Cerro Azul, Veracruz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cerro Azul
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City and Municipal seat
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 Cerro Azul
Location in Mexico
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| Country | Mexico |
| State | Veracruz |
| Municipality | Cerro Azul |
| Municipality created | 27 November 1963 |
| City status | 6 December 1983 |
| Elevation | 260 m (850 ft) |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Total | 23,573 |
| • Municipality | 24,739 |
| Website | www.cerroazul.gob.mx |
Cerro Azul is a city in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is located in the Huasteca Baja region of the state. Cerro Azul is also the main town for the municipality of the same name.
In 2005, a count showed that 23,573 people lived in the city.
Contents
History of Cerro Azul
Early Days and Oil Discovery
Before it became a city, Cerro Azul was a large area of rolling hills. It covered about 10,000 acres (40 square kilometers). This land was mainly used for grazing cattle.
Many small natural springs of asphalt were found in the area. Sometimes, bones of cattle could be seen stuck in the black, sticky tar. Oil drilling started here in 1906.
The Famous Cerro Azul No. 4 Well
The town grew very quickly after a special oil well was drilled. This well was called Cerro Azul No. 4. It was drilled in February 1916 by Herbert Wylie.
At that time, it was the biggest oil well in the world! It could pump out 260,000 barrels of oil every day. The sound of the well could be heard 16 miles (26 kilometers) away.
When the well started, it shot a stream of oil 598 feet (182 meters) into the air. Oil spread out over an area of two miles (3 kilometers).
The Oil Company and Its Legacy
The well was drilled for the Mexican Petroleum Company. This company was owned by an oilman from California named Edward L. Doheny. Over the next 14 years, this single well produced more than 57 million barrels of oil.
Doheny later created the Pan American Petroleum and Transport Company. The Mexican Petroleum Company part of it later became PEMEX. PEMEX is now Mexico's national oil company.
Becoming a Municipality and City
The area officially became the municipality of Cerro Azul on November 27, 1963. Later, on December 6, 1983, Cerro Azul was given the status of a city.
See also
In Spanish: Cerro Azul (Veracruz) para niños
