Zapopan

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Zapopan
Image:ZAP-Coat.gif
Coat of Arms
Location
Image:ZAP-Location.gif Location in the State of Jalisco</br>
Administration
Country	Mexico
State	Jalisco
Region	Región Centro
Metropolitan Area	Guadalajara Metropolitan Area
Municipality • Neighborhoods</br>	Zapopan 399</br>
Mayor	Ismael Orozco Loreto
Political party	PRI
Geography
City Area	893.15 km²
Metro Area	500 km²
Elevation	2015 Mts
Coordinates :	20°43′N 103°24′W
Population
City Population (2005)	1,159,828 (Rank 9)
Metro Population (2005)	4,100,000 (Rank 2)
City Density	1,035 /km²
Metro Density	8,200/km²
General Information
Founded	1541
Demonym	Zapopano(a)
Time Zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal Code	45010 - 45239
Area Code	+52 (Mexico) / +33 (Jalisco)
Website - H. Ayuntamiento de Zapopan

Zapopan is the seat of the municipality of Zapopan (municipio) in the Mexican state of Jalisco, and is part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area. In 2005 the population was 1,159,828 inhabitants.

The city is a commercial center for the surrounding area, with most city malls within its limits, and is popular among tourists. In addition to tourists, pilgrims visit Zapopan's basilica, Nuestra Señora de Zapopan Basilica (Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan).

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The eastern half of the city is filled with large office buildings and some of the most important shopping malls in the state, including Plaza del Sol, Plaza Milenium and Centro Magno. Next to Plaza del Sol is the tenth largest communications antenna and Latin America's tallest structure: the Torrena a shopping mall and cultural center expected to open on 2007.

Other landmarks are:

Minerva, a monument protecting the Arcos de Guadalajara, the entrance to the neighboring city.
Arcos del Milenio, an unfinished monument commemorating the millennium.
Expo Guadalajara, the largest convention center in Latin America, owned by the Universidad de Guadalajara, home to the yearly Feria Internacional del Libro (FIL), the world's biggest book fair, second only to the Frankfurt Book Fair.
The Torrena, a 336 meter tall tower currently under construction near the Expo Guadalajara conventions center.

[edit] Economy

Empresas Tajín, which produces the popular fruit seasoning called Tajín, is located in Zapopan. Flextronics Corporation also has a large industrial park located in Zapopan. The municipality is famous for corn production, but it's quickly becoming home to a large number of housing developments.