Map - Gómez Palacio, Durango (Gómez Palacio)

Gómez Palacio (Gómez Palacio)
Gómez Palacio is a city and its surrounding municipality in northeastern Durango, Mexico, adjacent to the border of the state of Coahuila. The city is named in honor of former Durango governor, Francisco Gómez Palacio y Bravo.

As of 2010, the city of Gómez Palacio had a population of 327,985, up from 304,515 as of 2005, making it the state's second-largest community. The municipality (including the city) population was 327,985. The municipality's area is 990.2 km². The municipality and city are part of a large metropolitan area, which includes Torreón Municipality and Matamoros Municipality in Coahuila, as well as Lerdo Municipality in Durango. The metropolitan area had an official population of 1,215,817 persons in 2010.

From the first half of the seventeenth century, the land within the triangle formed by San Juan de Casta (now Leon Guzman), Santiago de Mapimí (Mapimí) and Santa Maria de las Parras (Parras), formed part of the property of the Marquis of Aguayo and named Hacienda de San Lorenzo de la Laguna.

In 1848, after several modifications, the lands were purchased by Juan Ignacio Jimenez, from Cuencame. The purchase included the entrance of the river Nazas (Cañon de Calabazas), where he built Calabazas Dam and a system of canals and ditches to irrigate the lands of the Haciendas of Sacramento, Noé, Santa Rosa, Torreón and San Ignacio.

In 1880, his successors sold these properties to one of his managers, Spanish farmer Santiago Lavín Cuadra. In 1885, Lavín drafted the blocks that would be the beginning of the city. He created a public square in Hidalgo Street (now Independencia) and offered free land to those who agreed to plant trees to give the region a different look. The first deed was recorded September 15, 1885, now considered the city's founding date. Lavín named the town in honor of Francisco Gomez Palacio for his many achievements as governor, federal deputy, Secretary of the Interior and as an official in the government of Benito Juárez.

The city was officially recognized by the State Congress December 21, 1905, by decree number 60.

 
Map - Gómez Palacio (Gómez Palacio)
Country - Mexico
Currency / Language  
ISO Currency Symbol Significant figures
MXV Mexican Unidad de Inversion 2
MXN Mexican peso $ 2
ISO Language
ES Spanish language
Neighbourhood - Country  
  •  Belize 
  •  Guatemala 
  •  United States