Tijuana History, Mexico

Tijuana, Mexico, is a very interesting city. It is very young as far as cities and histories go, but there is something unique about it. The home of renowned boxer Erik “El Terible” Morales, Tijuana has borne witness to both Mesoamerican and European events that helped shape it to what it is now.

The foundation of the city

Tijuana was founded in 1889 by Mixtec farmers. These farmers had first populated the northern border of Mexico due to the rapidly reducing quality of farm lands in southern Mexico where they originally lived. In 1860, these farmers became the first inhabitants of Tijuana, which was then known as the Colonia Obrera.

The start of being a tourist attraction

Tijuana became more prominent during the 1920s when inhabitants of Southern California as well as some well-off individuals in the United States started coming in to Tijuana via the Los Angeles-San Diego railroad. The city became known for its entertainment value. As a response to this demand for entertainment, the once-sleepy town became home to many horse racetracks as well as some casinos where the visitors and townsfolk frequented. Tijuana’s economy improved because of this.

Tijuana’s value as a tourist attraction grew exponentially during the 1940s to mid-1960s. During this period, the United States established two military bases in the Southern California area. At the same time, people from Southern Mexico started migrating north in search for jobs in northern Mexico and in the United States especially in Texas, Arizona, and California. As a result, more people from both the United States and Mexico discovered the entertainment that the Tijuana area has to offer.

Tijuana today

Tijuana today is considered an important part of Mexico as it defines the relationship between the United States and Mexico in terms of immigration. Despite the presence of the Mexican-American border, people still manage to make illegal crossings of the border using Tijuana as a stage. To the Mexican people, Tijuana serves as an emotional outlet for the youth of Mexico. If Tijuana was not there to fuel the ambitions of many young Mexicans, then a revolt led by angry Mexican youth would break out.

Besides that, Tijuana remains as the entertainment and gaming center, a role that it has served faithfully for the past century. Several people have come and gone from the city, including prominent people from Tijuana itself and its bigger neighbor.

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