Mexicali
Mexicali (English: /ˌmɛksɪˈkæli/; Spanish: [mexiˈkali] ⓘ) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California. The city, which is the seat of the Mexicali Municipality, has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the Calexico–Mexicali metropolitan area is home to 1,000,000 inhabitants on both sides of the Mexico–United States border. Mexicali is a regional economic and cultural hub for the border region of The Californias.
Mexicali | |
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Top: Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali (left), Plaza Calafia (right); middle: Lázaro Cárdenas Monument (left), Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral (center), Punta Este (right); bottom: Bosque de la Ciudad Park. | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: The City that Captured the Sun | |
Mexicali Mexicali Mexicali | |
| Coordinates: 32°39′48″N 115°28′04″W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Baja California |
| Municipality | Mexicali |
| Founded | March 14, 1903 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Ayuntamiento |
| • Municipal President | Norma Alicia Bustamante Martínez (MORENA) |
| Area | |
| • City | 113.7 km2 (43.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 8 m (27 ft) |
| Population (2018) | |
| • City | 1,032,686 |
| • Density | 6,066.62/km2 (15,712.5/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,102,342 |
| Demonym(s) | Mexicalense, cachanilla |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total | $25.1 billion |
| • Per capita | $21,300 |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Postal code | 21000-21399 (urban area) |
| Area code | +52 686 |
Mexicali was founded at the turn of the 20th century, when the region's agricultural economy experienced a period of boom. The city rapidly expanded throughout the 20th century, owing to the proliferation of maquiladoras in the city, making the Mexicali economy more interconnected with businesses from across the border. Today, Mexicali is a major manufacturing center and an emerging tourist destination.