Tampico

Tampico

Tampico is a lively city and port in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It sits on the north bank of the Pánuco River, just a little way from the Gulf of Mexico. Tampico is the fifth-largest city in Tamaulipas.

Long ago, Tampico became very important when oil was found nearby in 1901 at Ébano. This made Tampico a busy place for exporting oil and other treasures like silver, copper, and lumber. The money from oil helped build beautiful buildings in the city.

The name Tampico comes from an old local word meaning “place of otters.” Otters used to swim in the Pánuco River near the city. People have lived in this area for many years, and today Tampico is a friendly place with colorful buildings and tasty food, especially seafood. The people there are called Jaibas, after crabs, and you can see crab symbols in many places.