Celaya

Celaya, city (1990 pop. 214,856), Guanajuato state, W central Mexico. In a region watered by the Lerma irrigation works, Celaya is the center of a prosperous corn, cereal, and bean growing area. Cattle raising and the associated dairy industry are also important. Founded in 1571, Celaya was frequently involved in Mexican wars. It was the first city to be captured (Sept. 28, 1810) by Hidalgo y Costilla. In 1915, Álvaro Obregón decisively defeated Francisco Villa at Celaya.

Celaya is a city and its surrounding municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413. The municipality for which the city serves as municipal seat, had a population of 415,869. The city is located in the geographic center of the municipality, which has an areal extent of 553.18 km² (213.58 sq mi) and includes many smaller outlying communities, the largest of which are San Miguel Octopan, Rincón de Tamayo and San Juan de la Vega.

There are many smaller towns around Celaya including Rincón De Tamayo, Tarimoro, Salvatierra, La Moncada, Panales Jamaica (Cañones), Panales Galera, La Calera, La Estancia, La Noria, La Acebuche, Cacalote, and Charco Largo.

An explosion in an improperly protected gunpowder and fireworks warehouse in September, 1999, killed over 60 people and badly injured over 300

Celaya is also famous for the production of cajeta.

The Celaya Airport has as of January 22 2007 flights in and out, opening the city to tourism.

Born in Celaya

• Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras (b. October 13, 1759, d. August 3, 1833), Architect and painter. Designed the beautiful El Carmen church in Celaya.
• Raúl Velasco (b. April 24, 1933, d. November 26, 2006) Entertainer and TV Producer. Was the host of the popular marathonic TV program Siempre en Domingo.
• Octavio Ocampo (b. February 28, 1943) Painter famous for his "metamorphosis" style.
• Mauricio Ochmann (born November 16, 1977), Actor.
• Adela Patino Born February 11, 1965 AKA Adela Fernandez (La Gallera), Singer, Composer.
• Eric del Castillo (born July 22, 1930 in Celaya, Guanajuato) is a well-known Mexican actor.

He is the father of popular Mexican soap opera actress Kate del Castillo. He has played in numerous telenovelas (soap operas) for the Mexican television, his most notable performances being in La Mentira along with his daughter Kate and Niña amada mía. He has also participated in many movies, of which the most known is El Ángel exterminador by Luis Buñuel (1962).

Universities and Schools in Celaya

• Universidad Lasallista Benavente
• Universidad de Celaya
• Instituto Tecnologico de Celaya
• Instituto Tecnologico de Roque
• Escuela Bilingue Guilford
• Instituto Andersen
• Colegio Marista
• Colegio Arturo Rosenblueth
• Instituto Kipling
• Westminster Royal College
• Tecnologico de Monterrey
• Sir Winston Churchill Institute
• Instituto Bilingue Oxford

See also

• The Battle of Celaya in 1915 was a turning point in the Mexican Revolution. Celaya was also the capital of the state of Guanajuato for a short period.

Sister cities

• Carrboro, North Carolina, United States
• Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
• Guernica, Spain
• Oaxaca, Mexico
• Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico

References

• Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
• Guanajuato Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

External links

• PODCelaya.com Business Virtual Directory
• Municipio de Celaya Official website
• Diócesis de Celaya