Irapuato is a Mexican city and municipality located at the foot of the Arandas Hill (in Spanish: Cerro de Arandas), in the central region of the state of Guanajuato. It lies between the Silao River and the Guanajuato River, a tributary of the Lerma River, at 1,724 m (5,656 ft) above sea level. It is located at 20°40′N 101°21′W / 20.667°N 101.350°W / 20.667; -101.350. The city is the second-largest in the state (only behind León), with a population of 342,561 according to the 2005 census, while its municipality has a population of 529,440.[3] The municipality has an area of 851 km2 (329 sq mi) and includes numerous smaller outlying communities. Although it is now an important center for regional trade and transportation center as well the site of several automotive and chemical manufacturing plants, the city's main industry has historically been agriculture and it has long been known for its strawberries and industry of refried beans, also the raising of pigs and cattle. The fruits and flowers of Irapuato's luxurious gardens are well known throughout Mexico.

Irapuato
Clockwise from upper left: Templo del Hospitalito, Centro Histórico, Zona Dorada , Museo de la Ciudad, Templo de Santiaguito and Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.
Official seal of Irapuato
Nickname(s): 
Spanish: Ciudad de las Fresas
(English: City of the strawberries)
Motto(s): 
Latin: Ad Augusta Per Angusta
(English: To honors through difficulties)
Irapuato is located in Guanajuato
Irapuato
Irapuato
Location within Guanajuato
Irapuato is located in Mexico
Irapuato
Irapuato
Location within Mexico
Coordinates: 20°40′N 101°21′W / 20.667°N 101.350°W / 20.667; -101.350
Country Mexico
State Guanajuato
Municipality Irapuato
FoundedFebruary 15, 1547
Founded asCongregación de San Marcos Irapuato
Founded byVasco de Quiroga[1]
Government
 • Municipal PresidentLorena del Carmen Alfaro García
Area
 • City69.68 km2 (26.90 sq mi)
 • Municipality851 km2 (329 sq mi)
Elevation
1,724 m (5 676 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[2]
 • City452,090
 • Density6,500/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
 • Municipality
592,953
 • Municipality density700/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Irapuatense, Fresero
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)
ZIP code
36590 - 36899
Area code462
WebsiteOfficial Website of the City of Irapuato
Average temperature 19°C

History

edit

Prehispanic era

edit

In the pre-Hispanic era, the site was inhabited by the Chichimecas (c. 1200 AD), a group of semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers. Later on, the Purépechas conquered the region and initiated the establishment of a permanent settlement. They constructed buildings in the Purépecha architectural style, produced pottery, and practiced agriculture. They called the settlement Xiriquitzio (or Iriquitzio), which the Spanish conquerors pronounced "Jiricuato" (or Jiricuicho), which meant "the place with houses (or low dwellings)".[4] The initial growth period, however, was short-lived. The downfall of the Purépecha Empire led to the abandonment of the settlement, at which point it was once again inhabited by the Chichimecas.

Conquest

edit

In the 16th century, vasts amounts of silver ore were discovered at the present day site of the capital city of Guanajuato. This discovery led to a massive migration of Spanish settlers to the area.[5]

Flood

edit

On 18 August 1973, thousands of homes were destroyed and an estimated 200 or 300 people killed when a dam burst, sending a seven-foot (2.1 m) high wall of water crashing into the city.[6][7] Many people were left stranded on roofs and high places for days before they were rescued.

Massacres

edit

Mass shootings occurred [8] at drug rehabilitation centers on 6 June and 1 July 2020.

Geography

edit

Climate

edit

It has a humid subtropical climate (Cwa in the Köppen climate classification) with an average temperature of 20 °C (68 °F). The large majority of rainfall occurs from June - September. It is at an altitude above sea level of 1,724 meters (5,656 ft).

Climate data for Irapuato
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 31.0
(87.8)
35.0
(95.0)
35.0
(95.0)
38.0
(100.4)
42.1
(107.8)
38.0
(100.4)
35.0
(95.0)
32.0
(89.6)
34.0
(93.2)
33.5
(92.3)
33.0
(91.4)
32.0
(89.6)
42.1
(107.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 24.4
(75.9)
26.3
(79.3)
29.1
(84.4)
31.1
(88.0)
32.3
(90.1)
30.2
(86.4)
28.2
(82.8)
28.0
(82.4)
27.5
(81.5)
27.1
(80.8)
26.3
(79.3)
24.9
(76.8)
28.0
(82.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.2
(59.4)
16.7
(62.1)
19.4
(66.9)
21.8
(71.2)
23.7
(74.7)
23.2
(73.8)
21.6
(70.9)
21.4
(70.5)
20.9
(69.6)
19.5
(67.1)
17.5
(63.5)
15.9
(60.6)
19.7
(67.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8)
7.1
(44.8)
9.6
(49.3)
12.5
(54.5)
15.1
(59.2)
16.1
(61.0)
15.1
(59.2)
14.9
(58.8)
14.3
(57.7)
11.8
(53.2)
8.7
(47.7)
6.9
(44.4)
11.5
(52.7)
Record low °C (°F) −3.0
(26.6)
−2.5
(27.5)
0.0
(32.0)
4.0
(39.2)
5.0
(41.0)
10.0
(50.0)
6.5
(43.7)
9.0
(48.2)
4.8
(40.6)
2.0
(35.6)
0.0
(32.0)
−2.0
(28.4)
−3.0
(26.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 11.5
(0.45)
4.6
(0.18)
3.8
(0.15)
10.0
(0.39)
30.5
(1.20)
116.5
(4.59)
164.3
(6.47)
141.7
(5.58)
105.9
(4.17)
37.9
(1.49)
9.6
(0.38)
8.2
(0.32)
644.5
(25.37)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 1.6 1.2 1.1 2.0 4.8 10.8 15.3 14.1 10.1 4.3 1.5 1.8 68.6
Source: Servicio Meteorologico Nacional[9]

Transportation

edit

Airport

edit

Irapuato is a 2 or 3 hour flight from cities including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, among others. Located just 25 minutes from the city of Irapuato the Del Bajío International Airport (officially, Guanajuato International Airport) (IATA: BJX) is an international airport located in Silao, close to Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. It handles national and international air traffic of the area that includes the cities of León, Irapuato, and the state capital, Guanajuato. Guanajuato International Airport is an important connecting point for some flights from Mexico City to the United States.

Major highways

edit

Major highways in Irapuato and their starting and ending points:

Education

edit

The city of Irapuato is home to some private universities including a branch of the University of the Incarnate Word, a Catholic university based in the United States, and a single public university, the Higher Technological Institute of Irapuato (ITESI).

The city is also home to a research center of the Center for Advanced Research and Studies (CINVESTAV) specializing in plant biotechnology and genetics and the newly created National Center of Plant Genomics.

Sport

edit

The local football team is Irapuato FC, also known as La Trinca.

Stadiums and arenas

edit

Notable people

edit

Images

edit

Sister cities

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Historia de Irapuato". Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  2. ^ Citypopulation.de Population of Irapuato municipality with localities
  3. ^ "2005 Census". INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática. Archived from the original on 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  4. ^ "Irapuato History". irapuato.gob.mx. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  5. ^ "Historia de la Conquista". irapuato.gob.mx. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  6. ^ 200 feared dead
  7. ^ 300 feared dead
  8. ^ "The killing of 26 people at a drug rehab center in Mexico thought to be part of a gang war". Los Angeles Times. 2020-07-03. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17.
  9. ^ NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1971-2000 Archived 2010-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, National Meteorological Service of Mexico. Retrieved August 4, 2012 .
edit