San Juan del Río

The city was founded on the Feast of Saint John the Baptist June 24, 1531, by Fernando de Tapia, an Otomí chieftain that converted to Catholicism and dropped his Native name Conín. San Juan was one of the first Spanish settlements outside the Valley of Mexico and thus marked the beginning of the colonization of Northern and Western Mexico, including the city of Querétaro, which was founded one month later. The settlement became important since it was an obligated stop during the rich mining regions of Guanajuato, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí.

Av. Juárez and Portal del Diezmo.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, at the behest of the Vice royal government the bridge was again rebuilt, resulting in a much stronger and more colorful bridge than the previous two: built on five arches and quarry plates that to date remain in place. This bridge was completed on 23 January 1722 in the rule of the Duke of Linares.

In addition to this relevant urban element, churches, temples, and convents began to gain ground with their respective ideological influence. The old town of San Juan del Río is similar to that of Querétaro, in which two types of route were included, the irregular trace that is supposed to be the ancient indigenous area where the temple for indigenous people of Calvary was built (named for sinuousness and pen tooth of the ground where it is nestled). The other street layout coincides with the Spanish practice of that time "a cordel", whose urban element and union was the temple for Spaniards of San Juan Bautista. Both buildings were attached camposantos, the first one still retains the original name of Santa Veracruz. In 1670 the first school of letters for girls was formalized, receiving the name "Beaterio de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores", founded by the Third Sisters of the Order of San Francisco, which in 1683 was reorganized by the venerable dray Antonio Margil of Jesus, of whom an interesting legend is told. In 1672, the Hospital and Convent of San Juan de Dios were founded, for the care of the sick in the city and the visitors who stopped in its path, today this building is occupied worthily by the Autonomous University of Querétaro. In 1693 the construction of a new parish church began, which was consecrated on July 25, 1729, and dedicated to the patron saint of the city, St. John the Baptist. On the same dates the construction of the temple and convent of Santo Domingo was completed; the aforementioned convent is located on the main street of San Juan del Río, at the entrance of the royal road (at the current crossroads of Juárez and Zaragoza avenues). Its facade is a quarry, adorned with three shields: La Merced, San Francisco, and Santo Domingo.

On April 3, 1847, and in the context of the war between Mexico and the United States of America, the state government granted the then Villa of San Juan del Río the title of city.

Chapel of Hacienda Galindo

By 1855, industry and trade had a major boost. Among the most important establishments and companies of the time were: barbershops, carpentry, rocket shops, tanneries, breweries, blacksmiths, wheat mills, soap pailas, cotton trapiches, bakeries, silverware, painting workshops, tailors, hat shops, woodworking, wool and blanket looms, battering shops, shoe shops, and futsalstores.

In 1863, [Benito Juarez], on his escape to San Luis Potosí, he stayed overnight in San Juan del Río and, in 1867, Maximilian of Habsburg launched one of his last proclamations in this city, in which he exhorted the people to defend "the Independence and the internal order of the country". Later, on the hill of the Bells of the city of Querétaro was shot along with Generals Miramón and Mejía. "Contemporary Time" In the last decade of the nineteenth century, San Juan del Río participated in the railway development by laying the track of the Mexican National Railway and, years later, when the "Round House" for the repair of steam engines was located in this city.

During the period 1960–1970, San Juan del Río began its urban, economic and social transformation of the strong impetus given to the industrializing, commercial and communications process; factors that have currently placed this municipality as the second in importance in the State of Querétaro.[1][2]

On June 24, 1984, the Honorable City Council of San Juan del Río headed by the engineer Leopoldo Peralta Navarrete, in The Solemn Session of Cabildo declares the new Official Shield. The result of the design was a call that was launched for this purpose of which the painter Héctor Raúl Rojas López was the winner who, in that same session, was named The Favorite Son of San Juan del Río. This shield is composed of a traditional coat of arms accompanied by a pair of headbands that descend from the top and join at the lower central. The coat of arms of San Juan del Río is a composite, Spanish-style one, which as well as Portuguese and Flanders-flamenco (countries that received Spanish influx) is rounded at the base in the shape of an inverted half-point arch.

The blasón is divided into three barracks that contain representative aspects of the municipality: in the upper middle is located the image of the Patron Saint John the Baptist represented in half body; then, symbolizing the historical future, there is the bridge of five arches: the great stone bridge, representing the foundation, evangelization, and development during the viceroyalty.

The lower environment is divided, in turn, into two barracks that represent the moment before evangelization: to the sinister is located the Otomi rode that symbolizes our pre-Hispanic roots when the Spaniards arrived in Iztacchichimecapan (ancient name of San Juan del Río) to conquest. On the right hand, the kingdom of Spain is represented as the meaning of those who founded the people. In the lower part of the blasón is located a gallardete that bears the name of the municipality: San Juan del Río.

The author of the shield took elements of the heraldry for its creation, including as the basis of the composition the representative Stone Bridge, above it the image of the patron Saint John the Baptist -remembering the date of June 24, 1531, the day of St. John the Baptist when it occurred, according to legend, the Spanish foundation of San Juan del Río- and the representation of the Kingdom of Spain in its characteristic colors with the towers of the Kingdom of Castile and the rampant lions of the Kingdom of León, which are already unified here This is the original colored shield in a stylized design. It is the original work of the author. The enamels (colors) it integrates are: metal: Gold (heraldic)-gold; and five enamels: gules (red), azure (blue), sable (black), sinople (green), griffon (brown) and carnation (meat).

The stone bridge construction started on the 9th of February 1710 by the Mexican architect Pedro de Arrieta. The bridge was completed on the 23rd of January 1711 and soon became the most transited bridge in Mexico as it was the main connection between Mexico City and the northern states.

The bridge has greater historical importance as it was the main way to get to Mexico City for all of those who fought during the Mexican Independence and Mexican Revolution.

Partial view of the city from the hill of sale

The city is located in a central sedimentary valley of a rich agricultural area with abundant underground streams of hot springs of about 37.5 O.

The valley of San Juan is surrounded by the mountains of La Llave (2,450 [msnm]) of Xajay (2,750 meters above sea level) of Scholastics (2,800 meters above sea level) and Jingó (2,500 meters above sea level).

The San Juan River, whose sources are located in the State of Mexico, is the mainstream of the municipality and the state. This river, when leaving the municipality of Tequisquiapan, already with the name of Río Moctezuma forms the natural boundary between the states of Querétaro and Hidalgo and already flows as Rio Pánuco into the Golfo de México in the port of Tampico.

In the municipality, they serve the population of the urban health center "La Floresta" which is located a few kilometers from the General Hospital, and the urban health center located in Av. Juárez Pte. (Formerly the General Hospital) and the General Hospital, being dependent on the Ministry of Health of the State of Querétaro Secretariat of Health (Mexico)- ( SESEQ); Zona No.3 General Hospital, urban clinics No. 6 and 7, dependent on the Mexican Social Security Institute Mexican Social Security Institute" IMSS); [Red Cross], as well as several private clinics and hospitals. In the rural area, rural clinics are provided, as well as private clinics and clinics, providing the health service to 100% of the population in the municipality.

Both the SESEQ General Hospital and the IMSS Zone Hospital provide 2nd level medical care, although the former General Hospital (SESEQ) in recent years highlighted the entire State of Querétaro by winning the National Quality Award; in addition to the population of the municipality itself, that of the surrounding municipalities, including the states of [[State of Hidalgo] Hidalgo]], [[State of Mexico] Mexico]] and Michoacán, serving more than 500,000 inhabitants, so in some cases the service is insufficient. Emergency services are mainly served by the Mexican Red Cross delegation San Juan del Río, and there are several support groups such as the National Emergency Commission, Volunteer Firefighters, and BEYEN Ambulances, who have a history of 36 years of service and experience in different types of emergencies as well as vehicle rescue, room house fires, accidents in which hazardous materials are involved, among others.

After the catastrophe recorded on September 19, 2010, where the former General Hospital was flooded, a great effort was begun to build a new general hospital. With the help of federal and state financial contributions within a period of approximately one year, the work was completed. On February 21, 2012, the universal coverage plate of popular insurance was unveiled, days after the inauguration of this San Juan del Río General Hospital, with the presence of the President of the Republic Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and in the company of Governor José Calzada. The hospital currently has a wide variety of specialties, as well as the highest technology equipment and extensive facilities and enough to provide the health service to the entire population that requires it.

• Health Jurisdiction: 2nd
• Institutional Hospitals: 3
• Private Hospitals: 13

A few minutes from the city of San Juan del Río is the residential division and Club de Golf San Gil. Right on the road this immense community offers a variety of amenities. The 18-hole course is well-conditioned and is host to major national and international tournaments. San Gil has a beautiful lake, clubhouse, and large gardens.

- Paso de los Guzmán Ecological Park. Located in Blvd. Paso de los Guzmán s/n, Centro. This beautiful park has extensive sports facilities such as basketball courts, fast football, volleyball, rollerblade track, palapas area, cafeteria, running track and children's games. The park is ideal to enjoy a pleasant weekend as a family.

- Maquío Sports Unit. Located in Av. de las Garzas S/n Colonia Indeco. This sports unit has an auditorium with a wide capacity to enjoy the sporting and cultural events that take place there. It has basketball courts, volleyball, playground and a soccer field with regulatory measures, as well as an athletics court. Ideal for recreation and for those who like to practice the sport.

-San Juan Sports Unit. Located on the road San Juan del Río - Tequisquiapan km 6. This sports center has several football courts; including one with regulatory measures, as well as several volleyball and basketball courts and playgrounds, as well as a pool with nailed pit and platform; bathrooms, walk-in closets, and cafeteria service.

- José María Morelos y Pavón Cultural and Convention Center. Located on Panamericana s/n road, Lomas de Guadalupe colony. In this place, you will find sports and cultural facilities. It also has an auditorium with capacity for three thousand people, as well as external volleyball and basketball courts, and cafeteria and bath service.

Historic Monuments

• History Bridge. Located in Av. Benito Juárez Pte. in front of the Municipal Pantheon. Because of its geographical location, it was an obligatory step for the arriería and carriages that went to the North and West of New Spain. From the mid-17th century, it was called "Garganta de Tierra Dentro". It was forced to be a customs stop where the alcabalas of all kinds of goods were collected, especially the brandy, which was severely inspected. The great avenues of the river were the cause of complaints from the owners of recuas, as well as from merchants and travelers, who made it impossible for them to follow their path as long as the river did not go down, being forced to spend several days in the village, with the consequent expenses Unforeseen. Ruled New Spain Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, Duke of Albuquerque, Marquis de Cuéllar, who took into his hands this serious problem. He ordered the Spanish architect Pedro de Arrieta, the construction of a bridge for San Juan del Río, whose construction began on February 9, 1710, and was completed on January 23, 1711, Governing the New Spain Don Fernando de Alencastre Noroña and Silva Duque de Linares Marqués V alfuentesfuentes.

In February 2010, the 300th years of the Stone Bridge, popularly known as the Bridge of History, where this monument has been highlighted for being a symbol of the legacy, which different generations have left through the years in their task to make San Juan del Río a better place to live. The Stone Bridge began to be built on February 9, 1710, by the Mexican architect Pedro de Arrieta -who was also one of the architects who designed the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City and the Collegiate Church of Guadalupe (former Basilica)-, attending the mandate of the Viceroy Duke of Albuquerque, Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, Marqués de Cuéllar, to build this access. At the conclusion of construction on January 23, 1711, it was also created as the "most used" bridge between Mexico City to communicate with all the downs, especially between mining entities such as Guanajuato, Zacatecas or San Luis Potosí and in the same way as it was very useful to cross the great flow of the San Juan River, 300 years after its construction remains one of the main accesses to this city. It has also historically been, an obligatory step of all those who fought 200 years ago for the Independence of Mexico and 100 years ago in the revolutionary movement. The San Juan River crosses this great bridge along with the grandparents' park. Thousands of ducks migrate to this river every year, there are whites, Canadians and Europeans, in 2011 they managed to see geese cafes and white swans.

• Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Located in front of Plaza Independencia. The history of the construction of the current parish church dates from May 9, 1689, where the clergy and the neighbors of San Juan del Río, went to the Viceroy Don Gaspar de la Cerda Sandoval Silva and Mendoza, Count de Galve, in order to obtain permission for his construction. The building is of neoclassical construction, elegant and wide lines that make it distinguished. The Indians were indoctrinated and called Mass in a chapel covered with tejamanil that was on land where the parish of the Spaniards was built. Currently, the Virgin of Guadalupe is venerated inside.
• Temple of the Lord of Sacromonte. Located in Av. Juárez Ote. in the Garden of the Family. The church that began to be built on land ceded by the Town Hall of the Villa, with the copious alms of the faithful. The permit for its construction was given by the Governor of the State on the 4th of Agósto of 1826. Religious festivities were held there on Friday, November 20, 1831, with the blessing and dedication of the Temple. At the end of the three days of religious holidays, six days of profane holidays began.
• Temple and Exconvento of Santo Domingo. Located in Av. Juárez and Zaragoza. The foundation of the convent was made by offices and licenses of the Exmo. Mr. Viceroy Melchor Portocarrero Lasso de la Vega, Count of Monclova, dated 26 Enéro of 1690, with the aim of making the sick religious who missionary the Sierra Gorda, moved to this convent since Querétaro was more retired to them. This convent belonged to the Holy Province of Santiago de Predicadores, calling itself the Convent of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ of San Juan del Río. On the afternoon of September 6, 1823, came the funeral urns containing the skulls of Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Ignacio Allende, Mariano Jiménez, as well as the remains of Don Francisco Xavier Mina and Pedro Moreno, which were veiled in this convent. The convent is simple and is currently occupied by the Municipal Presidency.
• Parish Temple of St. John the Baptist. Located in front of the Plaza de los Fundadores. The first church in the village was built on the site that currently occupies what was known as the temple of the Sacred Heart. He had his pantheon towards the Westeros, in what is now Founder's Square. In the next century and towards the end of it, the church was asked to throw away, and it was not until the early 1700s, that it was torn down to its foundations; because it was small and built with the land. The priest Don Esteban García Rebollo, who did not tolerate racial discrimination, since it was called Parish of the Naturals, consecrated him with the name of the Temple of the Sacred Heart, in 2006 he became the Parish of San Juan Bautista.
• Portal of the Tithe. It is the most important cultural center of San Juan del Río. It currently has 2 art galleries, 1 photo theater, the Municipal Public Library Juan Wenceslao Sánchez de la Barquera y Morales and the Municipal Historical Archive. It is located on the old Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and was used to collect ecclesiastical taxes. The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro was the route through which minerals, goods, and people passed insistently during the Viceroyalty. This path was long and, through its course, was creating wealth and development.
• San Juan del Río occupies a part of what was this path and the wealth that generated it can be seen in its opulent haciendas. To get to know them you have to take the Tour de las Haciendas that San Juan offers to its visitors.

• January 17: Feast of San Antonio (Blessing of the Animals)
• February 2: Day of the Candelaria (Blessing of the Seeds)
• March 1: Jesusito de la Portería
• March 3: Feast of the Holy Cross
• Around June 24: City Fair, Feast of Patron Saint Saint John the Baptist and Anniversary of the City's Foundation.
• November 22: Feast of Santa Cecilia
• December 11: Procession of the Farolitos

• City Fair: The San Juan's Fair is celebrated during the month of June to commemorate the anniversary of the City's foundation and the Patron Saint John the Baptist.
• Goal 7 San Juan del Río, Football 7 field "Goal 7" near the México-Querétaro highway.
• Liverpool SJR, a mall in Plaza Galerías
• Museo de la Muerte

• Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
• Querétaro Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

• Gobierno Municipal de San Juan del Río Official website