Aguascalientes is the name of both a state of Mexico and that state's capital city. This article is about the city. For the state, see: state of Aguascalientes.

The city of Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes in western central Mexico. It stands on the banks of the Río Aguascalientes , 1888 metres above sea level, at .

The city was founded on 22 October 1575 and elevated to city status in 1816. It became the capital of the newly formed state when it was split off from neighbouring Zacatecas in 1835.

People from Aguascalientes (both the city and the state) are known by the whimsical Spanish demonym hidrocálidos.

Industry and economy

There is a Nissan plant located in the city which manufactures the Sentra.

Cultural life

The city is home to the first-division football team, Necaxa. Aguascalientes also organises the largest fair held in Mexico, the San Marcos National Fair (Feria Nacional de San Marcos ), which takes place over the last two weeks of April and the first two of May, and receives almost 7 million visitors every year.

Aguascalientes is home to several outstanding museums and one of the country's leading provincial theatres:

• Teatro Aguascalientes – the Aguascalientes Theatre
• Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo)
• Guadalupe Posada Museum (Museo Guadalupe Posada) life and work of José Guadalupe Posada
• Aguascalientes Museum (Museo Aguascalientes)
• Museo Descubre – interactive science and technology museum, aimed at providing children with a hands-on learning experience

Famous hidrocálidos

• Antonio Acevedo Escobedo , writer
• José María Bocanegra, president
• Francisco Díaz de León , artist
• Gabriel Fernández Ledesma , artist
• Manuel M. Ponce , musician
• José Guadalupe Posada, artist
• Saturnino Herrán, artist
• Ramón López Velarde , poet

External links

• http://www.muniags.gob.mx/ Municipal website
• http://www.todoaguascalientes.com/ News website