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Piedras Negras, Coahuila

Piedras Negras
Official seal of Piedras Negras
Seal
Nickname(s): The Safe Border!
Piedras Negras is located in Mexico
Piedras Negras
Piedras Negras
Coordinates: 28°42′00″N 100°31′23″W / 28.70000°N 100.52306°W / 28.70000; -100.52306Coordinates: 28°42′00″N 100°31′23″W / 28.70000°N 100.52306°W / 28.70000; -100.52306
Country Mexico
State Coahuila
Municipality Piedras Negras
Established June 15, 1850
Government
 • Mayor

Jose Manuel Maldonado (PRI) 2010

Oscar López Elizondo(PRI) 2010–2013
Area
 • City 914.2 km2 (353.0 sq mi)
Elevation 223 m (732 ft)
Population (2015)
 • City 163,595
 • Density 180/km2 (460/sq mi)
 • Urban 163,595
 • Metro 194,293
Demonym(s) Nigropetense
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
Postal code 26000
Area code(s) 878
Airport Piedras Negras Int. Airport
Website piedrasnegras.gob.mx

Jose Manuel Maldonado (PRI) 2010

Piedras Negras (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpjeðɾas neɣɾas]) (Black stones) is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila. It stands at the northeastern edge of Coahuila on the U.S.-Mexico border, across the Río Bravo (Rio Grande) from Eagle Pass in the U.S. state of Texas. In the 2012 census the city had a population of 163,595 people, which accounted for 91 percent of its municipality's total population of 163,595. The municipality's relatively small area includes some minor localities outside the city limits. The Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras area is connected by the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras International Bridge, Camino Real International Bridge, and the Eagle Pass Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge.

Founded in 1849, the city was renamed Ciudad Porfirio Díaz in 1888, in homage to President Porfirio Díaz. It reverted to its original name following the Mexican Revolution.

In Spanish Piedras Negras translates to "black stones" – a reference to coal deposits in the area. Across the river, coal was formerly mined on the US side at Dolchburg, near Eagle Pass. This mine closed around 1905, after a fire. Mexico currently operates two large coal-fired power plants named "José López Portillo" and "Carbón 2" located 30 miles (48 km) south of Piedras Negras.


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