Celaya

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City and municipality in Mexico

title: "Celaya" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["celaya", "municipalities-of-guanajuato", "otomi-settlements", "populated-places-established-in-1570", "populated-places-in-guanajuato"] description: "City and municipality in Mexico" topic_path: "general/celaya" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celaya" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City and municipality in Mexico ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
settlement_typeCity and municipality
total_typeCity
official_nameCelaya
image_skylineCelayaCollage.jpg
image_captionÁngel de la Independencia, Andador Guadalupe, Bola de agua, Estatua a Tresguerras, Portal Colunga, Catedral de San Francisco, Iglesia de la Virgen del Carmen y Palacio Municipal.
image_sealEscudo_armas_de_celaya.svg
nicknameThe Golden Gate of the Bajío
motto"De Forti Dulcedo" (La Dulzura del Fuerte)
pushpin_mapMexico Guanajuato#Mexico
coordinates
subdivision_nameMexico
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_name1Guanajuato
subdivision_type1State
subdivision_type2Municipality
established_titleFoundation
established_dateOctober 12, 1570
established_title2Founded as
established_date2Villa de la Purisíma Concepción de Zalaya
founderMartín Enríquez de Almanza
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameJavier Mendoza Márquez
area_total_km265.3
area_blank1_titleMunicipality
area_blank1_km2553.1
elevation_m1767
population_total340,387
population_as_of2020 census
population_density_km2auto
population_footnotes
population_blank1_titleMunicipality
population_blank1521,169
population_density_blank1_km2auto
demographics_type1GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
demographics1_title1Year
demographics1_info12023
demographics1_title2Total (Metro area)
demographics1_info2$15 billion
demographics1_title3Per capita
demographics1_info3$21,200
timezoneCentral Standard Time
utc_offset-6
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code38000 - 38159
area_code461
blank_nameAirport
blank_infoAeropuerto Nacional Capitán Rogelio Castillo
websitehttp://www.celaya.gob.mx
population_metro717,616
::

| settlement_type = City and municipality | total_type = City | official_name = Celaya | image_skyline = CelayaCollage.jpg | image_caption = Ángel de la Independencia, Andador Guadalupe, Bola de agua, Estatua a Tresguerras, Portal Colunga, Catedral de San Francisco, Iglesia de la Virgen del Carmen y Palacio Municipal. | image_flag = | image_seal = Escudo_armas_de_celaya.svg | image_shield = | nickname = The Golden Gate of the Bajío | motto = "De Forti Dulcedo" (La Dulzura del Fuerte) | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Mexico Guanajuato#Mexico | coordinates = | subdivision_name = Mexico | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name1 = Guanajuato | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = Municipality | subdivision_name2 = | established_title = Foundation | established_date = October 12, 1570 | established_title2 = Founded as | established_date2 = Villa de la Purisíma Concepción de Zalaya | founder = Martín Enríquez de Almanza | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Javier Mendoza Márquez | area_total_km2 = 65.3 | area_blank1_title = Municipality | area_blank1_km2 = 553.1 | elevation_m = 1767 | population_total = 340,387 | population_as_of = 2020 census | population_density_km2 = auto | population_footnotes = | population_blank1_title = Municipality | population_blank1 = 521,169 | population_density_blank1_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | demographics1_footnotes = | demographics1_title1 = Year | demographics1_info1 = 2023 | demographics1_title2 = Total (Metro area) | demographics1_info2 = $15 billion | demographics1_title3 = Per capita | demographics1_info3 = $21,200 | timezone = Central Standard Time | utc_offset = -6 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 38000 - 38159 | area_code = 461 | blank_name = Airport | blank_info = Aeropuerto Nacional Capitán Rogelio Castillo | website = http://www.celaya.gob.mx | footnotes = | name = | population_metro = 717,616 Celaya (; Otomi: Ndathi) is a city and its surrounding municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413. The municipality for which the city serves as municipal seat, had a population of 415,869. The city is located in the geographic center of the municipality, which has an areal extent of 553.1 km2 and includes many smaller outlying communities, the largest of which are San Miguel Octopan, Rincón de Tamayo and San Juan de la Vega.

There are many smaller towns around Celaya including Rincón de Tamayo, Tarimoro, Villagrán, La Moncada, Panales Jamaica (Cañones), Panales Galera, La Calera, La Estancia, La Noria, Los Fierros, El Acebuche, Cacalote, and Charco Largo. It is also not far away from Cortazar, Salamanca, Salvatierra, Apaseo el Grande, Querétaro City and among others. The city was founded in 1570 as Villa de la Purisíma Concepción de Zalaya. The word Zalaya is of Basque origin and means "Flat Land".

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Panorama_de_la_ciudad_de_Celaya,_Guanajuato.tif" caption="''Panorama de la ciudad de Celaya, Guanajuato'' (Celaya city panorama), Anonymous, [[1883]], [[Museo Soumaya"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Street_vendors_in_the_Celaya_train_station.Description(Spanish)_Vendedores_ambulantes_en_la_estación_de_tren_en_Celaya..jpeg" caption="Street vendors in the Celaya train station before 1901"] ::

Celaya was a frontier region between the Purépecha and the Chichimecas.

General Álvaro Obregón defeated Pancho Villa in the Battle of Celaya in 1915, as referred by Martínez Celaya was also the Guanajuato state capital for a short period.

An explosion in a gunpowder and fireworks warehouse in September, 1999, killed over 60 people and injured over 300 people.

On 23 May 2022, eleven people were murdered in a massacre linked to the Mexican drug war.

Geography

Climate

Celaya has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh). | location = Celaya (1991-2020) | metric first = yes | single line = Yes

| Jan record high C = 36.0 | Feb record high C = 34.5 | Mar record high C = 39.0 | Apr record high C = 39.0 | May record high C = 38.5 | Jun record high C = 38.0 | Jul record high C = 34.5 | Aug record high C = 34.5 | Sep record high C = 33.0 | Oct record high C = 34.0 | Nov record high C = 35.0 | Dec record high C = 34.0 | Jan high C = 26.1 | Feb high C = 27.8 | Mar high C = 29.8 | Apr high C = 31.4 | May high C = 31.7 | Jun high C = 29.6 | Jul high C = 27.6 | Aug high C = 27.9 | Sep high C = 27.6 | Oct high C = 27.8 | Nov high C = 27.4 | Dec high C = 26.5 | year high C = 28.4 | Jan mean C = 16.3 | Feb mean C = 17.8 | Mar mean C = 19.9 | Apr mean C = 22.1 | May mean C = 23.3 | Jun mean C = 22.6 | Jul mean C = 21.2 | Aug mean C = 21.3 | Sep mean C = 21.1 | Oct mean C = 20.1 | Nov mean C = 18.5 | Dec mean C = 17.0 | year mean C = 20.1 | Jan low C = 6.5 | Feb low C = 7.9 | Mar low C = 10.0 | Apr low C = 12.8 | May low C = 14.8 | Jun low C = 15.5 | Jul low C = 14.8 | Aug low C = 14.7 | Sep low C = 14.5 | Oct low C = 12.5 | Nov low C = 9.6 | Dec low C = 7.5 | year low C = 11.8 | Jan record low C = -3.5 | Feb record low C = -3.5 | Mar record low C = -3.0 | Apr record low C = 1.0 | May record low C = 6.0 | Jun record low C = 7.0 | Jul record low C = 8.0 | Aug record low C = 6.5 | Sep record low C = 3.0 | Oct record low C = 3.5 | Nov record low C = -1.5 | Dec record low C = -3.5 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 11.1 | Feb precipitation mm = 11.9 | Mar precipitation mm = 10.7 | Apr precipitation mm = 8.0 | May precipitation mm = 27.4 | Jun precipitation mm = 101.7 | Jul precipitation mm = 146.2 | Aug precipitation mm = 137.1 | Sep precipitation mm = 116.9 | Oct precipitation mm = 34.4 | Nov precipitation mm = 10.4 | Dec precipitation mm = 4.1 | year precipitation mm = 619.9 | unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 2.6 | Feb precipitation days = 2.1 | Mar precipitation days = 2.5 | Apr precipitation days = 3.1 | May precipitation days = 8.0 | Jun precipitation days = 12.7 | Jul precipitation days = 16.4 | Aug precipitation days = 14.0 | Sep precipitation days = 12.3 | Oct precipitation days = 6.3 | Nov precipitation days = 3.2 | Dec precipitation days = 1.7 | year precipitation days = 84.9 | source 1 = Servicio Meteorologico Nacional (extremes 1971-2020){{cite web | url = https://smn.conagua.gob.mx/tools/RESOURCES/Normales_Climatologicas/Normales9120/gto/nor9120_11095.txt | title = Estado de Guanajuato-Estacion: CELAYA (SMN) | work = Normales Climatologicas 1991–2020 | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | language = es | access-date = 30 October 2025}} | date = August 2012

Education==

  • Centro Pedagogico de Celaya
  • Colegio Arturo Rosenblueth
  • Colegio Marista
  • Colegio Nuevo Continente Bajío Celaya Campus
  • Complejo Educativo Ignacio Allende
  • Colegio Mexico
  • Escuela Bilingue Guilford
  • Instituto Andersen
  • Instituto Bilingue Oxford
  • Instituto Británico de Celaya (BIC)
  • Instituto Educativo Rosa G. de Carmona
  • Instituto Sir Winston Churchill
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Celaya
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Roque
  • Instituto Universitario del Centro de México (UCEM)
  • Universidad de Celaya
  • Universidad de Guanajuato
  • Universidad de Itesba
  • Universidad Lasallista Benavente
  • Universidad Latina de Mexico
  • Westminster Royal College

Attractions

Ball of Water

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/celaya-bola.jpg" caption="Celaya's main icon—a water tower in the heart of the city."] ::

The Ball of Water reservoir has been a city icon since 1908; it continues to supply water to portions of downtown. The tank was manufactured in Germany and assembled on site, and is unique in being assembled using rivets rather than welds. It is believed to be the only one of its kind with a spherical shape (it is rumored that there was another similar water ball in Stuttgart, Germany that was destroyed during the Second World War). Traditionally, locals tell visitors that it is filled with cajeta, taking them to visit the "Bola del Agua" on Sundays, the traditional day for visiting the Independencia Lane. A plaque at the base of the water tower features the legend (in Spanish):

The work was carried out under the command of German Enrique Schöndube, although it is known that payment for the construction took ten years due to the start of the Mexican Revolution, so it was paid once the new government established. During the Mexican Revolution, Villa's officers thought the hydraulic tower had such a large amount of water that destroying it would drown the population of Celaya. One of Villa's generals ordered his artillery to destroy it. Captain Gustavo Duron, in charge of a 75mm battery, followed the orders but shot around the tower, avoiding it and protecting the monument, as mentioned by local historian Herminio Martínez. The construction resulted in the neglect of the people handing out water at home from the mayor's office called water carriers. Commercial advertising on its surface was allowed for several years to cover the costs of the reservoir, ending on September 8, 1980, when, in celebration of upcoming 410th Anniversary of the Foundation of Celaya, the mayor in charge decreed that the Ball of Water would be a symbol that would represent the city, and the placement of advertisements was banned.

Cuisine

Celaya is also known for the artisanal production of cajeta, a type of milk candy.

Transportation

The Celaya Airport had (as of January 22, 2007) commercial flights to Santiago de Querétaro and connections from there to other destinations; these services were dropped in 2008. Celaya lies along the El Paso Spur of the Pan-American Highway which is known locally as Mexican Federal Highway 45.

Notable people

  • Marta Sahagún de Fox (b. April 10, 1953), former Mexican First Lady and wife of President Vicente Fox, lived in Celaya and unsuccessfully ran for mayor
  • Guillermo Martínez (b. 15 March 1995), Footballer
  • Miguel Martínez (b. September 29, 1921), Musician, composer and songwriter. Considered the father of the modern mariachi trumpet
  • Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras (b. October 13, 1759, d. August 3, 1833), Architect and painter. Designed the El Carmen church in Celaya
  • Joshua Ilika Brenner (b. September 14, 1976) Olympic swimmer
  • Liliana Ibáñez (b. January 30, 1991), Olympic swimmer
  • Teresa Magueyal (1958–2023), Mexican human rights activist.
  • Raúl Velasco (b. April 24, 1933, d. November 26, 2006) Entertainer and TV Producer. Was the host of the TV program Siempre en Domingo.
  • Octavio Ocampo (b. February 28, 1943) Painter known for his "metamorphosis" style.
  • Mauricio Ochmann (b. November 16, 1977), Actor
  • Ever Guzmán (b. 15 March 1988), Footballer
  • José Juan Vázquez (b. 14 March 1988), Footballer
  • David Roberto Bárcena Ríos (26 December 1941 – 22 February 2017) was a Mexican equestrian who competed at five Olympic Games, winning a bronze medial in the Team Event at his fifth Olympics

Sister cities

References

Sources

References

  1. "CELAYA".
  2. [http://www.citypopulation.de/en/mexico/admin/guanajuato/11007__celaya/ Citypopulation.de] Population of Celaya municipality with localities
  3. "TelluBase—Mexico Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)". Tellusant.
  4. Peter Gerhard, ''A Guide to the Historical Geography of New Spain'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972), p. 64
  5. Martínez A, JA (2019). Los Combates de Celaya: Crónicas y Testimonios.
  6. "Domingo Negro - U-69 CRUZ ROJA CELAYA".
  7. "World at a Glance".
  8. (24 May 2022). "Asesinadas al menos 11 personas en un ataque en Celaya".
  9. "Mapas. Climatológicos".
  10. [http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/normales/estacion/gto/NORMAL11009.TXT NORMALES CLIMATOLÓGICAS 1971-2000] {{webarchive. link. (2013-02-19 , National Meteorological Service of Mexico. Retrieved August 4, 2012.)
  11. "Nuevo Continente Bajío: Contacto".
  12. "Colegio México Celaya – La Verdad Os Hará Libres".
  13. (18 December 2007). "Escuela Guilford".
  14. "Instituto Hans Christian Andersen".
  15. (22 July 2011). "Bienvenido al Instituto Winston".
  16. "Portal Web ITCelaya - Site".
  17. (21 July 2008). "Instituto Tecnológico de Roque".
  18. "Inicio - Universidad de Celaya".
  19. "UNITESBA - Universidad".
  20. "Universidad Lasallista Benavente".
  21. (28 February 2010). "Universidad Latina de Mexico - Offline".

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celayamunicipalities-of-guanajuatootomi-settlementspopulated-places-established-in-1570populated-places-in-guanajuato