Delicias, Chihuahua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Delicias, Chihuahua
City
The city clock tower
Coat of arms
Delicias, Chihuahua Location in Chihuahua Show map of Chihuahua Delicias, Chihuahua Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Chihuahua
Municipality	Delicias
Foundation	April 1, 1933
Elevation	1,415 m (4,642 ft)
Population  (2015)
• City	148,045
• Metro	223,993
Time zone	UTC−7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−6 (MDT)
Area code(s)	639
Climate	BWh
Website	http://www.delicias.gob.mx

City Hall

Guadalupe Sanctuary

Park Avenue

Great Baseball Stadium in Delicias.

Delicias (which means Delights in Spanish) is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is the main city of the municipality that shares its name. Delicias is located southeast of Chihuahua, the state capital.

This city is known for its industries and is a very important center for farming. It sits in the Conchos River Valley. Delicias was founded on April 30, 1933, making it one of Mexico's newer cities. It officially became a municipality on January 7, 1935. In 2015, about 148,045 people lived in the city, and the larger metropolitan area had a population of 223,993.

History

Early Days and First Settlers

Long ago, people lived in the Conchos River Valley. We know this because old artifacts and even some ancient mummies have been found there. You can see these mummies at the Museum of Paleontology in Delicias.

The area started to grow in 1884 when a railroad company built a station. This station helped transport farm products from a place called Old Delicias Hacienda. Later, in 1888, some German settlers arrived. They built Hacienda Polvorosa, where they made food, brewed beer, and created steel tools. However, these settlers eventually had to leave due to difficulties.

Growth and Official City Status

The Old Delicias Hacienda and Hacienda Polvorosa were the very first parts of what would become Delicias. Hacienda Polvorosa later became El Hotel del Norte, which is now a popular museum. Over the next few decades, other small towns like Rosales, Meoqui, and Saucillo began to appear nearby.

In 1932, the government of Chihuahua recognized this area as an important farming region. They called it Region 5. The city of Delicias was officially founded in 1933, after the Mexican Revolution. It became an official municipality on January 7, 1935.

Farming and Industry

In 1939, cotton grown in the Conchos River Valley helped Delicias start its first industries. Factories were built to process cotton and refine oil, supporting the growing farming sector. The Francisco I. Madero Dam was also built, which helped farmers grow even more crops and led to more people moving to the valley.

By 1943, cotton was so important that it replaced many vineyards in the area. Cotton remained the main crop until 1953. At that time, the price of cotton dropped, and farmers had to start growing other crops to keep the economy strong.

Modern Delicias

The modern design of Delicias was planned by Carlos G. Blake and approved in 1960. The state government officially recognized Delicias as a city on October 29, 1960. By that year, Delicias was the fourth largest city in Chihuahua.

Delicias continued to grow, both in population and as a farming hub. In the 1980s, factories called maquiladoras started moving to the city. These factories assemble products for export, which helped the manufacturing industry grow a lot. By 1990, Delicias had seven such factories, making it a very important part of Chihuahua's economy.

Geography

Location and Rivers

Delicias is located at about 28 degrees North latitude and 105 degrees West longitude, which is about 1,415 meters (4,642 feet) above sea level. The city is in the fertile Conchos River Valley. To the north is Meoqui, to the south is Saucillo, and to the west is Rosales.

The Conchos River flows north along the west side of Delicias. About 30 miles south of the city, there's a huge lake called La Boquilla Reservoir. This reservoir holds back the Conchos River, which starts high up in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. La Boquilla Reservoir is the biggest dam in Chihuahua. It provides a steady water supply for Delicias and other towns in the valley.

Mountains and Land

To the west of Delicias, you can see the edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. To the southeast, the Sierra del Diablo mountains run in a different direction. While some areas northeast of the city have very dry soil that isn't good for farming, most of the plains and mountains around Delicias have rich soil.

Climate

Delicias has a semi-arid climate, which means it's quite dry. It gets only about 334 millimeters (13 inches) of rain each year. On average, it rains about 42 days a year, and there are seven months without frost. The air usually has about 45% humidity. The winds mostly come from the southwest.

In winter, the days are mild, but nights are cold with frequent frosts from November to February. Snowfall happens once or twice a year. During spring, strong winds are common. In the summer, days are hot and nights are warm, with moderate rainfall from big thunderstorms.

Economy

One of the many dairies outside of Delicias that are an important part of the agriculture sector.

Farming is super important to Delicias. It's even called the 'breadbasket' of the state! The area is famous for its honey, which is known all over northern Mexico. Delicias grows many different crops, including pecans, chile, cotton, tomatoes, onions, and peanuts.

Delicias is also one of the biggest dairy production areas in Mexico. Many modern dairy farms and factories that make dairy products are located here. For example, Alpura, the second largest dairy company in Mexico, has a presence in Delicias.

The city's economy also relies on manufacturing, especially maquiladores. These are factories that assemble products, often for export to other countries. Delicias is also a major producer of wooden furniture, which is sold both in Mexico and internationally.

For shopping, Delicias has big outdoor farm markets like Morelos Farm Market and Juarez Farm Market. There's also a popular shopping area on North 3rd Street, known as "La Tercera," where you can find clothes, shoes, and home goods. For many years, high school and college students have gathered there to hang out. You can also find big chain stores like Sam's, Soriana, Wal-Mart, Alsuper, and Office Depot in Delicias.

Education and Culture

Delicias has several places for learning. It's home to a campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, which is part of the state university system. There's also the Instituto Tecnológico de Delicias (Technological Institute of Delicias).

The city also has many schools for art, languages, and technical skills. Some of these include CEUN, Colegio La Roca, Preparatoria Federal por Cooperacion Activo 2030 Albert Einstein, Carson College, the Lincoln Institute, Sokhôl Dance School, the Madison School, Henry Ford Institute, and the Michigan English Institute. The Culture House also offers various programs.

The Teatro de Delicias (Municipal Theatre) is a special place. It's famous for its beautiful murals painted by Aarón Piña Mora, a well-known Mexican muralist and painter. The theater's design also reminds people of the "Las Virgenes" Dam, which is about 10 kilometers from Delicias.

Notable people

• Fernando Baeza Meléndez, state governor
• Jahir Barraza, footballer
• Jesús Chávez, professional boxer
• Jesús Gardea, author
• Ed Maverick, singer
• Rodolfo Mijares, athlete
• Paul Moreno, footballer
• Gabriela Roel, actress
• Jorge A. Rojas, missionary

See also

In Spanish: Delicias (Chihuahua) para niños