Hidalgo del Parral , is a city and seat of the municipality of Hidalgo del Parral in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. As of , the city of Hidalgo del Parral had a population of , inhabitants, [1] while the metro area has a population of , inhabitants.
The name was changed after independence from Spain, in honour of Fr Miguel Hidalgo , widely considered the 'Father of the Country'. Parral was once a bustling center for silver mining. As early as , the silver mines at Santa Barbara were established in the territory of the Conchos Indians. However, in , a vast new silver strike was made in what is now southern Chihuahua. The large area of southern Chihuahua inhabited by the Tarahumara people included the highway between the mining districts of Parral, Cusihuiriachic, and Chihuahua.
After the end of the silver mining boom, Parral was almost completely abandoned in the early s although the surrounding district continues to be mined for silver and base metals. Currently, Parral is a medium-sized town in the state of Chihuahua mainly dedicated to commerce, and is an important regional center for trade between the southern regions of Chihuahua and northern Durango.
Urban development has been slow due to the lack of potable water and its complex physical geography. Its intricate network of streets and alleys are distinctive features of the city, helping to preserve its colonial style.
Parral is often associated with several historical figures, including Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa , who was assassinated in Parral on July 20, , and initially buried here; and border ruffian "Dirty" Dave Rudabaugh , a sometime friend and foe of Billy the Kid.
