Puebla (redirected from Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza)

Puebla, city, Mexico

Puebla, city (1990 pop. 1,007,170), capital of Puebla state, E central Mexico. Its official name is Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza, in honor of Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, who defeated the French forces there in 1862. Located in a highland valley, it is an important agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing center, as well as a popular tourist spot. The site of Mexico's first textile-producing factory, Puebla has cotton mills, an automobile factory, onyx quarries, and pottery and food industries. The city is noted for the colored tiles that decorate its buildings and numerous churches, as well as those of nearby Cholula. The cathedral, built between 1552 and 1649, is one of the finest in Mexico; the theater, constructed in 1790, is said to be the oldest on the continent. Founded c.1535 as Puebla de los Ángeles, the city was historically a link between the coast and Mexico City. It was taken (1847) by U.S. Gen. Winfield Scott during the Mexican War. French troops captured Puebla in 1863 but were ousted by Porfirio Díaz in 1867. Puebla was the center of a large earthquake in 1973 that caused intense damage to the city and its surrounding region.

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Puebla, state, Mexico

Puebla (pwā`blä), state (1990 pop. 4,126,101), 13,126 sq mi (33,996 sq km), E central Mexico. The city of Puebla is the capital. The state is almost entirely mountainous, with large valleys between its ranges. N Puebla is dominated by the Sierra Madre Oriental, and a volcanic belt stretches across the central part of the state. Mexico's three highest peaks—Citlaltépetl in the east and Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl in the west—border on Puebla. The state's extreme northeastern section lies on the humid coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico; the southern part is in drier upland valleys. Differences in climate and elevation permit the cultivation of a variety of agricultural products, although corn and cereal grains are dominant. Stock raising is also important. The majority of the state's population is engaged in agriculture. Puebla has a diverse industrial sector as well, including automobile, textile, and various light manufacturing. The state's resources include gold, silver, copper, and lead, but mining is not significantly developed. Puebla also has the potential for a lumbering industry. Communications within the state are excellent.

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Puebla

State (pop., 2000: 5,076,686), southeast-central Mexico. It covers an area of 13,090 sq mi (33,902 sq km), and its capital is Puebla city. It occupies part of the Anáhuac Plateau and varies in elevation from 5,000 to 8,000 ft (1,500 to 2,400 m), with fertile valleys formed by the Sierra Madre Oriental. The region has long been densely populated. Pre-Columbian peoples had a highly developed civilization in the area, and there are many archaeological sites. The Spanish made Puebla an economic and religious centre, and since the 19th century it has been an important agricultural and industrial centre.

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Puebla

 in full Puebla de Zaragoza

City (pop., 2000: 1,271,673), capital of Puebla state, southeastern Mexico. Founded in 1532, it lies on a plain about 7,100 ft (2,165 m) above sea level in the Sierra Madre Oriental foothills. Located between Mexico City and Veracruz, it was occupied by U.S. forces during the Mexican War. Its Spanish colonial architecture is similar to that of the city of Toledo, Spain. The centre of an important agricultural and industrial region, it is also known for its glazed ceramic tiles, glass, and pottery. In 1973 the city was shaken by a severe earthquake.

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Puebla

1. an inland state of S central Mexico, situated on the Anáhuac Plateau. Capital: Puebla. Pop.: 5 070 346 (2000 est.). Area: 33 919 sq. km (13 096 sq. miles)

2. a city in S Mexico, capital of Puebla state: founded in 1532; university (1537). Pop.: 1 880 000 (2005 est.)