Ciudad Acuña, also known simply as Acuña, (originally Garza Galán, later Villa Acuña) is a city located in the Mexican state of Coahuila, at and a mean height above sea level of 280 metres. It stands on the Rio Grande (locally known as the Río Bravo), which at this point marks the U.S.-Mexico border, and offers a border crossing with the neighbouring city of Del Rio in the U.S. state of Texas. It serves as the municipal seat of the surrounding Acuña municipality. In the 2005 census the city had a population of 124,232, whereas the municipality's population was 126,238. The city is the fifth-largest community in the state.
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Brief history
The first recorded settlement of Acuña took place on December 27, 1877. It was actually founded by a group of colonists led by Domingo Urias, Irineo Casillas Arevalo, and his wife Maximina Espinoza. At the time, the Governor of the State was general Hipólito Charles who posted a military in the area led by captain Manuel Leal. In 1880 the community received villa (town) status under its first name of Garza Galán. In 1884 the locality was renamed Congregación las Vacas. Congregacion Las Vacas was then renamed Villa Acuña in 1912 after Saltillan poet Manuel Acuña. Villa Acuña was finally given the title of city on September 16, 1951, when it got its present name of Ciudad Acuña. On October 24, 1960, US president Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mexican President Adolfo López Mateos met in Acuña to sign the initial agreements allowing construction of the dam. Construction plans were not finalized until December 1966 when presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz met on the international bridge. Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz met for the dedication of Amistad Dam on September 8, 1969.
Radio
Ciudad Acuña first gained fame under the name of Villa Acuña in the 1930s when it became the home of XERA. This radio station was known as a "border-blaster" because it broadcast with power far in excess of most stations licensed in the USA. It was managed by John R. Brinkley, a medical doctor from Kansas who became famous for his male sexual enhancement operations and treatments which he advertised by radio. XERA was closed by the government of Mexico in 1939 upon pressure from the United States. When Villa Acuña became Ciudad Acuña it became famous once more as the location of an international broadcasting station. In 1947 the government of Mexico licensed XERF-AM, the super-power border-blaster run by Mexican investors on 100 kW. They used the old XERA facilities and made most of their money by selling its airtime after nightfall to American Evangelists broadcasting in English to the United States. In 1959, A group of Texas investors formed the Inter-American Radio Advertising, Inc. which was located in the law offices of attorney Arturo Gonzalez in Del Rio, Texas. They ran the broadcasting in Del Rio while the license rested in the hands of Mexican officials. They boosted the power to 250 kW, which was unheard of in the US. This massive radio station gave fame to disc jockey Wolfman Jack between 1962 and 1964. XERF-AM is currently under control of the Instituto Mexicano de la Radio and plays Spanish-language programs and music.
Music
Acuña is referenced in a song called "Mexican Blackbird" on the ZZ Top album Fandango. The song tells the story of a few men from Texas crossing the border to visit a mulatto prostitute in Acuña. "Blame It on Mexico" a song performed by George Strait, written by songwriter Darrell Staedtler, on the "Strait Country" album tells about one night in Acuña/Del Río and references Acuña and Ma Crosby's (a historic restaurant in Acuña) in the beginning. "In a bar in Acuña called Ma Crosby's I found myself not feeling any pain I told a 'Frisco girl I'd come for freedom She said she'd only come to catch a train We struck up some idle conversation Traded all the troubles on our minds One thing lead to another in the evening And I fell in love again for my last time"
Cinema
In the film, Rolling Thunder (1977) the villains are known as the Acuña Boys. Outdoor scenes for the 1992 cult motion picture El Mariachi were shot here, as well as the bar scenes & street confrontation from the sequel, Desperado. Actor/Director/Producer: Carlos Gallardo, was born in Cd. Acuña, Coah. Mexico, the actor from the El Mariachi movie. Also Desperado was filmed in Acuña and the scene where Antonio Banderas slaughters everyone in the bar was filmed at The Corona Club (kitty-corner to Ma Crosby's) located on the main strip (La Hidalgo) In the film "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" (2004), the lead character Beatrix Kiddo travels to Acuña to meet with Bill's friend Esteban Vihaio. Vihaio is said to be the leader of the 'Acuña Boys' army. In Grindhouse, Acuña Boys Mexican Food is featured on a bumper ad and in Death Proof. The film Like Water For Chocolate was filmed on Presa de la Amistad (Amistad Lake) in Acuña.
References
- Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
