Ojocaliente, Zacatecas
Ojocaliente (population ~44,144) is a medium-sized town in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Zacatecas. It is considered the center of México. The town was founded in 1620; its first name was "Real Villa de Sacramento y Ojocaliente Mina de Bastidas." The name of Ojocaliente (literally "hot eye") derives from its hot springs ("ojo" meaning pond or pool) and mineral veins that were exploited in the hills of Santiago. The center of town is cut in half by the Pan American Highway # 45 Mexico - Ciudad Juarez. It has an airport 55 km to the north . Ojocaliente is a producer of beans, maize, barley, prickly pears, and potatoes; it also has grape groves and wine processing plants. Ojocaliente is cradle of culture and art with artist, composers, chroniclers, mariachis, charros association and a school of arts. Ojocaliente has six primary schools and a high school, which is affiliated with the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. The town has a Catholic cathedral, eight Catholic chapels, and a Mormon chapel. Ojocaliente sits at 2040 m above sea level. It has a land area of 685.775 km².