Mexicali Totally Explained

Everything about Mexicali totally explained

Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, Mexico. Mexicali is also the seat of the municipality of Mexicali. Founded on March 14 1903, Mexicali is situated on the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to Calexico, California. Mexicali has grown to be an important city in Mexico and is the northernmost city in Latin America, located at .
The link is emphasized by the way each city's name combines the words "México" and "California." To the East of Mexicali lie the states of Arizona (US) and Sonora (México), to the west lies the municipality of Tecate, and to the South lies the municipality of Ensenada.

Demographics

The city itself had a 2005 census population of 653,046, whereas the municipality's population was 895,962. It is the 13th largest municipality in Mexico as of the Census 2005 with population estimates exceeding one million alone. The population is constantly growing due to the number of Maquiladoras in the area and migrational aspects, like seasonal labor and the constant in-and-out flow of immigrants to the U.S. or into Mexico.

History

In pre-Columbian times, the Río Colorado (Colorado River) delta was inhabited by a centuries-long succession of Yumano tribes. When the Spanish first stumbled upon the delta after traversing, with great difficulty, the Sonoran Desert's Camino del Diablo ("Devil's Road"), a sophisticated Río Colorado culture was cultivating squash, melons, peas, and five colors of corn: yellow, blue, white, red, and blue-white. The Native Americans also possessed an impressive knowledge of medicinal herbs and employed desert plants like mesquite and agave in a wide variety of uses. Like their neighbors the Kiliwas, the Cucapás' numbers were greatly reduced by Spanish evangelization in northwest Mexico.
Among the major Yumano groups in the region were the Cucapás, who navigated the difficult Río Colorado on reed rafts. Today Cucapá descendants inhabit a small government-protected corner of the delta near the junction of the Hardy and Colorado rivers. For the most part, the Indians work on agricultural ejidos or fish the rivers, although many have migrated to Mexicali. Few indigenous customs survived both the Spanish and Mexican eras; both the Kiliwas and the Cucapás continued to practice cremation rituals, for example, until they were banned by the Mexican government early this century. Now Mexicali is progressing more than ever and is one of the fastest growing cities in the Mexican nation, especially an event to dedicate the population mark at one million on the city's 104th birthday (March 14, 2007).

The building of an agricultural empire

After the Jesuits left, the Spanish and later the Mexicans had little to do with the northeastern corner of the Baja California peninsula, perceiving it as an untamable, flood-prone desert delta. Around the time of the U.S. Civil War, a Yale geologist, while surveying a route for the Southern Pacific Railroad, wandered into the delta and discovered what the dwindling population of Yumanos had known for centuries: the 2.5 km thick sediment was prime farming soil. The sediments extended far to the west of the river itself, accumulating in a shallow basin below the Sierra de Cucapá. All it needed was the addition of water to become an agricultural miracle.
   In 1900 the U.S.-based California Land Company received permission from the Porfirio Díaz government to cut a canal through the delta's Arroyo Alamo, thus linking the dry basin with the Colorado River. To attract farmers to the area, the developers named the basin the Imperial Valley. In March 1903, the first 500 farmers arrived; by late 1904, 100,000 acres (405 km²) of valley were irrigated, with 10,000 people settled on the land and harvesting cotton, fruits, and vegetables. A collection of huts and ramadas that straddled the border was named Calexico on the U.S. side, Mexicali on the Mexican side.
   Seeing that the equally fertile Valle de Mexicali lay undeveloped, another U.S. land syndicate, the Colorado River Land Company, moved in. Led by Harry Chandler, then publisher of the Los Angeles Times, the syndicate controlled some 800,000 acres (3200 km²) of northern Baja and in 1905 began constructing a Valle de Mexicali irrigation system. Instead of using Mexican labor, as the Imperial Valley developers had, Chandler imported thousands of Chinese coolies or ditch diggers.
   After a major 1905 rainfall, the channel dug from Arroyo Alamo (or Rio Hardy) ended up diverting the entire outflow of the Colorado River into the Imperial Valley, taking Mexicali with it; unknowingly, the syndicate had tapped into one of the river's original routes. The Salton Sink, a dried-up remainder of the Sea of Cortez, became the Salton Sea virtually overnight. By 1907, a hundred new ponds formed where the river briefly flowed and gave more irrigation abilities for the Imperial valley on both sides of the US-Mexican border.
   Neither the U.S. nor Mexico wanted to take responsibility for the growing New River created by Chandler's mistake. As both valleys became increasingly inundated, the Southern Pacific Railroad stepped in and, to protect its tracks, dumped a sufficient amount of rock into the river to head the Colorado back into the Cortez, leaving a canal to the Valle de Mexicali. From then on, both valleys became highly productive agricultural centers.
   Mexicali was born on 14 March 1903 with Manuel Vizcarra as the town's first authority and assistant judge (juez auxiliar). Mexicali is now the capital city of Baja California, the 29th state of Mexico. Shortly after the first irrigation canals were built, most of the land was bought by the Colorado River Land Company from the USA The company developed commercial crops and became almost a monopoly until it was decided to sell its land to Mexican farmers in 1936 and 1937. Previously, they gave land to European, East Indian, Arabian and Japanese farm hands instead of local Mexicans.
   The Imperial Valley (in Mexico, El Valle de Mexicali or Mexicali Valley) is the agricultural heart of the state, with more than 2,000 square kilometres of irrigated land. This valley is responsible for some of the biggest crops in Mexico, including wheat and cotton. With an ensured supply of water, coming under the ground from a canal in the United States, Mexicali has become an important exporter of asparagus, broccoli, carrots, green onions, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes and tomatoes for the whole world.
   Cotton became the most important crop of the Valley and it helped to develop the dressing and textile industries. In the early 1950s, the Mexicali Valley became the biggest cotton producing zone in the whole country. Production increased even more in the mid-1960s, reaching more than half a million parcels harvested in just one year.

Economy

In its beginnings Mexicali was an important center for cotton production for export until synthetic fabrics reduced the worldwide demand for the fiber.
Currently horticulture is the most successful agricultural activity with scallion, green onion and asparagus being among the most important crops. Cotton and wheat are still cultivated but with government price guarantees and subsidies making wheat farmer protests an annual event. There is an annual agribusiness fair in March drawing interested people from all over Mexico and the United States called Agrobaja

.
The current prospects for economic growth in Mexicali rely on in-bond and assembly plants, mainly for export, including companies like Sony, Daewoo, Mitsubishi, Honeywell, Paccar, Vitro, Skyworks Solutions, Cardinal Health, Bosch, Price Pfister and Kwikset. Mexicali is also home to many food processing plants such as Nestle, Jumex, Bimbo, Coca-Cola and Sabritas.
There are joint efforts on behalf of the Baja California government

and the private sector to attract more companies to Mexicali based on a cluster strategy focusing on the regions' strengths of qualified labor, abundant energy and water supplies, a pro-business environment and its location on the California border.
Mexicali is considered among the most prosperous cities in Mexico, although US tourists can observe the level of poverty in rural villages surrounding the modern, upper-middle class enclave of Mexicali proper. The North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994 that eliminated most trade restrictions between the two nations offers Mexicali an economic boom in the next decade.

Silicon Border

Silicon Border is a high-tech manufacturing park currently under construction near the border with California. The aim of the manufacturing park is to capitalize on Mexicali's proximity to Silicon Valley to lure some of the lucrative semiconductor manufacturing market to Mexico. The Mexican Federal and Baja California governments have committed over $2 million to the project. Additionally, former President Vicente Fox offered 10 years of tax-free status to any firms that locate in the park and invest $1 billion or more. The cost of a single semiconductor manufacturing plant can top $1.5 billion.
California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has repeatedly promoted cooperation with the project in his radio addresses.
The proximity of two new power plants is a major aide to this project, as manufacturing semiconductors requires a high-quality electricity supply. As the project grows, it's slated to receive a dedicated power plant. Further infrastructure improvements associated with Silicon Border include a new highway (under construction) and an additional border crossing.

Natural resources

In spite of its arid desert location Mexicali is watered through a system of aquifers in the valley. Under a 1944 water treaty the city is "...guaranteed [an] annual quantity of 1,500,000 acre-feet (1,850,234,000 cubic meters) [ofwater] to be delivered..." from the Colorado River. On the nearby Volcano, Cerro Prieto, presides a geothermal plant, from which electrical energy is generated.

Tourism

Mexicali also relies on tourism as a medium revenue, and visitors cross by foot or car from Calexico in the United States every day. Restaurants and taco stands, pharmacies, bars and dance clubs are part of the draw for the city's tourists. Many shops and stalls selling Mexican crafts and souvenirs are also located in walking distance from the border.
Mexico's drinking age of 18 (vs. 21 in the United States) makes it a common weekend destination for many high school and college aged Southern Californians who tend to stay within the Avenida Justo Sierra and Francisco L. Montejano.
Mexicali is also home to several pharmacies marketed toward visitors from the United States. These pharmacies sell some pharmaceutical drugs without prescriptions and at much lower costs than pharmacies in the US. Many medications still require a doctor's prescription, although several accessible doctor offices are located near the border as well.

Culture

The residents of Mexicali (Mexicalenses) call themselves "Cachanillas" and are from culturally diverse backgrounds, and it's among the most racially diverse cities in Mexico, with people from various European, Middle Eastern; Asian, African origins.
In 2004, there were 7 theaters in the city:

Teatro del Estado.
Teatro al Aire Libre del Centro Comunitario Estudiantil.
Teatro de Casa de Cultura de Mexicali. Idem.
Teatro del CREA
Teatro Universitario de Mexicali, it's mainly used for UABC ceremonies and occasionally for plays.
Teatro al Aire Libre de Rectoría
Teatro del Seguro Social that was inaugurated in the 70's.
Teatro al aire libre del Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior CETYS unveiled on September 2006.
Teatro del Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior CETYS.
IMAX Teatro in The Sol del Niño Museum

Mexicali also has the Baja Prog festival, a series of progressive rock concerts that take place during four consecutive days in springtime. It is hosted by CAST, a progressive rock band from Mexicali.

Sports

Mexicali has many sites where people from all over the country visit, as well as visitors from United States and Canada, such as the bullfighting arena, Plaza Calafia, where many bullfights ("corridas") are organized along the year. Mexicali has also a professional 18 hole Golf Course "Club Campestre" where both national and international championships take place regularly. Beside the amateur leagues, they're a few professional sport teams which plays in different leagues.

Basketball

The City of Mexicali's basketball team is Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) of Mexico, the Soles de Mexicali are the current champions of the LNBP (2006-2007). Their stadium is the "Auditorio del Estado" located in the "Ciudad Deportiva de Mexicali".
Mexicali is also home to a 2007 Pacific Coast Basketball Circuit franchise, the Calor de Mexicali (The Mexicali Heat). Their stadium is the "Gimnasio de Mexicali" located in the "Avenida Reforma".
Mexicali is also home to a 2007 American Basketball Association franchise, the Centinelas de Mexicali (The Sentinels).

Football

The "Ciudad Deportiva" also houses a Football stadium where the Cachanillas de Mexicali, a mexican third division football team.
The home of the Pioneros del Valle, also a Mexican third division football team, is located in the Mexicali Valley, near to Ciudad Guadalupe Victoria.

Baseball

In addition, "Ciudad Deportiva" harbors the "CasasGeo" stadium where the professional baseball team "Águilas de Mexicali" plays every season. The Águilas de Mexicali is a Mexican baseball team playing for the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico in Mexicali, Baja California. The team was founded ok October 14, 1976. They have won the championship three times, 1985-1986 (coach Benjamin Reyes), in 1988-1989 (coach Dave Machemer), in 1998-1999 (coach Francisco Estrada). The team also won the 1986 Caribbean Series, played in Venezuela. The Águilas de Mexicali were formed in 1976 and have been a member of the Mexican Pacific League since. They are located in the border city of Mexicali, Baja California and have won three LMP pennets. Their brightest moment came when they won the 1986 Caribbean Series, only becoming the second Mexican team to take the title.
The Azules de Mexicali is a professional Mexican baseball team which plays in the North Sonora League, the main supporting league of the "LMP".

American Football

The team plays in the newly-build convention center, while local businessmen negotiate a deal for a American Football team with the af2 under ownership of the Arena Football League in 2008.

Shopping

Mexicali possesses a diversity of shopping malls, the most visited being Plaza La Cachanilla, located just a few minutes away from the US border. The mall hosts a variety of shops, which sell a wide array of things, ranging from cheap Mexican curiosities to expensive imports. The Plaza La Cachanilla also represents a common place for people to socialize. Especially in summer when the weather is hot, a lot of families come and spend all the day inside the mall.
Just about everything for recreation can be found in Mexicali, including pool halls, bowling alleys, traditional cantinas, car clubs, full contact strip clubs, movie theaters, museums, a zoo, a state university, a convention center, supermarkets, and fast food restaurants.

Weather

Mexicali is well known for its extreme weather. The highest temperature recorded in Mexicali was 52°C (about 125°F) in July 1995. Average July highs hover around 42°C (107°F). On the other hand, winter normals are quite low, with average January lows of 5°C (41°F) and a record low of -8°C (18°F) recorded in January 1949. The city received snow only once, on December 1932.

Notable residents

Ernesto Zedillo, former President of the United Mexican States.

Eduardo Auyón, painter.

Nikki Clan, pop rock band.

David Cortés, MLB player for the Colorado Rockies.

Eugenio Elorduy Walther, former governor of Baja California, businessman.

Lupita Jones, Señorita Mexico, (Miss Mexico) 1990, Miss Universe 1991.

Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo, first woman Olympic Cauldron lighter.

Salvador Vizcarra Schumm, writer.

Fernando Valenzuela, major league pitcher for the dodgers in the mid 1980's.

Reik, pop band.

Sister cities

Calexico, California, U.S.

El Centro, California, U.S.

San Bernardino, California, U.S.

Indio, California, U.S.

Yuma, Arizona, U.S.

Gumi, South Korea

Nanjing, People's Republic of China

San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, MexicoFurther Information

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