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Chihuahua is the capital of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.
Its population was estimated at 540,000 in 1990 and 627,662 in 1995. As of 2003, it has 721,090 inhabitants.
The name's origin is uncertain, but it is old, predating the Spanish conquest, and is thought to derive from the Nahuatl Xicuahua, meaning "dry, sandy place".
The city is almost in the centre of the state on the Cuauhtémoc highway. It wasn't officially founded until 1709 ( October 12, apparently), by Antonio Deza y Ulloa , following the nearby discovery of silver. As Real de San Francisco de Cuéllar, it was granted town status in 1718 and renamed Felipe el Real de Chihuahua. The settlement was granted city status in 1824. The "pink" baroque cathedral is the most impressive building dating from that period; other buildings from that era are also grouped around the Plaza de la Constitución (also called the Plaza de Armas). Of more modern construction is the art nouveau museum of Quinta Gameros.
Miguel Hidalgo was held prisoner and executed in the city in 1811. During the French invasion, Benito Juárez briefly made the city his seat of government. Pancho Villa lived in Chihuahua, and, after his death, his widow turned his mansion into a museum, the Museo de la Revolución, although it is also called the Quinta Luz. After her death in 1981, the museum passed into the control of the Mexican army.Today, Chihuahua is an important state for many reasons. NAFTA legislation has encouraged many USThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in businesses to build factories (maquilas) in northern Chihuahua. In addition, Chihuahua has many tourist attractions. One of these is the famous town of Mata OrtizNear the ancient ruins of Casas Grandes in northern Chihuahua, Mexico, just south of the San Luis Mountains, a new artistic movement is flourishing. Mata Ortiz a small village barely three streets wide, is home to Juan Quezada, the self-taught originator, located at the base of the Sierra mountains . This town, discovered by Spencer MacCallumSpencer McCallum discovered the pottery of the town of Mata Ortiz, Mexico, a small town located near the ancient Paquime ruins in Chihuahua, Mexico. In 1976, McCallum discovered Juan Quezada, who soon became the leader of this now-thriving pottery movemen, is now known worldwide for its unique potteryPottery is a form of ceramics technology, where wet clays are shaped and then dried or fired to harden them. The term is generally used only for relatively easily constructed utensils such as pots, cups, bowls, etc. and for decorative items but not for co and is the home of the famous potter Juan Quezada . Other tourist attractions in Chihuahua include the AmishThe Amish are a denomination of Anabaptists related to the Mennonites, most of whom are noted for their avoidance of modern devices such as automobiles and electricity. History Holmes County, Ohio, the site of the one of the largest concentration of Amish colonies and the Paquime indian ruins in Casas Grandes.