San Nicolás de los Garza Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

San Nicolás

Parque Niños Héroes, San Nicólas de los Garza

Coat of arms

Nickname(s):

San Nicolás

Motto(s):

In Unum Progedientes

Location of San Nicolás de la Garza in northern Mexico

Founded

5 February 1597

Area

• City

60.14 km² (23.22 sq mi)

Elevation

512 m (1,680 ft)

Population

(2020 census)

• City

412,199

• Density

6,854.0/km² (17,751.8/sq mi)

• Metro

5,341,177

Time zone

UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)

San Nicolás de los Garza, often called San Nicolás, is a vibrant city in the Mexican state of Nuevo León. It is part of the larger Monterrey metropolitan area. San Nicolás is mostly a place where families live, with many houses. However, it still has some factories, though many have moved to other areas nearby. It is the fifth-largest city in its state.

This city is home to the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. This university is one of the most respected public schools in both Mexico and Latin America. Even though San Nicolás has fewer people than Monterrey, it has more people living in each square kilometer.

History of San Nicolás
Economy and Growth
Education in the City
Famous People from San Nicolás
Sports in San Nicolás
Sister Cities
See also

History of San Nicolás

San Nicolás de los Garza was officially started on February 5, 1597. It was first called Estancia de Pedro de la Garza. Later, its name changed to Estancia de San Nicolás. Finally, it became Estancia de San Nicolás de los Garza.

The city was founded soon after Monterrey. Diego de Montemayor allowed some people to live in the area. These people included his secretary, Diego Díaz de Berlanga, Pedro de Iñigo, Domingo Manuel, and Don Pedro de la Garza. These families are thought to be the very first people to settle in the city.

Diego Díaz de Berlanga was important because he wrote the official document that founded Monterrey. He also gave the first land permits to the early settlers.

In 1830, the area was recognized as a village. It was named San Nicolás de los Garza to honor the town's patron saint. Much later, on May 12, 1970, San Nicolás was officially declared a city.

Economy and Growth

In the early 1900s, many big Mexican companies built factories in San Nicolás. This made the city a major industrial hub. Companies like Cemex (which makes concrete) and Vitro (which makes glass) had large facilities here. Other important companies included Peñoles and Hylsa (which makes steel).

By the 1970s, San Nicolás became known as a great place to live. Many new houses were built across the city. This building boom was possible because there was a lot of empty land available. In the 1980s, some factories moved to other nearby areas. These areas were still part of the Monterrey Metropolitan Area but were further from the city center.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, huge shopping centers and malls were built. These malls served the growing population. Because of this, shopping became the main economic activity, rather than factory production. Some of the biggest malls are La Fe, Citadel, Las Plazas Outlet, Plaza Fiesta Anahuac, and Sendero. The city continues to build new commercial centers.

Education in the City

The main campus of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL) is located in San Nicolás. This university is the third-largest in Mexico. It is also one of the most recognized schools in the country. A survey in 2005 ranked it as the top university in northeast Mexico.

Its main campus is called Ciudad Universitaria, which means "University City". It covers a very large area. The UANL system includes 26 colleges and 22 post-graduate divisions. It also has 24 high schools across the Monterrey area. There is also a center for bilingual education and three technical high schools.

Famous People from San Nicolás

Many talented people have come from San Nicolás de los Garza.

Juan Celaya (diver) won a Silver Medal in Synchronized Diving at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Adán Zapata is a well-known rapper.
Alicia Villarreal is a popular singer.
César Paz Sr. was the coach of the 1957 Little League World Series champions. This team won the championship in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States.
Édgar González is a pitcher who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Manuel Uribe Garza was known as one of the heaviest people in history.

Sports in San Nicolás

San Nicolás de los Garza is also home to the Tigres UANL. This is a professional football (soccer) team that plays in Liga MX. The team is connected to the UANL. Their main rivals are C.F. Monterrey. The Tigres' stadium hosted matches during the 1986 FIFA World Cup, including quarter-final games.