Guadalajara

Guadalajara (Spanish pronunciation [ɡwað̞alaˈxaɾa]) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of this state and in the western-Pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,600,940 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality. The Metropolitan area of Guadalajara includes other adjacent municipalities and has a population of 4.1 million inhabitants, making it the second most populous metropolitan area in Mexico as well. The city is situated at an altitude of 1600 meters (5200 feet), favoring it with a mild, springlike climate. Guadalajara is one of the principal centers of culture, economy, history, industry and religion in the country and exerts significant influence on the rest of Mexico. Guadalajara is known as La Perla Tapatia ("Pearl of Jalisco") and Ciudad de las Rosas ("City of the Roses") for its architecture and environment.

The city is named after the Spanish city of Guadalajara, whose name originates from the Arabic word ( وادي الحجرة) wadii al-Hajara, which may mean "river of stones", "valley of stones", or "valley of the fortress".

In its 2007 survey entitled "Cities of the Future", FDI magazine ranked Guadalajara highest among major Mexican cities, and designated Guadalajara as having the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city behind Chicago. FDI Magazine also ranked the city as the most business-friendly Latin American city in 2007.

Guadalajara’s youthful population, low unemployment and large number of recent foreign investment deals are good indicators that Mexico’s second largest city has a bright future.

Early History

The town of Guadalajara was founded in 1531 by Spanish explorer Cristóbal de Oñate, who had been commissioned by the conquistador, Nuño de Guzmán. It consisted of 42 inhabitants settled on the Mesa del Cerro, near the border with Nochistlán in the province of Teúl, known today as San Juan. The name Guadalajara was taken from the birthplace of Nuño de Guzmán in Spain.

The laura lasted for only a short time at this site of Gualadajara. Guzmán, Cristóbal de Oñate, decided to relocate to a place with more water, fewer dust storms and better transportation. They began the project on May 19, 1533, and by August 8, 1533 they had moved the town to its second location, near Tonalá. Two years later, in March 1535, they again moved the town to a new location.

On November 8, 1539 the emperor Charles V granted a coat of arms and the title of City to Guadalajara.

After a large attack by natives on September 28, 1541 during the War of the Mixtón, they decided once more to relocate the city and founded it again on Atemajac Valley. The current city of Guadalajara was founded at this site by Crístobal de Oñate on February 14, 1542, by Royal decree of King Charles V.

During the Colonial era, Guadalajara became the capital of Nueva Galicia and prior to the War of Independence it became the capital of the Intendencia of Guadalajara.

Guadalajara in the 20th century

The Porfiriato was finished and Mexican revolution exploded. Guadalajara was calm at last (because the conflict was running more towards the capital). After the cristero conflict peace returned to Guadalajara. For a long period the city bloomed and it was developed in diverse points, the medium and big companies emerged and the areas around the residential nucleus that began to grow from the colony were born and therefore the new architectonic concepts which would decorate the city with styles from 1920 to 1980. The city passed through several structural plans during every government period, where new zones and commercial areas were born, and the creation of transnational companies as well as the arrival of international industries came to the city. The first commercial centers appeared, which also were among the first being constructed in the country and Latin America. The city began to expand quickly until finding the territorial union with the municipality of Zapopan. The most important developments were created during this period: Expo Guadalajara, Light Train, commercial centers, hotels, the expansion of streets and avenues, and the birth and development of the road infrastructure, services, tourist and industrial infrastructure. Guadalajara was growing quickly until it became the industrial, tourist and commerce headquarter of the country, and the second city in Mexico after the national capital (Mexico City). This development so accelerated was stopped by events like the explosions of April 22 of 1992, where hundreds of houses, avenues, streets, companies and infrastructure were damaged seriously, leaving losses calculated in a billion dollars, in one of the most tragic events in the history of Guadalajara. This event, combined with the economic crisis of 1994, resulted in the loss of industrial power for Guadalajara; the investigation of the facts lasted more than 11 years without finding sufficient evidence to name a guilty party, the investigations now are closed attributing the events to an accident. These events led Guadalajara to explore new visions in the development, being the sector of services the key of the economic reactivation.

Guadalajara in the 21st century

The geographical location of the city and its communications infrastructure make it very favorable for commerce with the rest of the country, and the city also attracts investors and commerce worldwide. In 1987, the Expo Guadalajara Convention Center was opened. Guadalajara has more than 25,000 total lodging rooms. Guadalajara is a very important center of universities and educational centers with national and worldwide prestige, such as Universidad Panamericana, ITESO, Universidad de Guadalajara, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education and the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (U.A.G.), among others. The Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara has several shopping malls; the city is the national leader in development and investment in shopping malls. The city is home of one of the greatest malls in Latin America: Galerias Guadalajara 360. The current boom in construction and development is one of the most significant periods of business activity in the history of the city. Its cultural wealth has taken on an important role in the tourist sector; the city hosts many of the main cultural events in the country and is a main destination for people who visit Mexico. Guadalajara hosts an important community of artists and people interested in art and culture. Recognizing culture as a key factor in the development of Guadalajara, the Guggenheim foundation has approved the construction of what will be the sixth Guggenheim museum in the world, which when finished in the early 2010s will be the tallest structure in Latin America. The city will also host the 2011 Pan-American Games.

Guadalajara has recently released information about the Guggenheim Museum which is currently under construction. This and the majority of the other projects that are currently under construction in Guadalajara are meant to give priority to the cultural wave that is sweeping the city and will transform Guadalajara into the new cultural icon of Latin America for years to come. Also, Guadalajara has many other large structures under construction, such as Torrena, which when completed will be the tallest skyscraper in Latin America and the tenth tallest worldwide.

21st century city Development

Guadalajara has fast growing development, including buildings like Torrena that will become the largest building in Latin America. Many shopping centers have been built, such as (for example) Plaza Galerias, one of the largest shopping centers in Latin America. Puerta de Hierro has become one of the most important districts in Guadalajara with high development of buildings that include Aura Altitude a project of 42 floors that will be completed in 2008.. Also the construction of Andares has started that will be a shopping complex of the greatest line including Palacio de Hierro, Valentino, Lacoste and more.. More building are in the way in Puerta de Hierro district like Torre G, Torre Zapopan, Pleyades and more. Providencia Country is also underway with many scheduled apartment projects.

The tertiary activities is based on the tourism, the academic, entertainment, sport and cultural tourism (which one of the most significant growth within next the 5 years is expected), the tourism is one of the sectors with more importance in Guadalajara. The commerce is another one of the most dynamic activities of the city, is made the national product transaction and mattered, growth and investment in commercial centers, comervial expositions and fairs, transport and communications The services are of all type: financiers, professionals, communal, social, personal technicians, of maintenance and tourist.

Guadalajara is also a trade of transport and communication. The geographical location of the city makes it strategic for commerce. It is an important tourist destination center in itself and serves as an axis of an array of nearby tourist destinations (Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Mazatlan). Guadalajara is well connected by modern highways to Mexico City, to the Northwest and to the major beach resorts of Manzanillo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Guadalajara's airport is the third most active of the country (after Mexico City and Cancún) with direct flights to many Mexican and American cities. It also has a lively and distinctive network of car-free streets.