El Oro de Hidalgo
| El Oro de Hidalgo | ||
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Coordinates: 19 ° 48 ′ N , 100 ° 8 ′ W El Oro de Hidalgo on the map of Mexico
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Mexico | |
| State | México (state) | |
| Municipio | El Oro | |
| Residents | 5776 (2010) | |
| Detailed data | ||
| surface | 2.86 km 2 | |
| Population density | 2,020 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| height | 2740 m | |
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El Oro or El Oro de Hidalgo is a small town with just under 6,000 inhabitants and the capital of the municipality of the same name (municipio), which has around 40,000 inhabitants, in the northwest of the Mexican state of México . Because of its colonial character, the place is one of the Pueblos Mágicos .
Location and climate
The small town of El Oro is located in the wooded mountains on the northwestern edge of the high valley of Mexico about 160 km (driving distance) northwest of Mexico City at an average altitude of about 2740 m ; Toluca , the state capital, is just 100 km to the southeast. The climate is temperate to mild; the rain, which is abundant by Mexican standards (approx. 875 mm / year), falls mainly during the summer half-year.
population
| year | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| Residents | 6.114 | 5,797 | 5,776 |
Only part of the population is of Spanish descent; Colloquial languages are Spanish and a regional Nahuatl dialect.
economy
Today's inhabitants live from agriculture, which also includes fruit growing and small livestock; in addition, forestry plays a not insignificant role. Small traders, craftsmen and service providers of all kinds have set up shop in the village, providing the growing number of day tourists with everything they need.
history
The first known residents of the area were nomadic Indian tribes who immigrated from the north and settled here, but did not build any stone buildings. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the area was ruled by the Toltecs and Chichimecs ; At the end of the 15th century, the region came under the military and political dominance of the Aztecs , but their empire fell about 50 years later with the conquest of Tenochtitlán (1519–1521) by Hernán Cortés . The high and sparsely populated mountainous country remained untouched for a long time by the Spanish conquistadors; It was not until the middle of the 17th century that gold was found that the first treasure hunters came, followed by Jesuit missionaries, on whose initiative the town was founded in 1772 - another founding year (1787) is attributed to the mine owners. In 1902 the place received full city rights, but all mines were closed with one exception in the first decades of the 20th century.
Attractions
- The church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe dates from the 19th century; the two-tower facade indicates the importance of the place. The interior of the building has only one nave; some stucco work refer to baroque models, but the wall and ceiling paintings are rather severe.
- The town hall (Palacio Municipal) was built in 1910 in a European style. Inside there are wall paintings (murales) , which are reminiscent of the mines.
- Around the same time, the Teatro Juárez was built , where Enrico Caruso also performed.
- The Museo minero presents tools and pictures of the miners; minerals are also shown.
- The station was built on the occasion of a visit by President Porfirio Díaz .
Web links
- El Oro, photos + info (English)
- El Oro, history - photos and information (Spanish)
- El Oro, place and church - photos and information (Spanish)