Tampico

Tampico, located at {{coor d|22.22|N|97.85|W|}}, is the main city in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, and the Mexican Gulf's main economic powerhouse. The city lies in a rich petroleum-producing region; it is a chief commercial center of northeastern Mexico and one of the most important seaports of the country. The present city was founded with the granting of its formal charter in 1824, although an earlier settlement, known as Tampico Alto, was founded by Spain in 1554. According to the National Population Council (CONAPO), in 2004 the population of the Tampico metropolitan area was about 819,000 people - this includes the cities of Ciudad Madero and Altamira.

Related Topics:
State - Tamaulipas - Mexico - Gulf - Spain - 1554 - Ciudad Madero - Altamira

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The name "Tampico" is believed to be of Huastec origin: tam-piko, meaning "place of – otters", (literally "water dogs"). The city is surrounded by rivers and lagoons which hosted a large population of otters in the past.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1921, Mexican commercial aviation started here, as its first flight, by Mexicana Airlines, took off from Tampico's General Francisco Javier Mina International Airport (IATA airport code: TAM) to Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City. This airport was also one of the first ILS equipped airports in the country.

Related Topics:
1921 - Mexicana Airlines - General Francisco Javier Mina International Airport - IATA airport code - Benito Juárez International Airport - Mexico City - ILS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1926, the first Coca-Cola bottling plant in Mexico was built there. It is still in operation today under the ownership of Grupo Tampico SA de CV.

Related Topics:
1926 - Coca-Cola - Mexico

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tampico's Country Club, the Campestre, and its golf course, is one of the oldest in Mexico. Seafood is important in the city - even its locals are informally known as Jaibos - and the crab emblem is seen in many places, from the sides of buses to park benches.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jimmy Buffett wrote the song "Tampico Trauma" about his experiences there. John Huston's motion picture epic, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, is set in Tampico in its opening scenes. Joseph Hergesheimer's 1920s novel Tampico tells an engrossing tale of expatriate lives there.

Related Topics:
Jimmy Buffett - John Huston - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre - Joseph Hergesheimer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tampico's downtown architecture is an electic mix and reflects the growth of the city during the Porfiriato (the period of rule by President Porfirio Díaz). It includes many New Orleans inspired balconies (mostly built of English cast iron) in Plaza de Libertad, a fine Neo-classical Town Hall (or Palacio Municipal) in the Plaza de Armas and a superb English redbrick Customs House in the docks.

Related Topics:
Porfirio Díaz - New Orleans - Cast iron - Neo-classical

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~