El Centenario facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
El Centenario
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El Centenario Hillside, From The Beach
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Location of El Centenario in Baja California Sur
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 El Centenario
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Baja California Sur |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,221 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain Time) |
| Website | http://www.lapaz.gob.mx |
| 1 INEGI, Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México | |
El Centenario is a small town located by the sea in La Paz Municipality, Baja California Sur, Mexico. It is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of La Paz, which is the capital city of the state. In 2020, about 6,221 people lived in El Centenario.
This town has grown as a suburb of La Paz. Most people who live in El Centenario travel to La Paz or nearby areas for their jobs. In recent years, many people from the United States and Canada have chosen to build homes here. They use them as vacation spots or as places to live after they retire. The cost of living is lower than in places like California or Florida. Also, Baja California Sur is becoming more modern. This makes El Centenario a good choice for retirement. New neighborhoods like Lomas del Centenario and Haciendas Palo Verde have more and more English-speaking residents.
History of El Centenario
El Centenario was started in the 1960s. It began as a farming and fishing community called an ejido. About 25 families were the first to live there.
Each of these original families was given land to farm and build a home on. However, the land was owned by the whole community, not by individuals. In the 1990s, new laws made it possible for families to own their land. This changed the land from being community-owned to privately owned.
Local Traditions and Nature
People in El Centenario have a special tradition of eating nopal cacti. Nopal is a main ingredient in their tacos. This is quite unique for the La Paz area.
This tradition came from the founding families. They moved from the middle of the Baja peninsula, where eating nopal is more common. Every year in early autumn (October), El Centenario holds a festival about nopal. There is a carnival with rides and games in the town center. A nopal cooking competition is also held.
El Centenario is very close to CIBNOR. This is one of the most important marine biology institutes in Latin America. CIBNOR studies the Gulf of California ecosystem. This area is also known as the Sea of Cortez. It is one of the most diverse bodies of water in the world, full of many different kinds of sea life.
Climate and Weather
The weather in El Centenario is usually warm, sunny, and dry all year. It is very similar to the climate in La Paz, Baja California Sur. The months of July, August, and September are the warmest and most humid. August and September are also the months when heavy rain is most likely.
One special weather event here is the Coromuel Wind. This is a steady breeze that blows consistently every afternoon in El Centenario. These winds happen when cool air from the Pacific Ocean side of the peninsula moves over the desert. It is drawn towards the warmer Gulf of California side. Unlike other parts of the Baja peninsula, there are no tall mountains here to block this air movement.
See also
In Spanish: El Centenario (Baja California Sur) para niños
