Parral, Chihuahua
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- For other uses of this name, see Parral.
Parral (formerly known as San José de Parral; formally known as Hidalgo del Parral) is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, 220 km away from the state capital Chihuahua, Chih. Its population is approximately 90,000.
Founded in 1631 by Juan Rangel de Biesma, it was once a bustling center for silver mining. After the end of the silver mining boom, Parral was almost completely abandoned in the early 1930s (although the surrounding district continues to be mined for silver and base metals). It is now a small city mainly dedicated to commerce.
It is noted as the place of death of several historical figures:
- Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa was assassinated there on July 20, 1923, and was initially buried there.
- Border ruffian "Dirty" Dave Rudabaugh (sometime friend and foe of Billy the Kid).
Was founded as an important mining center. As early as 1567, the silver mines at Santa Barbara were established in the territory of the Conchos Indians. However, in 1631, a vast new silver strike was made at Parral in what is now southern Chihuahua. The strike in Parral led to a large influx of Spaniards and Indian laborers into this area of Tarahumara country north of Santa Barbara. However, the steadily increasing need for labor in the Parral mines, according to Professor Spicer, led to the "forcible recruitment, or enslavement, of non-Christian Indians...the influx of new people and the resulting development of Spanish society no doubt placed increased pressure upon the native population in the region." The large area of southern Chihuahua inhabited by the Conchos Indians included the highway between the mining districts of Parral, Cusihuiriachic, and Chihuahua."