The
Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area (
UN/LOCODE:
USLRD &
MXNLD) is one of six bi-national metropolitan areas along the
United States-
Mexican border. The city of
Laredo is situated in the American state of
Texas on the northern bank of the
Rio Grande and
Nuevo Laredo is located in the Mexican State of
Tamaulipas in the southern bank of the river. This metropolitan area is also known as the Two Laredos or the Laredo Borderplex. The metropolitan area is made up of one county:
Webb County in Texas and three municipalities:
Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas,
Municipality of Hidalgo in
Coahuila,
Municipality of Anahuac in
Nuevo Leon in
Mexico. Two urban areas: the Laredo
Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Zona Metropolitana Nuevo Laredo (Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Zone) three cities and 12 towns make the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan area which has a total of 589,309 inhabitants according to the INEGI Census of 2005 and the United States Census estimate of 2006. The Laredo- Nuevo Laredo is connected by four International Bridges and an International Railway Bridge. According to
World Gazetteer this metropolitan area ranked 167th largest in North and South America in
2007 with an estimated population of 683,503 in 2008 it ranks 162nd with a population of 718,073. This area ranks 66th in the United States and 23rd in Mexico.
Populated Places
Laredo-Nuevo Laredo metropolitan area is formed by the following populated places:
Urban Areas
Cities
Texas
Tamaulipas
Towns
Texas
Coahuila
Tamaulipas
Nuevo Leon
History
Villa de San Agustin de Laredo was founded in 1755 by Don Tomas Sanchez while the area was part of a region called
Nuevo Santander in the
Spanish colony of
New Spain. Villa de San Agustin de Laredo got its name from
Laredo, Cantabria, Spain and in honor of Saint
Augustine of Hippo. In 1840, Laredo was the capital of the independent
Republic of the Rio Grande, set up in rebellion to the dictatorship of
Antonio López de Santa Anna and brought back into
Mexico by military force. In 1846, during the
Mexican-American War the town was occupied by the
Texas Rangers. After the war the
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ceded the land to the United States. A referendum was taken in the town, which voted overwhelmingly to petition the American military government in charge of the area to return the town to Mexico. However, this petition was rejected, and in response the bulk of the population moved over the river into Mexican territory to found the new town of
Nuevo Laredo.
The origin of name of Laredo is unclear. Some scholars say the name might stem from Glaretum which means "sandy, rocky place" others state that Laredo stems from Euskaro and means "beautiful prairies. Laredo might also stem from Laridae which means gull or it might be made up of two Latin words lar which means home and edo which means birth.
Population Growth
| Year
| Population
| Count Type |
| 1990
| 343,442
| Census |
| 2000
| 519,801
| Census |
| 2007
| 683,503
| Estimate |
| 2008
| 718,073
| Estimate |
Economy
Trade
More than 47% of United States international trade headed for Mexico and more than 36% of Mexican international trade crosses through the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo port of entries. This is the reason that the borderplex's economy rotates around commercial and industrial warehousing, import, and export. The city of Laredo has an airport called
Laredo International Airport which has one-way flights to
Houston,
Dallas, and
Las Vegas. The city of Nuevo Laredo has the
Quetzalcóatl International Airport which has daily flights to
Mexico City. These airports also handle merchandise to export to the neighboring country. The Laredo-Nuevo Laredo port of entry has
five international bridges crossing the
Rio Grande in
2007.
International Bridges
Major Highways
Major Highways in Laredo and their starting and ending points:
- *Complete List of Highways in Laredo, Texas
Major Highways in Nuevo Laredo and their starting and ending points:
Retail Sales
Retail sales also helps the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo economy, it attracts shoppers from Northern Mexico and South Texas. There are 2 indoor shopping malls located in the area and dozens of plazas. The Streets of Laredo Urban Mall is an association created by businesses located in Iturbide Street in the San Agustin historical district to beautify and renovate the area. By 2009 Laredo will have an additional 2 malls which are currently under construction:
Media
Television
The Laredo Borderplex has 14 television stations, 8 in Laredo and 6 located in Nuevo Laredo. They are affiliated with United States and Mexico's major networks including
KVTV CBS affiliate,
KGNS NBC affiliate,
KXOF FOX affiliate,
KGNS The CW affiliate,
KLDO Univision affiliate,
KETF Telefutura,
XHLAT TV Azteca 7 affiliate,
XHLNA TV Azteca 13 affiliate,
XHBR XEW affiliate, and other
Televisa networks and independent stations.
- *Complete list of television stations in the Laredo Borderplex area
Radio
There are 13 AM radio stations (8 in Nuevo Laredo five in Laredo) and 20 FM radio stations (8 in Laredo 12 in Nuevo Laredo). Formats available in the region are: Classic Rock, Country, Easy Listening,
Urban Contemporary, International, Mexican Regional Music, Spanish Contemporary, Spanish Christian, Spanish Talk, and Tejano.
- *Complete list of AM radio stations in the Laredo Borderplex area
- *Complete list of FM radio stations in the Laredo Borderplex area
Newspapers
Laredo has four English newspapers:
Laredo Morning Times, LareDOS, Laredo Chameleon, and LaredoPolitics. Nuevo Laredo has four Spanish newspapers: El Diario de Nuevo Laredo, El Mañana de Nuevo Laredo, Primera Hora, and Ultima Hora. Other out of town newspapers are sold in the most sold are
San Antonio Express,
Corpus Christi Caller Times,
El Norte de Monterrey,
New York Times,
El Universal (Mexico City), and
USA Today.
Sports
Laredo is home to four semiprofessional sports teams. The
Laredo Bucks are a
Central Hockey League hockey team in the Southern Conference's Southeast Division. The Bucks have been the League's Champion twice in
2003 and
2005. The Laredo Heat is a
Premier Development League soccer team in the Southern Conference's Mid South Division. Laredo are the current USL Premier Development League champions, having defeated 2006 champions Michigan Bucks in a penalty shootout, following a 0-0 draw in the 2007 championship game. The Laredo Broncos are a baseball team in the
United League. Nuevo Laredo is home to the
Mexican Soccer League's Second Division Bravos de Nuevo Laredo. Both Laredo were home to the
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos which were the only
Mexican Baseball League team to play in both the United States and Mexico. The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos were the Mexican Baseball League Champions in
1953,
1954,
1958,
1977, and
1989. In 2008 the Tecolotes came back to Nuevo Laredo and they are known as the Tecolotres de Nuevo Laredo.
Gallery
Pictures of Laredo, Texas
Pictures of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
External links
References
See also