TIJUANA
Tijuana is the most heavily populated city in
the state of Baja California.
It is known in many places as the Mexican corner or the door to Mexico and to Latin America.
It is found at 32° 31' 30" Northern latitude and at 117° West latitude. Its
northern boundary stretches through 26.4 miles with San
Diego County (California), to the south it borders with the cities of Rosarito Beach
and Ensenada, Tecate in the east and to the West
with the Pacific Ocean. It has a territorial
extension of 1,727 Km². The Coronado Islands
located just off shore from the Pacific Ocean art of the Tijuana territory. The city’s motto: “Aquí empieza la Patria.”. Means:
The country starts here.
NAME ORIGIN
The name originated from Ranch whose owner was called “Tía
Juana” (Aunt Juana), however, it is recognized by non-local historians that the
name comes from the yuman tongue, an ancient language spoken in the region. Other names are: "Tiguana","Tiuana",
"Teguana", "Tiwana", "Tijuan",
"Ticuan", "Tijuana". Some historins think the Word “Tijuana” and their
derivations actually mean “Junto al mar” (By the sea). Some say this untrue,
that the name comes from another place south in the peninsula.
TIJUANA’S HISTORY
Originally, Tijuana was
populated by the Kumiai (K’miai), one of the Indian tribes that along with the
Cucapá, Pai PAi, Kiliwa and Akula populated the northern part of the Baja California Peninsula.
The first European explorer that actually sailed through the
shores in what we now know as the Tijuana
municipality was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. Who traveled the coast of the port
cit of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, making his way north in six days,
from September 23 to 28 in 1542.
In 1769, in the journal of Fray Junípero Sera exists the following entry:
“Day 1st of July (1769) Saturday, eight of John the Baptist, we
started with a good morning our last journey […] not far from the mouth where
the boats San Carlos and San
Antonio where anchored (the ships where anchored at San Diego Bay)”. The last journey of father Serra
before reaching the mouth (San Diego Bay) where the ships where, was spent at the region
where the Tijuana
city is today.
Between January 29th and June 22nd of 1944, the Baja California state suffered
an invasion of American freebooters. They where trying by these means to appropriate
the state like they’ve done before with another states of the Mexican territory.
In the morning of May 8th of 1911, when the first clashes between
invading troops commanded by Sam Wood, considered on of the most brave and
capable of the invading freebooters. From the Tijuana side, Sub-lieutenant Miguel Guerrero
in command of only 25 men in which figured some soldiers, plaza police and some
voluntaries, fend off the first wave. This reduced defensive column worked
pretty well. They caused the enemy 40 casualties in which Sam Wood was a part
of. However, the superiority in numbers did come true and took the plaza; they
also scored a casualty in the Tijuana group,
policeman Juan Osuna, first victim in the heroic defense of Tijuana.
TOURISM
The city of Tijuana,
During the 50’s, 60’s and part of the 70’s of the twentieth century. It was
considered one of the most visited cities in the world, even though there is no
system or anyone who keeps a trustworthy account. But as the demands from the North
American customs increased to let people in and out of the United States, tourism coming to Tijuana decreased
proportionally. Today, Av Revolución and the Northern part of Tijuana are just a glimpse of past years of
glory. One of its more symbolic attractions is the donkeys painted as zebras
for black and white pictures. You can also enjoy excellent clamato’s and the
traditional Caesar salad (both invented in Tijuana).
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