Río Blanco, Veracruz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Río Blanco
Municipality and town
Ex-factory of Río Blanco
Country	Mexico
State	Veracruz
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)

Río Blanco is a municipality and town in the central mountains of the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Xalapa, the state capital. A municipality is like a local government area.

Río Blanco covers an area of 24.68 square kilometers (9.53 sq mi). You can find it at coordinates 18°50′N 97°09′W. In 1899, a rule was made to create the municipality of Río Blanco. It was named Tenango de Río Blanco.

In the same year, French investors started building a huge textile factory here. A textile factory makes cloth and fabric. This factory was the largest in Latin America. It opened on October 9, 1892, with Porfirio Díaz, who was the President of Mexico, attending the opening. At its busiest, the factory employed 1,700 workers. Only 60 of these workers were women.

Exploring the Geography of Río Blanco

The municipality of Río Blanco shares its borders with several other places. To the north, it is next to Ixhuatlancillo and Orizaba. To the southeast, you will find Rafael Delgado. To the west, it borders Nogales.

A Look at Tenango Village

The village of Tenango is very old. After Mexico became independent, Tenango became its own municipality. In 1826, an order said that Huiloapan, Tenango, and Nogales should form one municipality. However, in 1859, the President of Mexico decided they should be separate again.

Understanding Río Blanco's Climate

The weather in Río Blanco is generally cool and wet throughout the year. It often rains during the summer and autumn months.

What Grows in Río Blanco?

Farmers in Río Blanco grow several important crops. The main products include maize (corn), coffee, sugarcane, and watermelon. These crops are important for the local economy.

Festivals and Celebrations in Río Blanco

Río Blanco has special times for celebrations.

• In June, people celebrate in honor of San Pedro y San Pablo. These are the patron saints of the town.
• In December, there is a celebration for the Virgen de Guadalupe. These events are important parts of the community's culture.

A Glimpse into Río Blanco's Past

The history of Río Blanco is closely tied to its large textile factory. The company store at the Río Blanco factory was rented to Victor Garcín starting in 1897. He was a businessman from Barcelona, Spain, who had lived in the region for many years. He owned a lot of land in the Orizaba valley. In fact, the company that owned the factory bought land from him to build a water channel. Victor's brother, Eduardo Garcín, was a manager at the factory's company in 1903. He was also on the company's board of directors in 1905 and 1906.

The Río Blanco Strike of 1907

A very important event in Mexican history happened in Río Blanco on January 7 and 8, 1907. This event is known as the Río Blanco strike. During this time, company stores became a major reason for workers' unhappiness. Workers often had to buy goods from these stores, and they felt the prices were unfair.

The stores were a main target when workers protested. This event was key in showing the problems with company stores during the time of President Porfirio Díaz. After this, company stores became a symbol of unfairness. They also showed how workers were fighting against these conditions. The strike was an important step leading up to the Mexican Revolution.