Ocampo, Tamaulipas facts for kids
Ciudad Ocampo is a town in the Ocampo Municipality in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It was founded on May 19, 1749, as Villa of Santa Bárbara. The town's name changed to Ocampo in 1869. Don José Escandón y Helguera is credited with founding Santa Barbara.
Ocampo is located on the southern border of Tamaulipas, surrounded by the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains. With its green mountains and many farms, it's known as "El Vergel de Tamaulipas," which means "The Orchard of Tamaulipas." The name Ocampo honors Melchor Ocampo, a famous Mexican reformist.
History of Ocampo
The town was founded by Jose de Escandón on May 19, 1749. It was first called Santa Barbara and was located at a place called Tanguachín. About 460 families from the valley settled there, joined by several groups of native people.
Juan Francisco Barberena was the first captain of the town. He was in charge of both political and military matters. When Escandón went on an expedition to settle New Santander, Tomás of Grove became the town's lieutenant. The next year, the Mission of Igollo was built. This mission brought together native people from the Pames and Janambres groups. It was managed by the monk Francisco Escandón y Helguera, who was the brother of the count of Fat Mountain range.
By 1757, Santa Barbara had 479 people. They mostly worked in farming, growing corn to sell both locally and in other parts of the colony. The area around the town also had many farms raising cattle. In 1757, a flood forced the town and mission to move to their current location. By 1770, the town had 550 adults. The mission of Our Lady of the Solitude of Igollo had 243 Pames natives and six families of Pizones. The monk, White Joaquin, continued building the church, which was described as "magnificent and beautiful."
Because of its rich farmlands, Santa Barbara earned the nickname "Orchard of Tamaulipas." In 1869, the town was renamed Ocampo to honor the important reformist Melchor Ocampo. In 1898, it officially became a city.
Ocampo's Culture
Ocampo's unique history and its distance from other big cities give it a special charm. Most of the people in Ocampo, about 87 percent, are Catholic. They worship at the church called La Parroquia de Santa Barbara, which is in the center of town.
Every year on December 4, the town celebrates its patron saint, St. Barbara. Many families use this special day to baptize their children, confirm their faith, or have their children receive their first communion.
The town also celebrates its founding every year with a fair. This fair takes place during the week of May 19.
Fun Places to Visit
| Place | What You Can Do There |
|---|---|
| The Museum "Rufino Muñiz Torres" | This museum is just two blocks from the town center. It has many interesting items that show Ocampo's amazing history. You can learn about the people who lived in the area before the Spanish arrived. It's free to enter! |
| La Alberca (The Pond) | This park is located right outside the city. It has picnic tables and grills you can use. Many trees provide beautiful shade, making it a great spot for relaxing and having fun. |
| La Poza Madre (The Mother Poza) | About 4.5 kilometers south of Ejido Chamal Viejo, this area is perfect for long walks and strolls. You can also go horseback riding, swimming, or fishing. It offers beautiful views of the mountains. |
| The Cabins of "Obelisco" | Obelisco is a natural rock formation that looks like a huge stone monument. It's about 17 kilometers north of the city. Obelisco is part of the "El Cielo" (Heaven) biosphere reserve. It's on a hill that rises 7 kilometers high. It takes about 1½ to 2 hours to get there from Ocampo. Here, you can truly connect with nature. There are three cabins available, each fitting up to 6 people. For more information, you can visit the Municipal Presidency in Ocampo. |
Geography of Ocampo
The main part of Ocampo city is located at about 22 degrees and 50 minutes north of the equator, and 99 degrees and 22 minutes west of the prime meridian. It sits at a height of 1,173 meters (about 3,848 feet) above sea level.
The city is nestled in a valley within the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains.
Ocampo shares its borders with several other places:
- To the north: the municipalities of Tula and Jaumave.
- To the south: the State of San Luis Potosí and the municipalities of Old and New Morelos.
- To the east: Gómez Farías and Mante.
- To the west: Tula and San Luis Potosí.
Images for kids
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Learn more about Ocampo (Tamaulipas) in Spanish!
