CHILPANCINGO

in full Chilpancingo De Los Bravos, city, capital of Guerrero estado ("state"), south-central Mexico. Chilpancingo lies along the Huacapa (or Petaquillas) River, which descends through the inland flanks of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Chilpancingo ("Place of the Wasps") was founded in 1591 and gained prominence as the site of the first Mexican congress, convoked in 1813 by Jos Mara Morelos y Pavn. Bravos was added to its name in honour of its native sons and heroes of the revolution, Nicols, Leonardo, and Victor Bravo. Battles were fought at Chilpancingo in both the wars for independence from Spain and the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century. In addition to its administrative functions, Chilpancingo is an economic centre. Corn (maize), sugarcane, and bananas are the principal products of the surrounding area, but livestock raising and lumbering are also important. The city's industries include the production of mescal (an alcoholic beverage) and straw items. The Autonomous University of Guerrero was established in Chilpancingo in 1960. The city is on the Mexico City-Acapulco expressway and has an airfield. Pop. (1990 prelim.) mun., 136,243.