Mérida, Yucatán

Mérida (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmeɾiða] (listen)) is the capital and largest city in Yucatan state in Mexico, as well as the largest city of the Yucatán Peninsula. The city is located in the northwest part of the state, about 35 kilometres (22 miles) off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city is also the municipal seat of the Municipality of Mérida, which includes the city and the areas around it.

Mérida
City
Collage of the City of Mérida
Coat of arms
Mérida
Location in Yucatán
Coordinates: 20°58′12″N 89°37′12″W
CountryMexico
StateYucatán
MunicipalityMérida
City foundedJanuary 6, 1542
Government
 • Mayor Renán Barrera Concha (2018–2021) (PAN)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2015)[1]
 • Total892,363
 • Density858.41/km2 (2,223.3/sq mi)
 • Demonym
Meridian
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Postal code
97000
Area code(s)999
Major airportManuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport
IATA CodeMID
ICAO CodeMMMD
INEGI Code310500001[2]
ClimateAw
Websitemerida.gob.mx

According to the 2015 census, the population of Mérida was 892,363, ranking 14th among the most populous Mexican cities. The Greater Mérida metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Mérida, Umán and Kanasín and had a population of 1,035,238 in the 2010 census. The municipality's area is 858.41 km2 (331.43 sq mi). Among the four cities that share the same name around the world, it is the largest -the other three being in Spain, Venezuela, and the Philippines.

The city, like much of the state, has heavy Mayan, Spanish, French, British, Lebanese and to a lesser extent Dutch influences. Mérida has the highest percentage of indigenous population within any large city in Mexico. The Maya are approximately 60% of the population.

History
House of Montejo in a 19th-century lithograph
Mérida city center in 1981
One of Merida's twin mansions “Las Casas Gemelas”
Cathedral of Mérida (1598)
See also: Timeline of Mérida, Mexico

There were three Spanish conquistadors named "Francisco de Montejo": Francisco de Montejo "el Adelantado" ("The Lieutenant", the eldest); Francisco de Montejo y León "el Mozo" ("The Boy", his son); and Francisco de Montejo "el Sobrino" ("The Nephew"). Mérida was founded in 1542 by Montejo y León ("el Mozo") and named after the town of Mérida in Extremadura, Spain. It was built on the site of the Maya city of T'hó (/d̥ʼχøʼ/), which was also called Ichkanzihóo or Ichcaanzihó (/isʃkan'siχœ/; "City of Five Hills") in reference to its pyramids.

Carved Maya stones from ancient T'ho were used to build the Spanish colonial buildings which are numerous in downtown Mérida; these stones are visible, for instance, in the walls of the main cathedral. Much of Mérida's architecture from the colonial period through the 18th century and 19th century is still standing in the centro historico of the city. From colonial times through the mid-19th century, Mérida was a walled city intended to protect the Peninsular and Criollo residents from periodic revolts by the indigenous Maya. Several of the old Spanish city gates survive, but modern Mérida has expanded well beyond the old city walls.

Late in the 19th century and the early 20th Century, the area surrounding Mérida prospered from the production of henequén. For a brief period, around the turn of the 20th century, Mérida was said to house more millionaires than any other city in the world. The result of this concentration of wealth can still be seen today. Many large and elaborate homes still line the main avenue called Paseo de Montejo, though few are occupied today by individual families. Many of these homes have been restored and now serve as office buildings for banks and insurance companies. Korean immigration to Mexico began in 1905 when more than a thousand people arrived in Yucatán from the city of Incheon. These first Korean migrants settled around Mérida as workers in henequen plantations.

Completed in 1911 by Camilo and Ernesto Cámara Zavala, “Las Casas Gemelas” (The Twin Houses), are two side by side French and Spanish style mansions that remain from the early 20th Century. They are two of only a few houses that are still used as residences on Paseo Montejo from that era. They are owned by the Barbachano and Molina Méndez families. During the Porfiriato, the Barbachano house held cultural events that hosted artists, poets, and writers. In the mid-1900s, the Barbachanos hosted such luminaries as Princecess Grace and Prince Ranieri of Monaco, as well as first lady of the U.S., Jacqueline Kennedy.[3]

Mérida has one of the largest centro histórico districts in the Americas (surpassed only by Mexico City and Havana, Cuba). Colonial homes line the city streets to this day, in various states of disrepair and renovation; the historical center of Mérida is currently undergoing a minor renaissance as more and more people are moving into the old buildings and reviving their former glory.

In August 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the city on his third trip to Mexico.[4] The city has been host to two bilateral United States – Mexico conferences, the first in 1999 (Bill Clinton – Ernesto Zedillo) and the second in 2007 (George W. Bush – Felipe Calderón).

In June 2007, Mérida moved its city museum to the renovated Post Office building next to the downtown market. The Museum of the City of Mérida houses important artifacts from the city's history, as well as an art gallery. Mérida hosted the VI Summit of Association of Caribbean States, in April 2014.

Mérida is the cultural and financial capital of the Yucatán Peninsula, as well as the capital city of the state of Yucatán. In recent years, important science competitions and World events have been held in Mérida – FITA Archery World Cup Finals, the International Cosmic Ray Conference, a Physics Olympiad, etc.

Economy

The Yucatan Peninsula, in particular the capital city Merida, is in a prime location which allows for economic growth. Merida has been a popular location for investment.[5] This, in turn, has allowed the Yucatan economy to grow at three times the rate of the national average.[5] Since Merida is the capital city of Yucatan and one of the largest cities in this section of Mexico, region-based urbanization is highly influential, in comparison to city-based urbanization.[6] As the capital city of the state of Yucatan, Merida has its advantages, "Cities, particularly capital cities, are where the vast majority of modern productive activities are concentrated in the developing world and where the vast majority of paid employment opportunities are located."[7] Many resources have been allocated to this region, but not everyone prospers with the influx of these resources. High rates of urban poverty can be attributed to the rapid development of these cities and resource and service allocation can be disproportionate between the rich and the poor of the area. Due to the rapid expansion of these cities, there is uneven distribution of services among members of the community.[7] Due to the developing economy, based on urbanization of the city, high rates between the social classes are present; notable zones throughout the city are visible marking where the upper or lower class are present.[8]

Geography
The city as seen from the 18th floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel
Monument to the Yucatán caste war

Mérida is located in the northwest part of the state of Yucatán, which occupies the northern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. To the east is the state of Quintana Roo, to the west is the state of Campeche, to the north is the Gulf of Mexico, and far to the south is the state of Chiapas. The city is also located in the Chicxulub Crater. It has a very flat topography and is only 30 feet (9 m) above sea level. The land outside of Mérida is covered with smaller scrub trees and former henequen fields. Almost no surface water exists, but several cenotes (underground springs and rivers) are found across the state. Mérida has a centro histórico typical of colonial Spanish cities. The street grid is based on odd-numbered streets running east/west and even-numbered streets running north/south, with Calles 60 and 61 bounding the "Plaza Grande" in the heart of the city. The more affluent neighborhoods are located to the north and the most densely populated areas are to the south. The Centro Histórico area is becoming increasingly popular with Americans and other expatriates who are rescuing and restoring the classic colonial structures. In 2007 the Los Angeles Times recently noted this surge of interest in rescuing Mérida's historic downtown.[9]

Climate

Mérida features a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen: Aw).[10] The city lies in the trade wind belt close to the Tropic of Cancer, with the prevailing wind from the east. Mérida's climate is hot and its humidity is moderate to high, depending on the time of year. The average annual high temperature is 33 °C (91 °F), ranging from 28 °C (82 °F) in January to 36 °C (97 °F) in May, but temperatures often rise above 38 °C (100 °F) in the afternoon in this time. Low temperatures range between 18 °C (64 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in May and June. It is most often a few degrees hotter in Mérida than in coastal areas due to its inland location and low elevation. The rainy season runs from June through October, associated with the Mexican monsoon which draws warm, moist air landward. Easterly waves and tropical storms also affect the area during this season.

Climate data for Mérida (1951–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 39.5
(103.1)		 39.5
(103.1)		 42.0
(107.6)		 43.0
(109.4)		 43.0
(109.4)		 41.5
(106.7)		 40.0
(104.0)		 43.0
(109.4)		 40.0
(104.0)		 39.0
(102.2)		 39.0
(102.2)		 39.5
(103.1)		 43.0
(109.4)
Average high °C (°F) 30.8
(87.4)		 31.5
(88.7)		 34.0
(93.2)		 35.6
(96.1)		 36.3
(97.3)		 35.3
(95.5)		 35.0
(95.0)		 34.9
(94.8)		 34.2
(93.6)		 32.7
(90.9)		 31.5
(88.7)		 30.6
(87.1)		 33.5
(92.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 24.0
(75.2)		 24.4
(75.9)		 26.3
(79.3)		 27.9
(82.2)		 29.0
(84.2)		 28.5
(83.3)		 28.2
(82.8)		 28.1
(82.6)		 27.9
(82.2)		 26.8
(80.2)		 25.4
(77.7)		 24.0
(75.2)		 26.7
(80.1)
Average low °C (°F) 17.2
(63.0)		 17.3
(63.1)		 18.6
(65.5)		 20.2
(68.4)		 21.7
(71.1)		 21.6
(70.9)		 21.4
(70.5)		 21.3
(70.3)		 21.6
(70.9)		 20.8
(69.4)		 19.3
(66.7)		 17.5
(63.5)		 19.9
(67.8)
Record low °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)		 9.5
(49.1)		 9.0
(48.2)		 10.0
(50.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 10.0
(50.0)		 7.0
(44.6)		 7.0
(44.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 38.4
(1.51)		 32.2
(1.27)		 22.5
(0.89)		 24.4
(0.96)		 69.4
(2.73)		 138.3
(5.44)		 158.7
(6.25)		 140.7
(5.54)		 183.1
(7.21)		 127.9
(5.04)		 56.2
(2.21)		 45.1
(1.78)		 1,036.9
(40.82)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 4.2 3.3 2.3 1.9 4.6 10.8 13.4 12.8 13.9 9.7 5.4 4.3 86.6
Average relative humidity (%) 70 68 63 64 63 71 72 73 76 75 75 73 70
Mean monthly sunshine hours 208.6 205.9 241.8 254.1 273.2 231.0 246.1 247.9 208.5 218.5 212.4 201.8 2,749.8
Source 1: Servicio Meteorologico Nacional (humidity 1981–2000)[11][12]
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990)[13]

Governance
Merida's Municipal Palace, seat of the City Hall and Mayor's office.
Interior of the government palace building decorated with murals by Fernando Castro Pacheco

Mérida is the constitutional capital of the state of Yucatán. State government officials reside here. The municipal or local government is invested under the authority of a City Council (Ayuntamiento) which it is seated at the Municipal Palace of Merida, located at the city's downtown. The City Council is presided by a municipal president or mayor, and an assembly conformed by a number of regents (regidores) and trustees (síndicos). The current Mayor is Renán Barrera Concha who took office on September 1, 2018.

Culture
Italian and French-style architecture is common at city downtown and the Paseo de Montejo avenue.
Yucatec Maya architecture in The Americas Park (Parque de las Américas) located near downtown Merida. The park is a social and cultural place for the residents.

Mérida has been nicknamed "The White City" (La Ciudad Blanca), though the exact origin of this moniker is not clear. Some explanations include the common color of its old buildings painted and decorated with "cal" or the fact that the residents keep the city particularly clean. Mérida was named after the Spanish town of the same name, originally (in Latin) Augústa Emérita (see Mérida, Spain). Mérida has served as the American Capital of Culture in the years 2000 and 2017.

As the state and regional capital, Mérida is a cultural center, featuring multiple museums, art galleries, restaurants, movie theatres, and shops. Mérida retains an abundance of colonial buildings and is a cultural center with music and dancing playing an important part in day-to-day life. At the same time it is a modern city with a range of shopping malls, auto dealerships, hotels, restaurants, and leisure facilities. The famous avenue Paseo de Montejo is lined with original sculpture. Each year, the MACAY Museum in Mérida mounts a new sculpture installation, featuring works from Mexico and one other chosen country. Each exhibit remains for ten months of the year. In 2007, sculptures on Paseo de Montejo featured works by artists from Mexico and Japan.

Yucatán's Maya Museum

Mérida and the state of Yucatán have traditionally been isolated from the rest of the country by geography, creating a unique culture. The conquistadors found the Mayan culture to be incredibly resilient, and their attempts to eradicate Mayan tradition, religion, and culture had only moderate success. The surviving remnants of the Mayan culture can be seen every day, in speech, dress, and in both written and oral histories. It is especially apparent in holidays like Hanal Pixan, a Mayan/Catholic Day of the Dead celebration. It falls on November 1 and 2 (one day for adults, and one for children) and is commemorated by elaborate altars dedicated to dead relatives. It is a compromise between the two religions with crucifixes mingled with skull decorations and food sacrifices/offerings. Múkbil pollo (pronounced/'mykβil pʰoʎoˀ/) is the Mayan tamal pie offered to the dead on All Saints' Day, traditionally accompanied by a cup of hot chocolate. Many Yucatecans enjoy eating this on and around the Day of the Dead. And, while complicated to make, they can be purchased and even shipped via air. (Muk-bil literally means "to put in the ground" or to cook in a pib, an underground oven).

For English speakers or would-be speakers, Mérida has the Mérida English Library,[14] a lending library with an extensive collection of English books, videos, tapes, and children's books. The library is also the site for expatriate meetings, children's storytelling hours, and other cultural events.

Mérida is also home to the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra, which plays regular seasons at the Jose Peon Contreras Theatre on Calle 60 and features classical music, jazz, and opera.[15]

Notable people from the town include Conchi León, a playwright, actress, director and Yucatecan theater teacher.[16]

Food

Yucatán food is its own unique style and is very different from what most people consider "Mexican" food. It includes influences from the local Mayan cuisine, as well as Caribbean, Mexican, European and Middle Eastern foods. Tropical fruit, such as coconut, pineapple, plum, tamarind and mamey are often used in Yucatán cuisine.

Papadzules, a Maya meal consisting of pumpkin seed-soaked corn tortillas filled with egg, spices and other seasonings, is an ancient dish of the Yucatán.

There are many regional dishes. Some of them are:

  • Poc Chuc, a Mayan/Yucateco version of boiled/grilled pork
  • Salbutes and Panuchos. Salbutes are soft, cooked tortillas with lettuce, tomato, turkey and avocado on top. Panuchos feature fried tortillas filled with black beans, and topped with turkey or chicken, lettuce, avocado and pickled onions. Habanero chiles accompany most dishes, either in solid or puréed form, along with fresh limes and corn tortillas.
  • Queso Relleno is a gourmet dish featuring ground pork inside of a carved edam cheese ball served with tomato sauce
  • Pavo en Relleno Negro (also known locally as Chilmole) is turkey meat stew cooked with a black paste made from roasted chiles, a local version of the mole de guajalote found throughout Mexico. The meat soaked in the black soup is also served in tacos, sandwiches and even in panuchos or salbutes.
  • Sopa de Lima is a lime soup with a chicken broth base often accompanied by shredded chicken or turkey and crispy tortilla.
  • Papadzules. Egg "tacos" bathed with pumpkin seed sauce and tomatoes.
  • Cochinita pibil is a marinated pork dish, by far the most renowned from Yucatán, that is made with achiote. Achiote is a reddish spice with a distinctive flavor and peppery smell. It is also known by the Spanish (Recados) seasoning paste.
  • Bul keken (Mayan for "beans and pork") is a traditional black bean and pork soup. The soup is served in the home on Mondays in most Yucatán towns. The soup is usually served with chopped onions, radishes, chiles, and tortillas. This dish is also commonly referred to as frijol con puerco.
  • Brazo de reina (Spanish for "The Queen's Arm") is a traditional tamal dish. A long, flat tamal is topped with ground pumpkin seeds and rolled up like a roll cake. The long roll is then cut into slices. The slices are topped with a tomato sauce and a pumpkin seed garnish.
  • Tamales colados is a traditional dish made with pork/chicken, banana leaf, fresh corn masa and achiote paste, seasoned with roasted tomato sauce.

Achiote is a popular spice in the area. It is derived from the hard annatto seed found in the region. The whole seed is ground together with other spices and formed into a reddish seasoning paste, called recado rojo. The other ingredients in the paste include cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves, Mexican oregano, cumin seed, sea salt, mild black peppercorns, apple cider vinegar, and garlic.

Hot sauce in Mérida is usually made from the indigenous chiles in the area which include: Chile Xcatik, Chile Seco de Yucatán, and Chile Habanero.

Language and accent

The Spanish language spoken in the Yucatán is readily identifiable as different in comparison to the Spanish spoken all over the country, and even to non-native ears. It is heavily influenced by the Yucatec Maya language, which is spoken by a third of the population of the State of Yucatán. The Mayan language is melodic, filled with ejective consonants (p', k', and t') and "sh" sounds (represented by the letter "x" in the Mayan language). Even though so many people speak with the Mayan dialect, or in some instances the Mayan language, there is much stigma associated with it. It can be seen that elders were associated with higher status with knowledge of the language, but the younger generation saw more negative attitudes with knowledge of the language[17] This was also in direct correlation with the socioeconomic status and their overall placement in society. There is also the idea that one is not speaking in the correct manner of legitimate Mayan dialect, which also causes for more differences in the accent and overall language of the area.[17]

Due to being enclosed by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and being somewhat isolated from the rest of Mexico, Yucatecan Spanish has also preserved many words that are no longer used in many other Spanish-speaking areas of the world. However, over the years with the improvement of transportation and technology with the presence of radio, internet, and TV, many elements of the culture and language of the rest of Mexico are now slowly but consistently permeating the culture.

Apart from the Mayan language, which is the mother-tongue of many Yucatecans, students now choose to learn a foreign language such as English, which is taught in most schools.

Main sights

Historic sites
House of Montejo
60 St. near Main Plaza
Mérida Museum of Anthropology
  • Antiguo convento de Nuestra Señora de la Consolación (Nuns)(1596)
  • Barrio y Capilla de Santa Lucía (1575)
  • Barrio y Templo Parroquial del antiguo pueblo de Itzimná
  • Barrio y Templo Parroquial de San Cristóbal (1796)
  • Barrio y Templo Parroquial de San Sebastián (1706)
  • Barrio y Templo Parroquial de Santa Ana (1733)
  • Barrio y Templo Parroquial de Santa Lucía (1575)
  • Barrio y Templo Parroquial de Santiago (1637)
  • Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (1706)
  • Capilla y parque de San Juan Bautista (1552)
  • Casa de Montejo (1549)
  • Catedral de San Ildefonso (1598), first in continental América.
  • Iglesia del Jesús o de la Tercera Orden (Third Order) (1618)
  • Las Casas Gemelas aka The Twin Houses (1911)
  • Monumento à la Patria (1956)
  • Palacio de Gobierno (1892)
  • Templo de San Juan de Dios (1562)

Cultural centers
  • Centro Cultural Andrés Quintana Roo, in Santa Ana, with galleries and artistic events.
  • Centro Cultural Olimpo. Next to the Municipal Palace in the Plaza Grande.
  • Casa de la Cultura del Mayab, the Casa de Artesanías (house of handcrafts) resides there. It's in downtown Mérida.
  • Centro Estatal de Bellas Artes (CEBA). Across the El Centenario, offers classes and education in painting, music, theater, ballet, jazz, folclore, spanish dance, among others.
  • Centro Cultural del Niño Yucateco (CECUNY) in Mejorada, in a 16th-century building, with classes and workshops specifically designed for kids.
  • Centro Cultural Dante a private center within one of the major bookstores in Mérida (Librería Dante).

Museums
Yucatán's Mayan Museum (Great Museum of the Mayan World)
  • Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, Yucatán's Mayan Museum, offers a view of Yucatán's history and identity.
  • Museo de Antropología e Historia "Palacio Cantón", Yucatán's history and archaeology Museum.
  • Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Ateneo de Yucatán (MACAY), in the heart of the city right next to the Cathedral. Permanent and rotating pictorial expositions.
  • Museo de la Canción Yucateca Asociación Civil in Mejorada, honors the trova yucateca authors, Ricardo Palmerín, Guty Cárdenas, Juan Acereto, Pastor Cervera y Luis Espinosa Alcalá.
  • Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida, in the old Correos (post office) building since 2007 offers information about the city from the prehispanic times' Tho' or Ichcaanzihó to current days.
  • Museo de Historia Natural, natural history museum.
  • Museo de Arte Popular, popular art museum, offers a view of popular artistry and handcrafts among ethnic Mexican groups and cultures.
  • Museo Conmemorativo de la Inmigración Coreana a Yucatán.

Major theaters with regular shows
  • Teatro José Peón Contreras
  • Teatro Daniel Ayala Pérez
  • Teatro Mérida (Now Teatro Armando Manzanero)
  • Teatro Colón
  • Teatro Universitario Felipe Carrillo Puerto
  • Teatro Héctor Herrera

Sports

Several facilities can be found where to practice sports:

  • Estadio Salvador Alvarado in the center
  • Unidad Deportiva Kukulcán (with the major football Stadium Carlos Iturralde, Kukulcan BaseBall Park and Polifórum Zamná multipurpose arena)
  • Complejo deportivo La Inalambrica, in the west ( with archery facilities that held a world series championship )
  • Unidad deportiva Benito Juarez Garcia, in the northeast.
  • Gimnasio Polifuncional, where professional basketball team Mayas de Yucatán plays for the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional de México (LNBP) representing Yucatán.
TeamSportLeagueStadium
Leones de YucatánBaseballLiga Mexicana de BeisbolParque Kukulkán
F.C. ItzaesFootballSegunda División de MéxicoEstadio Carlos Iturralde
Venados F.C.FootballLiga de Ascenso de MéxicoEstadio Carlos Iturralde
Mayas de YucatánBasketballLiga Nacional de Baloncesto ProfesionalGimnasio Polifuncional

Transportation

Bus

City service is mostly provided by four local transportation companies: Unión de Camioneros de Yucatán (UCY), Alianza de Camioneros de Yucatán (ACY), Rápidos de Mérida, and Minis 2000. Bus transportation is at the same level or better than that of bigger cities like Guadalajara or Mexico City. Climate-controlled buses and micro-buses (smaller in size) are not uncommon.

The main bus terminal (CAME) offers first-class (ADO) and luxury services (ADO PLATINO, ADO GL) to most southern Mexico cities outside Yucatán with a fleet consisting of Mercedes Benz and Volvo buses. Shorter intrastate routes are serviced by many smaller terminals around the city, mainly in downtown.

Taxis

Several groups and unions offer Taxi transportation: Frente Único de los Trabajadores del Volante (FUTV) (white taxis), Unión de Taxistas Independientes (UTI), and Radiotaxímetros de Yucatán, among others. Some of them offer metered service, but most work based on a flat rate depending on destination. Competition has made it of more common use than it was years ago.

Taxis can be either found at one of many predefined places around the city (Taxi de Sitio), waved off along the way or called in by Radio.

Unlike the sophisticated RF counterparts in the US, a Civil Band radio is used and is equally effective. Usually a taxi will respond and arrive within 5 minutes.

Another type of Taxi service is called "Colectivo". Colectivo taxis work like small buses on a predefined route and for a small fare. Usually accommodating 8 to 10 people.

Uber also offers services in Mérida.

Air
Merida Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport: a view of the check-in room

Mérida is serviced by Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport with daily non-stop services to major cities in Mexico including Mexico City, Monterrey, Villahermosa, Cancún, Guadalajara, Tuxtla Gutierrez, and Toluca. The airport has international flights to Miami, Houston, La Havana and Toronto. As of 2006 more than 1 million passengers were using this airport every year, (1.3 in 2007). The airport is under ASUR administration.

Train

There is no longer passenger train service to the city. For a century Mérida was the hub an extensive narrow gauge railway network which was phased out in the late 20th century. The Yucatán and Campeche railway network was only connected to the rest of Mexico in 1950. Formerly the "Meridano" train ran from Mexico City to Mérida. Mérida's old train station is now a railway museum.

Roads

Main roads in and out of Mérida:

  • Mérida-Progreso (Federal 261), 33 kilometres (21 miles) long with 8 lanes. It joins the city with Yucatán's biggest port city, Progreso.
  • Mérida-Umán-Campeche (Federal 180), connects with the city of San Francisco de Campeche.
  • Mérida-Kantunil-Cancún (Federal 180), 4 lane road that becomes a Toll road at kantunil. It joins Mérida with Chichén Itzá, Valladolid and ultimately Cancún.
  • Mérida-Tizimín (Federal 176) connects Mérida with Tizimín (2nd. largest city in Yucatán).
  • Mérida-Teabo-Peto known as Mundo Maya Road Carretera del Mundo Maya, its utilized in both "convent route" Ruta de los Conventos, and linking the ancient maya city of Mayapán and Chetumal, state capitol of Quintana Roo

Health
Entrance building of the Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad

Mérida has many regional hospitals and medical centers. All of them offer full services for the city and in case of the Regional Hospitals for the whole Yucatán peninsula and neighboring states.

The city has one of the most prestigious medical faculties in Mexico (UADY). Proximity to American cities like Houston allow local Doctors to crosstrain and practice in both countries making Mérida one of the best cities in Mexico in terms of health services availability.

Hospitals:

  • Public:
    • Hospital Regional del ISSSTE
    • Hospital Ignacio García Téllez Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS)
    • Hospital Benito Juárez IMSS
    • Hospital Agustin O'Horán
    • Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad
  • Private:
    • Clínica de Mérida
    • Star Médica
    • Centro Médico de las Américas (CMA)
    • Centro de Especialidades Médicas
    • Hospital Santelena
    • Centro Médico Pensiones (CMP)

Education

In 2000 the Mérida municipality had 244 preschool institutions, 395 elementary, 136 Jr. high school (2 years middle school, 1 high), 97 High Schools and 16 Universities/Higher Education schools. Mérida has consistently held the status of having the best performing public schools in Mexico since 1996. The public school system is regulated by the Secretariat of Public Instruction.[18] Attendance is required for all students in the educational system from age 6 up to age 15.[18] Once students reach high school, they are given the option of continuing their education or not; if they chose to do so they are given two tracks in which they can graduate.[18]

Nevertheless, education in Merida has a variety of quality throughout the city. This mainly has to do with the different social strata and where they reside. Mayan indigenous population are at the bottom of the spectrum and this can be represented in the type of education that the children are receiving. Upper class is usually located in the north, as it is less populated and has higher living costs.[8] For the most part, private schools are located in the northern part of the city. The only students who attend these schools are those of high class and of non-Maya descent.[19] A distressing statistic of how this affects the indigenous communities can be noted, "In Yucatan only 8.9 % of the Mayans have achieved junior high and solely the 6.6% have studied beyond that point. The 83.4% of the Mayans 15 years old and older dropped out of school before finishing junior high."[20]

Many laws have been set in place to avoid discrimination between the Spanish speakers and the Mayan speakers as the "Law says that it is a duty of the Mexican State to guarantee —guarantee, not just try, not just attempt— that the indigenous population has access to the obligatory education, bilingual and intercultural in their methods and contents."[20] Despite this having been set into law, there is no bilingual or cultural accepting program after elementary school.[20] The system for indigenous education only serves about one third of the Mayan speaking population of the area.[21] Many Mayan children are forced to learn Spanish and cease using their native tongue, which may be challenging for them to do. This in turn causes many of the students to feel that learning at school is not their strong suit and may even end up dropping out early in their education.[21]

University of Yucatán-Mérida

There are several state institutions offering higher education:

Among several private institutions:

  • Centro de Estudios Superiores CTM (CESCTM)
  • Colegio de Negocios Internacionales (CNI)
  • Universidad Anáhuac Mayab
  • Universidad Marista
  • Centro de Estudios Universitarios del Mayab (CEUM)
  • Universidad Modelo
  • Universidad Interamericana para el Desarrollo (UNID)
  • Centro Educativo Latino (CEL)
  • Universidad Interamericana del Norte
  • Centro Universitario Interamericano(Inter)
  • Universidad Mesoamericana de San Agustin (UMSA)
  • Centro de Estudios de las Américas, A.C. (CELA)
  • Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM)
  • Instituto de Ciencias Sociales de Mérida (ICSMAC)
  • Universidad Popular Autónoma de Puebla, Plantel Mérida (UPAEP Mérida)

Mérida has several national research centers. Among them

  • Centro de Investigacíón Científica de Yucatán (CICY)
  • Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, dependent from the UADY, conducts biological and biomedical research.
  • Centro INAH Yucatán, dedicated to anthropological, archaeological and historic research.
  • Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados CINVESTAV/IPN

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Mexico
Mural alluding to the conquest of Yucatán, painted by Fernando Castro Pacheco. History Hall of the Palace of Government of Yucatán.

Mérida, Yucatán is twinned with 13 cities:[22]

gollark: What? No. The length is the terminator.
gollark: See, when the string ends and there are no more characters in the string, the terminator exists.
gollark: No, the end of the string.
gollark: I really do not see your issue with this.
gollark: Just look at the end...?

References
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (2005). "Principales resultados por localidad (ITER)". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011.
  2. INEGI. "Archivo Histórico de Localidades. Mérida" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  3. "The Camara Brothers' Twin Houses". Sam Houston State University. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. Fodor's 2001 Cancún, Cozumel, Yucatán Peninsula p.167. Fodor's, 2000
  5. "Yucatan economy growth three times higher than the national average". The Yucatan Times. November 6, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  6. Aguilar, Adrian. "Globalization, Regional Development, and Mega City Development in Mexico". Cities. 20.
  7. Cohen, Barney (December 2005). "Urbanization in Developing Countries: Current Trends, Future Projections, and Key Challenges for Sustainability". Technology in Society – via Science Direct.
  8. Programa Integral de Desarrollo Metropolitano PIDEM (PDF).
  9. Dickerson, Marla (October 21, 2007). "Paradise for home remodelers – Los Angeles Times". Latimes.com. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  10. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. ISSN 1027-5606.
  11. "Estado de Yucatán-Estacion: Mérida Centro". Normales Climatologicas 1951–2010 (in Spanish). Servicio Meteorologico Nacional. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  12. "NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1981–2000" (PDF) (in Spanish). Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  13. "Merida Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  14. "Merida English Library". Merida English Library. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  15. "The Yucatan Symphony Orchestra". Osy.org.mx. Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  16. "Conchi León". PEN America. January 20, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  17. Sima Lorenzo, Eyder Gabriel (August 9, 2013). "Actitudes de Yucatecos Bilingues de Maya y Español Hacia la Lengua Maya y sis Hablantes en Merida Yucatan". Estudios de Cultura Maya.
  18. "Mérida Education - Expats In Mexico". Expats In Mexico. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  19. Azcorra, Hugo (2013). "Nutritional Status of Maya Children, Their Mothers, and Their GrandmothersResiding in the City of Merida, Mexico: Revisiting the Leg-Length Hypothesis". American Journal of Human Biology.
  20. Mijangos-Noh, Juan Carlos (April 14, 2009). "Racism Against the Mayan Population in Yucatan, Mexico: How Current Education Contradicts the Law" (PDF). American Educational Research Association.
  21. Mijangos-Noh, Juan Carlos (April 14, 2009). "Racism Against the Mayan Population in Yucatan, Mexico: How Current Education Contradicts the Law" (PDF). American Educational Research Association.
  22. City Hall of Mérida, Yucatán, México. Dirección de Cultura. Sister Cities department.
  23. "Mérida y Monterrey fortalecen lazos sociales y económicos - El Diario de Yucatán". yucatan.com.mx. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2017.

Works cited

Bibliography
See also: Bibliography of the history of Mérida, Mexico
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