Xalapa

Xalapa (or Jalapa) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz. In the year 2005 census, it reported a population of 413,196. Xalapa CathedralThe municipal seat of Xalapa is the city of Xalapa de Enríquez, named in honor of the gobernador (governor) Juan de la Luz Enriquez. In everyday usage, however, the city is generally referred to by the shorter name Xalapa. It was called "La ciudad de las flores " (City of Flowers) by Alexander Von Humboldt. Its name comes from the Nahuatl roots "Xalli" (sand) and "Apan" (water place), which approximately means "spring in the sand." The spelling Xalapa (like the word México) reflects the archaic spelling. "Jalapa" (like Méjico) is modernized and is used mostly by foreigners.