VILLAHERMOSA

city, capital of Tabasco state, southeastern Mexico. It is in the Gulf lowlands at 33 ft (10 m) above sea level, on the Ro Grijalva. Founded in 1596 as Villa Felipe II, the settlement has also been known as San Juan de Villa Hermosa and as San Juan Bautista; it was given its present name, meaning beautiful city, in 1915. The city's cathedral was built in 1614; its archaeological museum is one of the best in Mexico. As well as a political centre, Villahermosa is the state's chief distributing, processing, and agricultural city. Its industries, which use the regional tropical products, include sugar refineries, distilleries, rice and lumber mills, and factories manufacturing cigars, soap, and clothing. The city is situated on the highway linking Mexico City, to the west-northwest, with the Yucatn Peninsula. A road leads south to Teapa, through which the main VeracruzYucatn railroad passes. Villahermosa is also served by domestic airlines. The Benito Jurez Autonomous University of Tabasco was established in Villahermosa in 1959. Pop. (1980) 158,216.