General Cepeda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
General Cepeda
San Francisco de los Patos
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Municipal seat and city
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 General Cepeda
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Coahuila |
| Municipality | General Cepeda |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 4,382 |
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General Cepeda is a city in the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila. It is also the main town of the municipality of General Cepeda. The city is named after Victoriano Cepeda Camacho (1826-1892). He was a general and a governor of Coahuila. Before 1892, the city was known as San Francisco de los Patos. It was once the main office for two of the biggest land estates in all of the Americas.
History of General Cepeda
Until 1892, the city we now call General Cepeda was named San Francisco de los Patos. Patos was first settled in 1575. The land was originally owned by Francisco de Urdiñola. From the 1500s to the 1800s, a grand estate in the town was the center of two of the largest land holdings in the Americas. These huge land areas were called latifundios.
Urdiñola started what became known as the Marquisate of San Miguel de Aguayo. After this estate faced financial problems, the Sánchez Navarro family bought it in 1840. In 1866, the Sánchez Navarro land was taken over by the government. After this, the Patos headquarters became the municipal building for General Cepeda. This means it became the place where the local government works.
Geography of General Cepeda
General Cepeda is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Saltillo. Saltillo is the capital city of the state. General Cepeda sits at an elevation of about 1,466 meters (4,810 feet) above sea level.
The city is found at the northern base of the Sierra de Los Patos. This name means "Duck Mountains". The highest point in these mountains is La Concordia Mountain, which reaches about 3,441 meters (11,289 feet). The mountains are cooler and get more rain than the desert areas around them. Water flowing down from these mountains made the General Cepeda area good for farming with irrigation. This is why Spanish settlers were interested in the area in the 1500s and 1600s. When the Spanish first explored the area in 1568, they found a small lake nearby. They called it Laguna de los Patos, or "Duck Lake".
What is the Climate Like?
General Cepeda is on the southern edge of the Chihuahua Desert. It has a warm, semi-arid climate. This means it is generally warm and dry. Most of the rain falls during the summer months, from June to September. The average yearly rainfall is about 347 millimeters (13.7 inches).
See also
In Spanish: General Cepeda para niños
