# San Pedro Garza García

San Pedro Garza García (also known as San Pedro) is a city-municipality in the Mexican state of Nuevo León and part of the Monterrey Metropolitan area. It is a contemporary commercial suburb of the larger metropolitan city of Monterrey between Puente de la Unidad and the Alfa Planetarium, including areas surrounding Calzada del Valle/Calzada San Pedro. In 2018 it was evaluated as having the best quality of life in Mexico. It has luxury shopping malls, large green areas, as well as important colleges and hospitals. Cerro de Chipinque and Chipinque Ecological Park are notable aspects of the city. The city hosts the head offices of companies like ALFA, Cemex, Gamesa, Vitro, Pyosa, Softtek and Cydsa.

## Geography

The municipality has an area of 70.78 km$^2$ (27.33 sq mi) and is primarily urban, located adjacent to the southwest side of Monterrey. It sits in a valley surrounded by mountains, most notably La Loma Larga and Sierra Madre Oriental.

### Chipinque Ecological Park

On the slopes of Cerro de Chipinque, within the Cumbres de Monterrey national park, is the Chipinque Ecological Park, with 1,791 hectares, covering altitudes from 730 to 2,200 meters with representative flora and fauna. The annual average temperature is 21 °C.
The Chipinque Ecological Park aims to conserve biodiversity through integrated management that ensures the conservation of its natural resources, which in turn promotes respect and appreciation of the ecosystem and geography of the place.
On the 25th anniversary of the park, the Chipinque brand was redesigned, which revitalized the relationship that visitors have with the park.

## Government

The current Municipal President (Mayor) of San Pedro is Mauricio Fernandez, a candidate of PAN (National Action Party).
San Pedro Garza Garcia was founded in 1596. The land was converted into a large plantation called "Los Nogales" which produced crops like corn, wheat, and beans.
During the 18th century, the plantation often went by the name of "San Pedro", in honor of Saint Peter.
The city was elevated to the status of "Villa" (town) on December 14, 1882, when it was given the name Garza García, in honor of the governor of Nuevo León, Genaro Garza García.
In 1988, the mayor at the time, Alejandro Chapa Salazar, gave the city its current name, adding the reference to what it was called centuries before.

## Education
### Higher education

The city is home to the Catholic university, Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM), which offers bachelor's degree and master's degree programs. The Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) has two of its graduate schools in San Pedro. The Escuela de Graduados en Administración y Dirección de Empresas (EGADE), ITESM's Graduate School of Business, and the Escuela de Graduados en Administración y Política Pública (EGAP), the Graduate School of Politics and Public Administration. Both campuses are located in Valle Oriente. There are no public universities in San Pedro.

### Elementary and secondary education

San Pedro has 40 public pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. The city also has 39 private schools. However, whereas public schools only offer one type of education (e.g., only middle school, or only elementary school), private schools offer multiple types (mostly K-9th and K-12). If counted individually by type of education provided, private schools function as 88 different schools, more than twice the number of public schools.

## Notable people

* Maria L. de Hernández (1896–1986), Mexican-American rights activist, was born in San Pedro Garza García.
* José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, notable businessman
* Lorenzo Zambrano, businessman and philanthropist
* Alejandro Junco de la Vega, journalist and founder of Reforma
* Mauricio Fernández Garza, politician and businessman
* Lázaro Garza Ayala was a military officer, lawyer, and politician who served as governor of Nuevo León. He is known for writing the phrase "Las armas nacionales se han cubierto de gloria" (The national arms have been covered in glory).
* Paulina Villarreal, drummer and lead singer of The Warning

## Sister city

San Pedro Garza García has one sister city.:
* - Plano, Texas, US