Ciudad Victoria

Ciudad Victoria, city, capital of Tamaulipas estado (state), northeastern Mexico. It lies in the western part of the state at 1,053 feet (321 metres) above sea level on the San Marcos River, about 300 miles (480 km) north of Mexico City. A settlement was founded on the site in 1750, and in 1825 it was named for the first president of Mexico, Guadalupe Victoria. Manufactures include microchips, automobile components, clothing, and textiles. The city’s agricultural hinterland produces sorghum, corn (maize), citrus fruits, sugarcane, and livestock. Ciudad Victoria is also a tourist centre and a base for hunting, fishing, and swimming activities centred on Lake Vicente Guerrero, located about 30 miles (50 km) to the northeast. The city has a cultural centre with a library, theatre, and art gallery. Among the other cultural institutions are a museum containing exhibits on the Huastec culture and the state library, which is housed in a green-tiled building with Aztec motifs. The city is also the site of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (1956). Ciudad Victoria is a regional transportation hub, accessible by railroad, air, and several major highways. Pop. (2010) 305,155; (2020) 332,100.