Santa Cruz de Rosales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santa Cruz de Rosales
|
|
|---|---|
|
Town
|
|
 Santa Cruz de Rosales
Location in Mexico
|
|
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Chihuahua |
| Municipality | Rosales |
| Elevation | 1,170 m (3,840 ft) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 5,570 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) |
Santa Cruz de Rosales is a town in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. It's the main town of the Rosales municipality. In 2010, about 5,570 people lived there. This was a small increase from 5,377 people in 2005.
Contents
History of Santa Cruz de Rosales
The area around Rosales, especially near the San Pedro River, was explored by Franciscans in the 1600s. They settled among the local Conchos people. In 1714, these missionaries started a new mission called Santa Cruz de Tapacolmes. It was first located on the east side of the San Pedro River.
In 1753, the mission moved to its current spot on the west side of the river. This new location was easier to defend from attacks. The land for the new settlement was given by Sergeant Major Juan Antonio Trasviña y Retes and the governor of Nueva Vizcaya, Manuel de San Juan y Santa Cruz. The name Tapacolmes came from the Native Americans that Trasviña y Retes brought from the Ojinaga area to live there.
Santa Cruz de Tapacolmes grew into an important town. At first, it was part of the larger area of Chihuahua. In 1820, it became the main town of the new Tapacolmes Municipality, and they built a town hall. On July 12, 1831, the Congress of Chihuahua officially made it a Villa (a type of town). The town and municipality were renamed Santa Cruz de Rosales. This was to honor Víctor Rosales, a hero of the Mexican War of Independence. Over time, people started calling it simply Rosales.
In 1848, after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, the US army, led by General Sterling Price, entered Chihuahua again. They claimed there was still a war. The governor of Chihuahua, Ángel Trías Álvarez, moved his government to Rosales. On March 16, 1848, Price's forces attacked the Mexican soldiers in what is known as the Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales. The Mexicans fought bravely under Governor Trías until they had to give up. Later, Price's leaders in the US told him to go back to El Paso and told him off for his actions.
In 1862, during the French invasion of Mexico, President Benito Juárez traveled north. He visited Rosales and was welcomed with a big party. During the party, he danced to a polka called "La Escobita." He liked it so much that when he heard it again in Chihuahua, he called it La Segunda de Rosales (The Second from Rosales). This name stuck and is still used today.
Towards the end of the 1800s and early 1900s, Rosales became less important. The nearby town of Meoqui grew because the central railway passed through it. However, in the second half of the 1900s, the Rosales area got a big boost. In the 1940s, the government built the Francisco I. Madero Dam, also known as the Las Vírgenes Dam. This dam, located just five kilometers upstream from Rosales, helped create Irrigation District 05. This area is now one of the most productive farming regions in Chihuahua. The Municipality of Delicias, which was formed in 1935 from parts of Rosales and Meoqui, benefited greatly from this water project.
On January 22, 1992, the Congress of Chihuahua changed the town's name back to its original: Santa Cruz de Rosales.
Geography of Santa Cruz de Rosales
Location
Santa Cruz de Rosales is in the central part of the state of Chihuahua. It sits in the valley of the San Pedro River. This river is one of the main rivers in Chihuahua and flows into the Conchos River. The town is located on the northern edge of the Rosales municipality. Its exact location is 28°11′13″N 105°33′16″W / 28.18694°N 105.55444°W, and it is about 1,180 meters (3,871 feet) above sea level.
Two state roads connect Santa Cruz de Rosales to its nearby towns. Meoqui is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away, and Delicias is about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away. The road to Meoqui also connects to Congregación Ortíz, which is the second most populated town in the municipality.
Population of Santa Cruz de Rosales
Based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census, Santa Cruz de Rosales has a total population of 5,570 people. This includes 2,746 men and 2,824 women. This makes it the 27th-largest municipality in Chihuahua by population.
See also
In Spanish: Santa Cruz de Rosales para niños
