Guadalupe, Nuevo León Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Ciudad Guadalupe

City and municipality

Coat of arms

Nickname(s):

Guadalupe

Country

Mexico

State

Nuevo León

Founded

4 January 1716

Area

• Municipality

117.7 km² (45.4 sq mi)

• City

95.17 km² (36.75 sq mi)

Elevation

500 m (1,600 ft)

Population

(2020 census)

• Municipality

643,143

• Density

5,464.3/km² (14,152/sq mi)

• Metro

5,341,177

• City

635,862

• City density

6,681.3/km² (17,304.6/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)

Guadalupe is a lively city and a surrounding area called a municipality in the state of Nuevo León, located in northern Mexico. It's a big part of the Greater Monterrey Metropolitan area, which is one of Mexico's largest cities.

Guadalupe is right next to Monterrey on its east side. It also shares borders with other municipalities like San Nicolás de los Garza, Apodaca, Pesquería, and Juárez. The municipality covers about 117.7 square kilometers (45.4 square miles). It sits at an elevation of 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level.

In 2005, Guadalupe was home to over 691,000 people. This makes it the second-largest city and municipality in the state of Nuevo León.

A Glimpse into Guadalupe's Past
Fun Places to Visit in Guadalupe
Local Celebrations and Legends
- The Legend of the Lord of the Expiration
Sister Cities
See also

A Glimpse into Guadalupe's Past

Guadalupe was officially founded on January 4, 1716. However, people lived on this land long before that date. When the city of Monterrey was founded in 1596, this land was given to Diego de Montemayor. He was the person who founded Monterrey.

Later, around 1627, the land became large farms. Farmers grew crops like sugar cane and corn there. In the early 1700s, a man named Capitán Nicolás Ochoa de Elejalde owned the land. But the Spanish government took it from him.

In February 1715, the land was turned into a mission. A mission was a place where religious groups worked to teach and convert local people. In 1756, the city got a new, longer name: "Pueblo de la Nueva Tlaxcala de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Horcasitas."

Finally, on March 5, 1825, Guadalupe was officially declared a municipality of Nuevo León. It was called a villa, which is like a town. Even after this, many people still called it the "Villa de Guadalupe" for a long time.

Guadalupe Mountains (Nuevo León). These mountains are a popular spot for outdoor activities.

Fun Places to Visit in Guadalupe

Guadalupe has many exciting places for families and friends to explore. From parks to a famous stadium, there's something for everyone!

Cerro de la Silla: This mountain is a symbol of the Monterrey area, but it's actually located in Guadalupe! It's a favorite spot for athletes who love to climb. It's also a great place for families to go for a walk and enjoy nature.

BBVA Stadium. This modern stadium is home to the CF Monterrey soccer team.

La Pastora Park: Inside this park, you'll find a zoo with many different kinds of animals. There's also a special area for birds called an aviary, and a collection of plants called a herbarium.
Pipo Park: This park is named after "Pipo," a famous clown from the region. It has walking paths along the river and lots of green spaces to relax in.
BBVA Stadium: Opened in 2015, this huge stadium can hold 53,500 people! It's the home field for the Liga MX soccer team, CF Monterrey. Many exciting soccer games happen here, and the stadium has also hosted several concerts.
Guadalupe Expo: Every year, this event holds a Regional Livestock Exhibition. You can see cattle and sheep, enjoy fun mechanical rides, and try delicious Mexican snacks and local dishes. There's also "El Domo Care," where famous artists perform live.
Magic Forest: Just a short distance from La Pastora Park, this attraction offers entertainment for the whole family. Some of its exciting rides include the zombie ride, mice against police, the king loop fighter, and the ski flyer.
Tolteca Park: This park has water from the La Silla River flowing through it all year. It's a great place for family fun with boats, slides, soda fountains, grills, and snacks.
Guadalupe City Museum: This museum helps you learn about the city's beginnings. It teaches you about Guadalupe's history, its geography, and the first people who lived there.

Local Celebrations and Legends

Guadalupe celebrates its patron saint, the Lord of the Expiration, on the second Sunday of August. This special day is held at the Ancient Temple of the same name. People also call him the Lord of the Rain.

During the celebration, there are many fun activities with music and dancing in the main square. People sing traditional songs around 10:00 PM, followed by fireworks.

The Legend of the Lord of the Expiration

There's a famous legend about how the image of the Lord of the Expiration came to Guadalupe.

One morning, as the sun was just rising, the local people woke up surprised. They heard the chapel bell ringing, but it wasn't the usual bell ringer! Instead, it was a donkey moving its neck and pulling the bell rope with its mouth.

The donkey was carrying a heavy load on its back. People wondered if a merchant had lost it, but they couldn't find any recent tracks on the path. Even though they were a bit scared, they freed the donkey from its heavy load. When they carefully put down the rough wooden box, they saw something amazing inside.

It was a life-sized painting of the crucified Lord! Everyone bowed down with respect. Some cried, touched by the expression on the Lord's face. Others made the sign of the cross, filled with wonder and joy.

They brought the image of Christ into the chapel. It replaced a large wooden cross that had been there before. Everyone was so happy that they didn't notice the tired donkey they had left by the door. They looked for it everywhere, but couldn't find it. However, some say they found it dead from exhaustion near the north door of the chapel and buried it there.

Since that day, this special image has been honored in what is now the Parish and Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.