Puebla (city, Mexico)

Puebla (city, Mexico), in full Puebla de Zaragoza, city in central Mexico, capital of Puebla State. It is an agricultural, commercial, manufacturing, and tourist center located in Mexico's central plateau at an elevation of about 2163 m (about 7095 ft). Major products include textiles, glass, pottery, tiles, and processed food. In the city are the Benemérita Autonomous University of Puebla (1937), the University of the Americas (1940), and the Popular Autonomous University of Puebla State (1973); the José Luis Bello y González Museum of Art (1938); a 16th-century cathedral; and an 18th-century theater, believed to be the oldest in North America. The community, established in 1532, is one of the oldest European settlements in Mexico. In 1847, during the Mexican War, Puebla was occupied by United States troops, and it was held by the French from 1863 to 1867. Population (2005 estimate) 1,485,941.