Piedras Negras, Coahuila

Piedras Negras on the map of Coahuila

Piedras Negras is a city with 150 178 inhabitants ( 2010) and seat of the municipality in the northeast of the Mexican state of Coahuila.

The city lies on the Rio Grande ( Río Bravo del Norte span ), straddling the border between Mexico and the United States is here, across from Eagle Pass, Texas. The two cities form a binational metropolitan area and are two roads and a railway bridge connected. On the territory of Piedras Negras is also an international airport.

Piedras Negras is the seat of a Catholic bishop, and has a cathedral, which was built between 2002 and 2008.

History

The city of Piedras Negras was established in 1849. She received in 1888 in honor of Mexican President Porfirio Díaz the name of Ciudad Porfirio Díaz, but in 1911 changed back again.

" Piedras Negras " in German means "Black Rock". The name comes from a coal deposits in the area. The mine closed but after a fire in 1905.

On 4 April 2004, the Río Escondido occurred ( a tributary of the Rio Grande) on the shore and killed about 80 people. On 24 April 2007, a tornado moved through the two cities Piedras Negras and Eagle Pass. As a result, were lost in Piedras Negras three, in Eagle Pass seven deaths, numerous injuries, and severe damage.

Population Development

Attractions

Main attractions of Piedras Negras are the cultural house, the ruins of Mission San Bernardo and numerous museums.

Twinning

The city has completed a twinning with the town of Sandy in the U.S. state of Utah.

Personalities

• Héctor Ruiz ( born 1945 ), member of the Supervisory Board of the U.S. chip manufacturer GlobalFoundries, was born in Piedras Negras.