Iguala (), known officially as Iguala de la Independencia, is a historic city located from the state capital of Chilpancingo, in the Mexican state of Guerrero in southwestern Mexico.
Geography The city of Iguala stands on Federal Highway 95 about SSW of Mexico City.By Mexico: Iguala City in Guerrero State, Mexico Iguala is the municipal seat of the Municipality of Iguala de la Independencia, located in the north-central part of the state.—Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México: Municipios en Guerrero
The city had a 2005 census population of 110,390 and the municipality 128,444.INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática: Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 The area of the municipality is . The city is the third-largest community in Guerrero, after Acapulco and Chilpancingo.
History General Vicente Guerrero was the first military leader to swear allegiance to the Mexican flag in Acatempan, on March 12, 1821. On February 24, the Plan de Iguala had been signed by Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero, ending the long Mexican War of Independence.
Gaining independence from Spain was represented by the first national flag, known as the Flag of the Three Guarantees, which was made by José Magdaleno Ocampo. Thus, Iguala is called the birthplace of the Flag of Mexico.
Iguala mass kidnapping
On 26 September 2014, 43 students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers' College in Ayotzinapa were kidnapped, disappeared, and likely murdered,The Guardian: Mass grave found in Mexican town ; 5 October 2014.—Jornada.unam.mx: Cano opinion ; 2 October 2014 provoking ongoing national protests and international attention.The Washington Post: "Mass kidnapping of students in Iguala, Mexico, brings outrage and protests" ; 11 October 2014; accessed 10.11.2014.Borderlandbeat.com: "Guerreros Unidos narco banners appear" ; posted October 2014.—Jornada.unam.mx: Pérez Silva opinion ; 6 October 2014.—SinEmbargo.mx: Martínez opinion ; 6 October 2014.Elmundo.es: Garcia opinion ; 5 October 2014. Mexican Federal Police and Iguala's police department and former mayor were implicated in the students' kidnapping and disappearance; members of the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel in the mass murder.The Guardian: "Mexican gang suspected of killing 43 students admits to mass murder" ; 7 November 2014; accessed 10 November 2014.NPR: "Mexican Authorities: Drug Traffickers Confess To Killing 43 Students" ; 8 November 2014; accessed 11.11.2014. The governor of Guerrero state, Ángel Aguirre Rivero, resigned amid the scandal.Los Angeles Times: Mexico governor steps down over missing students" ; 23 October 2014; accessed 11.11.2014.
Features The San Francisco Church (Iglesia de San Francisco) is a landmark in the city, built in the 19th century in the Neoclassical style. It is surrounded by tamarind trees, and for them Iguala is known as "la Ciudad Tamarindera" (the Tamarindo city).
The Lagoon of Tuxpan (Laguna de Tuxpan), is a lake in the outskirts of the city, located in the small town of Tuxpan. It is known for its beauty, and popular seafood restaurants. Natives of Tuxpan have worked hard to maintain the popular lagoon healthy for the locals and the city people that visit every weekend.
Events
The Iguala Flag Fair is held in late February annually. It is one of the most important annual festivities for the people of Iguala. It is celebrated with a parade of floats, cockfights, and Mexican handcrafts and folk art exhibitions. Iguala's local artisans create gold and silver jewelry.
Government
Sister City Montebello, California (1971) Aurora (2007)http://www.diario21.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=875&format=html/ [Permanent Dead Link]
References