TUXTLA

in full Tuxtla Gutirrez city, capital of Chiapas estado (state), southeastern Mexico. It lies at about 1,740 feet (530 m) above sea level, 7.5 miles (12 km) west of the Grijalva River and about 240 miles (390 km) east of Oaxaca. In 1892 Tuxtla replaced San Cristbal de las Casas as state capital. In addition to its administrative functions, Tuxtla is the major commercial and manufacturing centre in the state. Much of the corn (maize), cotton, cacao, coffee, tobacco, sugarcane, henequen, and other tropical crops cultivated in the region are processed in and distributed from the city. Tuxtla is on that portion of the Pan-American Highway linking Mexico City with Guatemala City, and it has an airfield. The Autonomous University of Chiapas was established at Tuxtla in 1975, and there also are technical institutes. The city has a well-known zoo, a state archaeological and historical museum, and a botanical garden. The annual fair of Guadalupe held in December attracts a number of tourists. Pop. (1980) 131,096; (1990) 289,626.