Huauchinango

The city of Huauchinango is located about 141 km north from the state capital of Puebla with a driving time of about four hours due to the rugged terrain. As of 2010, the city was classified as medium-sized with a population of 56,206. The main activities of the city and surrounding areas are agriculture, commerce, petroleum and electricity, especially floriculture, with the growing of azaleas, dahlias, violets and others. Many of these can be seen in the city's plazas and other green areas. The historic center of the city is marked by traditional architecture with its pitched roofs covered in red tile and iron-railed balconies. The interior of a number of these structures feature ceiling roses or soffits, most of which date from the time of the Mexican Revolution. The center of the city is the Plaza de Armas main square with the main streets of the center all leading to it. The plaza is filled with gardens and walkways and surrounded by some of the most important buildings. One of these is the municipal palace with a façade with two sets of arches, of which the upper set serves as a balcony. Feria de las Flores The annual celebration of the Señor del Santo Entierro gave rise to the city's main commercial fair, the Feria de las Flores (Flower Fair), celebrating the main agricultural product of the municipality. It began in 1938 coinciding with the religious event and now runs for nine days beginning on the first Sunday of Lent. It includes dances, cockfights, charreada and parades. It exhibits locally grown flowers and ornamental plants such as azaleas along with cultural items such as paintings by local artists, films, plays and recitals. The highlight is the crowning of the Reina de las Flores (Flower Queen) done by the Governor of the state of Puebla. In 1982, the state began to promote the event nationally and internationally. It is still dedicated to the patron saint of the city, the Señor del Santo Entierro. The 2011 event brought in an estimated ten million pesos to the city. ==The municipality==

The city of Huauchinango is the seat of government for 71 active communities, which together cover an area of and have a total population of 97,753. However, 57.5% of this population lives in the city proper. About eleven percent of the population has no schooling at all, with about fifteen percent completing only primary and nineteen percent completing only middle school. The average years of schooling in the municipality is 7.9 years. ==History==

The name is derived from the Nahuatl phrase Cuauhchinanco which means within a wall of trees. It has a coat of arms which consists of a rampant lion in gold on a black background. The first Spanish ruler for the area was Juan de Jaso, who was in charge of the encomienda. Tribute at this time consisted of clothing, honey, wax, liquidambar, chairs, labor in cotton and maize fields, and other services and household products. Huauchinango would remain an encomienda until the 18th century, with the last encomendero being José Sarmiento de Valldares, Count of Moctezuma and Duke of Atlixco. In 1792, it became part of the Puebla province. During the 19th century, troops from the area fought in the Mexican War of Independence, the Mexican American War and the French Intervention in Mexico, especially the Battle of Puebla. The French were expelled from the town in 1863 by General Miguel Negrete. In 1861, the town's official name became Huauchinango de Degollado to honor Reform War hero, Santos Degollado. In 1863, it became a local headquarters for Liberal forces. During the Mexican Revolution, the town was taken in June 1914 by Francisco I. Madero follower of Emiliano Márquez. It was taken again in 1915 by a faction under the leadership of Coronel Alejandro Denis. The annual celebration to honor the patron saint of the city, the Señor del Santo Entierro was officially declared in 1923. This annual event gave rise to the city's major commercial event, the Feria de las Flores starting in 1938. In 1982, the state of Puebla began to promote the event nationally and internationally. ==Geography==

The area around the city is filled with dozens of waterfalls, streams, dams and pine forest, which has not varied too much since the arrival of the Chichimecas. The municipality is located in the Sierra Norte de Puebla region, which is part of the Sierra Madre Oriental. The terrain is rugged with numerous mountains, waterfalls and deep depressions, with altitudes varying from between 1000 and 3000 meters above sea level. The highest altitudes are found in the southwest with the lowest areas in the northeast near the Necaxa and Tenango Dams. Main peaks include Teochocatitla, Huitzipetl, Azacamitl, Ixipetl, Chiltepetl, Cojuinalayola, Osamatípetl, Netatiltépetl and Tlahuatzapila. A noted peak near the city is Necaxaltepetl whose summit is frequently climbed by hikers. Hydrography Most of the municipality is part of the Necaxa River basin with the extreme northeast belonging to the San Marcos River basin. The Nexaca forms in the south of the municipality, flowing southwest to northwest through deep ravines and forming waterfalls such as the Salto Chico and Salto Grande, both of which are used to generate electricity. The river feeds the Necaxa Dam along with tributaries such as the Texcapa, Chapultepec, La Malva, Hayatlaco, Dos Puentes, Xoctongo, Mazontla and Cuacuila. In the north, the main river is the Naupan, which is a tributary of the San Marcos River. Part of the Necaxa Dam reservoir is in the municipality. This dam was construction in 1900 and filled by the waters of the Necaxa and Tenango Rivers. In addition to water storage, the dam also generates electricity for the area. Other notable waterfalls include the Ocpaco, Totolapa and Teopancingo. Climate The area is one of the wettest in the state of Puebla, mostly due to moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The municipality has two climates. One is humid and temperate with rains year round and an average annual temperature of between . The other is semi hot and semi-humid with rains all year and an average annual temperature over . The latter is found in the lowest elevations on the east side. Flora and fauna Wild vegetation mostly consists of forest of pines and pine-holm oak, warm climate mountain forest, and some high growth rainforest in isolated pockets. Wildlife includes armadillos, foxes, ducks, rabbits, moles, opossums, bats, with some endangered species such as deer, wild cats, porcupines and coyotes. ==Economy==

The main economy activity for the municipality is agriculture, especially floriculture, which specializes in azaleas. The municipality grows 1,600 varieties of azaleas. There are trout farms in Teopancingo. Carp is raised in the Tenango Dam. Handcrafts include embroidered blouses, baskets, amate paper, and the weaving of belts, skirts, quechquemetls and more. There are also small industries which manufacture shoes and tile. The municipality has seventeen hotels. Four kilometers outside of the city is the Puente Totolapa, which is a trout farm and day camping destination. Most people come to fish but it also offers hiking, mountain biking and swimming. ==References==