Parras

For the town in Aragón, Spain, see Las Parras de Castellote.

Parras de la Fuente (pronounced [ˈparas ðe la ˈfwente] ^ⓘ) is a city located in the southern part of the Mexican state of Coahuila. The city serves as the municipal seat of the surrounding Parras Municipality, which has an area of 9,271.7 km² (3,579.8 sq mi).

Parras, Coahuila
City
Parras de la Fuente
Parras, Coahuila Location in Mexico Show map of Coahuila Parras, Coahuila Parras, Coahuila (Mexico) Show map of Mexico
Coordinates: 25°26′25″N 102°10′45″W
Country	Mexico
State	Coahuila
Municipality	Parras
Founded	February 18, 1598
Founded as	Villa de Santa María de las Parras
Founded by	Antón Martín Zapata Juan Agustín de Espinosa
Elevation	1,500 m (4,900 ft)
Population  (2010)
• Total	44,472
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)

At the census of 2020, the population was 44,472.^[1] There are many factories that produce denim and Parras is also a source for Mexican wine. It was the first wine growing region in the Americas.

History

The former Hacienda del Rosario is the place where Parras de la Fuente was founded in 1598, by Capitán Antón Martín de Zapata. The revolutionary and President of Mexico Francisco I. Madero was born in 1873.

In 1846, during the Mexican–American War, Parras was held by American troops. Additionally, French forces were defeated there in 1866 during the French intervention in Mexico.

The oldest winery in the Americas is in Parras de la Fuente, and was founded by Lorenzo García on August 19, 1597. Casa Madero is home to the oldest winery.^[2]

The church of Santa María de las Parras which is the oldest religious building in Mexico (1598).

Features

Parras de la Fuente is a Pueblo Mágico, designated in 2004. Parras is called the oasis of the semi-desert of Coahuila state. It has bathing resorts (which were used to generate electric power for industry usage).

The Municipality President's building, a historical attraction, is a replica of the State's Government Palace in Saltillo. The Hostal el Farol is the historic former house of General Raúl Madero. San Ignacio de Loyola church was built in the 17th century. Santo Madero church is located on an extinct volcano plug just north of the town.

Academic programs

• Parras Summer Program, in Spanish language and culture and appropriate technology; a program of Humboldt State University in Arcata, California

Notable people

• Senator Francisco José Madero González, who was interim Governor of Coahuila from August 12, 1981, to November 30, 1981.^[3]

Sister city

• Grapevine, Texas, USA

See also

• Pueblo Mágico