname: “Mexican Electronic Capital”. This, in honor of the large number of followers, performers and events that occur here.

Equally, this city is a cradle of numerous poets, writers, painters, actors, sculptors, cinematographers; artists that have world wide recognition such as the muralist Orozco, architect Luis Barragán, painter Gerardo Murillo, writers Juan Rulfo and Francisco Rojas, director Guillermo del Toro, actors Katy Jurado, Enrique Alvarez Félix and Gael Garcia Bernal and many more are artistic legacies from Mexico.

Architecture

Guadalajara characterizes itself by the rich variety of architectural styles, from the Baroque to Modern. The colonial architecture of this city is a product of French and Spanish tendencies due to the era in which Guadalajara was established. Downtown displays impressive Neo-classical structures such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, Degollado Theater and the Cabañas Hospice.  Italian architecture has also given various constructions gothic touches including Baroque, Churrigueresque, Neo-gothic and Neo-classical. Art-deco and Postmodernism is also glimpsed through-out the city.

Guadalajara is divided in 1,500 subdivisions in which the first is primarily residential where architectural styles are based on XIX century European designs. Towards the west, Neo-classical constructions and homes built during the Porfiriato era are astounding elements of this historical city.

The growth of the city gave way to subdivisions such as Lafayette, Americana, Moderna, Jardines del Bosque and Providencia.

Today, there are numerous residential and private developments such as Puerto de Hierro, Bugambilias, El Palomar, Country Club etc. The accelerated and organized growth of Guadalajara has made it an interesting and cosmopolitan destination that definitely gives Mexico character.