Villahermosa

Villahermosa, formerly San Juan Bautista, city, southeastern Mexico, capital of Tabasco State, on the Grijalva River. The community, established in the late 16th century, developed into a commercial and manufacturing center for the surrounding region. Major manufactures now include processed food, wood products, cigars, soap, and clothing. Villahermosa is the site of the Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco (1958); the Tabasco Museum, which contains ethnological collections concerning the early Native American tribes of the area; and La Venta Museum, an open-air museum including monuments from the La Venta archaeological excavations. The city's present name was adopted in 1915. Population (2000) 536,498.