Saltillo

Saltillo is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila. As of a 2020 census, Saltillo had a population of 879,958 people, and the Saltillo metropolitan area had a population of 1,031,779, making it the largest city in Coahuila and the 14th most populated metropolitan area in Mexico.

Saltillo is known for being one of the most industrialized cities in Mexico. It has a big automotive industry with many important companies operating there, such as General Motors, Stellantis, Daimler AG, Freightliner Trucks, BorgWarner, Plastic Omnium, Magna, and Nemak. The city is also close to other manufacturing centers, including Tesla's new plant in the neighboring city of Santa Catarina, Nuevo León.

In addition to its industry, Saltillo is considered the most competitive city in Mexico for cities with over one million inhabitants. It also holds the title of the safest capital city in Mexico, according to data from 2025.

History

Colonial era

Saltillo was founded in 1577 by a Spanish explorer named Alberto del Canto. It was called Villa de Santiago del Saltillo and is one of the oldest cities in northern Mexico. The city’s name comes from a small waterfall that provided water from a spring. Today, you can still visit this spring at the Parish of the Holy Christ of the Ojo de Agua.

In 1591, the Spanish created a nearby town called San Esteban de Nueva Tlaxcala for their allies. Early on, Saltillo grew slowly because of challenges with local groups and water. By the 1700s, Saltillo became an important trading place, helping connect Mexico to areas farther north. It also supplied food and animals to nearby silver mines.

Early Mexico

In 1824, Saltillo became the capital of the state of Coahuila y Tejas, replacing another city. The city’s name was briefly changed to Leona Vicario, but it was changed back to Saltillo in 1831.

In the 1840s, Saltillo was involved in conflicts between Mexico and Texas. During the Mexican–American War in 1846–1847, American forces occupied Saltillo. A major battle took place nearby during this time.

Porfiriato and Mexican Revolution

Modern changes began in the late 1800s with the arrival of railroads and new buildings. During the Mexican Revolution from 1910 to 1920, Saltillo saw many changes as different leaders took control.

20th century

In the 1920s and 1930s, new schools were established in Saltillo. By the mid-1900s, the city shifted from farming to industry. In the 1970s and 1980s, car companies like General Motors and Chrysler opened factories, earning Saltillo the nickname “Detroit of Mexico.” Today, the city continues to grow with many types of industries.

Geography

El Cerro del Pueblo, also called The Town Hill, and its large cross watch over the city of Saltillo. The city sits high up, which makes it colder and windier than nearby Monterrey. Saltillo is found in the dry Chihuahuan Desert close to the city of Arteaga. Big mountains called the Zapalinamé mountains surround the city on one side. These mountains are part of a larger mountain range known as the Sierra Madre Oriental.

Saltillo has a very dry climate, but because it is high up, it is not as hot as other desert cities. Summers are warm but nights are cool, and winters are sunny but chilly. Rain does not fall often, but when it does, it is usually in the summer. Though rare, snow sometimes falls in Saltillo.

Demographics

Population

Saltillo is the 14th most populated city in Mexico. In 2020, the city had 879,958 people living there.

A chart shows how the population of Saltillo grew from 1900 to 2020, based on data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

Economy

Saltillo is well-known for making beautiful tiles and colorful woven blankets called sarapes. Big car companies like Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Chrysler have factories in Saltillo where they build many cars and trucks. In fact, a large part of the cars and trucks made in Mexico come from Saltillo.

The General Motors factory in Saltillo makes cars for people in Japan, Canada, Central America, and Mexico. Some of the cars they build include the Chevrolet C2, Chevrolet Monza, and Chevrolet Captiva, along with other models. The factory also helps make many big pickup trucks.

Education

Saltillo has several important universities. The main ones are the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, the Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo, the Tec de Monterrey Saltillo Campus, El Instituto de Filologia Hispanica, the Universidad Carolina, and the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro.

Government

Saltillo is the main city of its area, called a municipality. The person in charge of the city right now is the mayor, José María Fraustro Siller. He belongs to a group called the Partido Revolucionario Institucional, or PRI.

Sites of interest

Saltillo has many interesting places to visit, including theaters, cultural centers, and museums.

Cultural

• Fernando Soler City Theater: This theater, designed by architect Francisco Flores Flores and opened in 1979, hosts many events like plays, music, dance, and children's shows. The first show was a play called "The Efforts of a House" by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

• Paraninfo del Ateneo Fuente: An auditorium at the Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, it holds academic and cultural events. It features murals by Catalan painter Salvador Tarazona, with one dedicated to science and another to arts and culture.

• Casa Purcell Cultural Center: Built in the 19th century in the style of old Irish houses, this center now shows contemporary art.

• García Carrillo Theater Cultural Center: This center has a gallery for temporary exhibitions and an auditorium for conferences, concerts, readings, and film showings.

• The Cultural Center Vito Alessio Robles: This former City Council building has a mural about Coahuila’s history, personal items of Don Vito Alessio Robles, a library, and modern art exhibitions.

• Coahuilense Institute of Culture: This place promotes and shows culture and art from the state, with an art gallery, workshops, conference rooms, a bookstore, and a cafeteria.

• El Recinto a Juárez: Home to the Coahuilense College of Historical Research, it offers library services and holds plays, conferences, and book presentations.

• University Cultural Heritage Site: A house from 1680, once owned by the Purcell family and later the National Bank of Mexico, now displays the city's artistic heritage.

• Aurora Morales de López University Cultural Site: A space for artistic activities at the Autonomous University of Coahuila, showing works by local artists.

Religious

• Cathedral of Santiago Apostol: Built starting in 1745, this cathedral became Saltillo’s main church in 1891. It mixes baroque and churrigueresco styles and has beautiful altarpieces and oil paintings. A special silver piece from the 18th century is displayed here.
• Church of Santo Cristo del Ojo de Agua: Located at the top of a hill, this church has a crucifix known as the Holy Christ of the Waterhole, which many believe caused a spring to appear there. The church was built around 1917, and the Christ statue arrived in 1927.
• Parish of San Esteban: Founded in 1592 when the town of San Esteban de la Nueva Tlaxcala was established by Tlaxcaltecs.
• Temple of San Juan Nepomuceno: A Jesuit church from the 19th century with a neoclassical style. Inside are oil paintings, sculptures, and a mural about San Juan’s life.
• Sanctuary of Guadalupe: A Gothic-style church built in 1890, featuring a clock, pointed windows, and arch supports.

Museums

Saltillo has around 22 museums, including:

• Museum of the Coahuilenses Presidents: Honors five presidents from Coahuila: Melchor Múzquiz, Francisco I. Madero, Eulalio Gutiérrez Ortiz, Roque González Garza, and Venustiano Carranza. It displays photos, documents, and personal items, including the first presidential band used by Guadalupe Victoria.
• Landín Chapel Museum: An old chapel from the 18th century, now a museum with 20 religious paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Museo de la Angostura: Commemorates a Mexican victory over U.S. troops in 1847, housed in a former school building.
• Catrina Museum: Explores the history of Catrina, who represents death in the traditional Day of the Dead, and serves hot chocolate and bread daily.
• Bird Museum of Mexico: Features over 2,500 preserved birds, the largest collection in Mexico and Latin America, mostly from Mexico. It is located in a former Jesuit college.
• Museo del Normalismo: Shares the history of education in Coahuila, with teaching tools and a room for notable graduates of the Benemérita Normal School of Coahuila.
• Museo del Sarape and Typical Costumes: Showcases traditional sarapes and regional costumes from the 19th and 20th centuries.
• The Gyroscope Museum: A science museum.
• Rubén Herrera Museum: Housed in an 18th-century building, it displays works by the artist Rubén Herrera from Mexico and Europe, with space for temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, and a library.
• MAG Graphic Arts Museum: Features over 1,400 items belonging to José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican engraver known for his prints and social cartoons. The museum aims to promote printing techniques and visual arts.
• Cato Museum: Dedicated to a journalist and chronicler of the city.
• Museo del Horror: Focused on horror.

Culture

Saltillo's culture is similar to that of other places in Northern Mexico, but it also has some special traditions.

One famous tradition is the danza de matachines, a lively dance performed in Saltillo and many other places. The dancers wear colorful costumes with bows, feathers, and decorated skirts.

Another well-known item is the sarape, a colorful blanket-like garment that people in Saltillo and other parts of Mexico wear or use as a blanket, tablecloth, or even for decorating walls.

Saltillo is also famous for its pulque bread, a sweet bread that uses pulque—a drink made from the agave plant—as part of its recipe. This bread is a special treat in the city and some nearby areas.

The city has a famous music group called the Saltillo Rondalla, known for playing guitars and other instruments. They have made many recordings and traveled to many countries.

Sports

Saltillo is a city with a long history of baseball. Some sources say the sport began there in the late 1800s. The city’s team, the Saraperos de Saltillo, joined the Mexican Baseball League in 1970. They have won three championships in 1980, 2009, and 2010, as well as eight division titles over the years.

Other sports such as basketball, boxing, lucha libre, and ice hockey are also played in the Centro de Convenciones Arena Saltillo.

Transportation

Saltillo's air travel needs are met by Plan de Guadalupe International Airport. It is only a 15-minute trip from the city center to the airport. The airport handles cargo flights but does not have regular passenger flights. The city also has a good bus system and many taxis available for travel.

Sister cities

Saltillo has several sister cities around the world. These include:

• Austin in the United States
• Canton in the United States
• Guatemala City in Guatemala
• Lansing in the United States
• Holguín in Cuba
• Tlaxcala City in Mexico
• Windsor in Canada

Notable people

Saltillo earned the nickname “the Athens of Mexico” in the 1900s because many important thinkers lived there. Some well-known people from Saltillo include:

• Manuel Acuña, a writer from the 1800s known for his poetry.
• Rubén Aguirre, an actor famous for playing Professor Jirafales in El Chavo del Ocho.
• Vito Alessio Robles, a soldier, engineer, and writer who helped during the Mexican Revolution.
• Pedro Arce, a professional football player.
• Carlos Bee, a former U.S. Representative from Texas.
• Ernesto Boardman, an archer who won a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games.
• Humberto Elizondo, an actor in films and television.
• Eulalio Gutiérrez, who served as president of Mexico for a short time.
• Louis Febre, a composer known for his work on Smallville.
• Roque González Garza, a general who was acting president of Mexico for several months.
• Magda Guzmán, an actress.
• Rosario Ibarra, an activist and political figure.
• José Narro Robles, a former leader of a medical school.
• Abril Rodríguez, a beauty contestant.
• Andrés Soler, a star of Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema.
• Fernando Soler, an actor, director, and producer.
• Julio Torri, a writer and teacher.
• Karla Wheelock, a mountaineer and writer who was the first Iberoamerican woman to climb the Seven Summits.