彼德拉斯内格拉斯 城镇

Piedras Negras (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpjeðɾas ˈneɣɾas] lit. 'Black Rocks') is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila. It stands at the northeastern edge of Coahuila on the Mexico–United States border, across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass in the U.S. state of Texas.

In the 2015 census the city had a population of 163,595 inhabitants, while the metropolitan area had a population of 245,155 inhabitants. The Piedras Negras and the Eagle Pass areas are connected by the Eagle Pass–Piedras Negras International Bridge, Camino Real International Bridge, and the Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge.

In English, Piedras Negras translates to 'black stones' – a reference to coal deposits in the area. Across the river, coal was formerly mined on the U.S. side at Dolchburg, near Eagle Pass. This mine closed around 1905, after a fire. Mexico currently operates two large coal-fired power stations named "José López Portillo" and "Carbón 2" located 30 miles (48 km) south of Piedras Negras. These two coal-fired power plants are currently operated by Comisión Federal de Electricidad, the state-owned Mexican electric utility.

History

On June 15, 1850, a group of 34 men (commanded by Andrés Zapata, Gaspar Salazar and Antonio Ramírez) met with Colonel Juan Manuel Maldonado to give the news that they had created a pass point at Piedras Negras, to the right of the Rio Grande, south of Fort Duncan. They named it Nueva Villa de Herrera, but it later became Villa de Piedras Negras. In Otto Schober's "Breve historia de Piedras Negras," the local historian points out that the 34 men were repatriates (Mexican Americans) who arrived on June 15, 1850, in what was then called "Colonia Militar de Guerrero en Piedras Negras."

In 1855, the town was looted by a small force of 130 Texans that had been organized by Texas slaveholders for a punitive expedition against a nearby border settlement the Texans claimed contained fugitive slaves and Native Americans. The force was led by a captain of the Texas Rangers. As it happened, the incursion was opposed and "repelled by a superior force of Negroes, Native Americans, and Mexicans who were waiting in ambush" inside Mexico.

Geography

Demography

The Northern Region of Coahuila has approximately 300,000 inhabitants. According to the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Data Processing (INEGI), in 2005 the population of the municipio of Piedras Negras was 143,915 inhabitants, equal to 5.77% of the population of Coahuila. 17% of the population of Piedras Negras came from other states, 3% were foreigners, and the rest were born in Coahuila. Piedras Negras has a high population growth due partly to its status as a border city fueled by U.S.-bound exports from several factories and also by persons who hope to cross the border into the United States. It is estimated that in a couple of years it will become the third most populated city of the state of Coahuila, surpassing Monclova. Nowadays Piedras Negras has more than 200,000 inhabitants.

Climate

Piedras Negras has a hot semi-arid climate, having some influences of the dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Cwa). During summer the temperatures often surpass 45 °C (113 °F).

Piedras Negras in music, television, and film

1980: "Mi Piedras Negras," Frankie y los Matadores.

1992: "Safe Side," James McMurtry.

1993: Like Water for Chocolate

2004: "Joe Mark Arizmendi"

2007: No Country for Old Men (scene in the town square were filmed in Piedras Negras)

2016: From Dusk Till Dawn season 3

May 27, 1902 – March 11, 1984: Gladys Pearl Monroe (also known as Gladys Pearl Monroe Baker Mortensen Eley) was the mother of American actress Marilyn Monroe. Gladys was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. The town, previously called "Porfirio Díaz", is located across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. (Gladys Pearl Baker - Wikipedia)

Tourism

Piedras Negras' main tourist attractions are:

The Macro Plaza (Designed and Built by Cesar Dominguez, AIA, LEED AP) a large square surrounded by restaurants, shops and other businesses

The ruins of San Bernardo Mission (18th century)

The Handicrafts Museum

The Culture House

The Hunting and Fishing Club

De La Ventana Caverns

Mercado Zaragoza, known simply as El Mercado ("the Market"), a traditional Mexican market where one is able to buy a variety of hand-made arts and crafts from the state: vases, leatherworked items, clay and ceramic wares, as well as traditional Mexican candy from the region.

El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Built in 1859 of ashlar, cement and wood, this church has survived the battles of the Cristero movement in 1927 and an explosion in 1934, leading to its renovation in 1935. The construction of its current towers began in 1950.

Plaza de las Culturas (Cultures' Plaza), a new park completed in 2005. The Plaza is a homage to Mexico's three main indigenous cultures: Aztec, Mayan, and Olmec.

Transportation

Commercial air service is available via Aeropuerto Internacional de Piedras Negras.

International Day of the Nacho

Much like the modern-day burrito was invented in Ciudad Juárez, nachos were invented in Piedras Negras. The International Day of the Nacho takes place every October 21. It and a three-day Nacho Fest was initiated in the 1990s in the United States and Mexico to commemorate the invention of nachos by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya in 1943 at the Victory Club restaurant in Piedras Negras.

Bike Fest

For 12 years in a row, the Annual Bike Fest has attracted visitors from Mexico and the United States. Activities

last for 2–3 days and include concerts, food sales, acrobatic shows, a drive through town and a drawing with a brand new motorcycle as the grand prize. The 2016 prize was a Harley Davidson Sportster. The 2016 Bike Fest brought a revenue of Mex$1.5 million, roughly US$37,875.

Local media

Newspapers

Zócalo News

Periódico La Voz (La Voz News)

El Día News

Revista Bravo!

El Tranchete (tabloid)

Radio

EXA FM 105.5

Di-94.5 FM Dinámica Auditiva

K93 FM (Eagle Pass, Texas)

Súper Estelar 107.9 FM

Recuerdo 96.7

Amor 107 FM

Romántica 99.9

BACK FM 100.9 FM XHBM

Radio Gente FM 102.5 XHPNC

La Consentida 104.4 FM

Fiesta Mexicana 106.3 FM XHPSP

La Mexicana 1320 AM

La Norteñita 830 AM XEIK

Radio Popular Fronteriza S.A. 920 AM XEMJ

La Rancherita del Aire 580 AM XEMU

Local television

Televisa Piedras Negras (XHPN)

TV Azteca Piedras Negras

Super Channel 12.1/12.2

Nu9ve Piedras Negras

Multimedios TV Piedras Negras / Eagle Pass (XHAW)

International Bridges Channel

Internet

Internet Cablecom – Internet / Cable

Infinitum by Telmex – Internet / Telephone

Internet local news

Periódico Zócalo Sitio Web

Agencia de Noticias INFONOR

Agencia de Noticias SIP

Coahuila en Línea

Territorio de Coahuila y Texas

ContraPunto Noticias

Incidents

On April 4, 2004, the Río Escondido (a tributary of the Río Bravo) broke its banks and some 36 residents of the Piedras Negras area were killed or vanished after the resulting flash floods.

In 2007, a tornado hit both Piedras Negras and Eagle Pass on April 24, killing three people in Piedras Negras and seven people in Eagle Pass. Several others were injured and homeless in both communities. See also Piedras Negras-Eagle Pass Tornadoes

On Monday, September 17, 2012, at least 30, and possibly more than 100, inmates broke out of a prison here, near the U.S.-Mexico border, by digging a tunnel from the prison's carpentry section.

Religious centers

Piedras Negras Cathedral (Diocese of Piedras Negras)

Bishopric of Piedras Negras

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Parish of Christ the King

Parish of Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos

Parish of La Sagrada Familia

Parish of San Antonio de Padua

Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Bravo)

Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Villa de Fuente)

Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Recroria of Our Lady of Fatima

Rectory of Our Lady of Carmen

Sports centers

Piedras Negras Stadium

Economy

Piedras Negras belongs to the North economic region of Coahuila. According to INEGI data, the secondary and services sectors occupy almost the entire occupied population, while the primary sector occupies an almost zero percentage. The maquiladora industry employs almost 10,000 people in the municipality (about 25% of the Occupied Population), mainly engaged in the manufacture of automotive parts, electronic components and textiles.

José López Portillo Thermoelectric Power Plant

The José López Portillo Thermoelectric Power Plant of the Federal Electricity Commission has an effective installed capacity of 1200 MW in four generating units of 300 MW each. The CTJLP is located a de Piedras Negras by the national road 57 and its infrastructure can be seen from different points of the city of piedras negras being an icon of the municipality of Nava.

Workmanship

The workforce is specialized in the automotive, textile and electronics branches. Most of the workforce is owned by the Mexican Workers' CTM, CROC and SUTERM.

Sister cities

Piedras Negras has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

Sandy, Utah, United States

Monterrey, Mexico