[1] During the colonial period the city was a significant supplier of silver to the Spanish empire and was known as San José del Parral.

The hill, is a part of the eastern foothill belt of the Sierra Madre Occidental, characterized by thick eroded deposits of tertiary volcanics.

[2] Parral's topography is characterized by both the silver vein bearing ores of its hill and adjacent basins that allowed for: the growth of crops such as maize, cattle grazing, and easy routes of communication to the state capital.

Later, in 1640, it was declared "Capital of the World of Silver" by monarch Philip IV of Spain, at the very height of the Spanish Empire, that included territories in Eastern Asia, Italy, and the Low Countries.

Under colonial authority the region was developed as a permanent mine-ranch settlement complex, requiring large amounts of food and labor.

Diggers regularly fell into shafts, were crushed by collapsing sections of the mine, and breathed in large amounts of silica causing scar tissue and lung decay.

[4][2]Carrying 225–300-pound bags of metallic rock from the shafts to the surface, enslaved miners crawled through low passages and ascended by way of pine logs and ladders, before being unloaded into carts for transport.

[4] A member of the Reales de Minas in Northern Mexico, the mines in Parral had a distinctive militaristic political and social structure.

[2] Connecting networks of migratory native mine workers and suppliers across the region, the economic sphere of Parral extended far beyond the colonial center's geographic boundaries.

Utilizing the smelting method to crush the ore into coarse gravel and combine it with molten lead, workers separated silver from rock.

[citation needed] Asarco managed the La Prieta mine until the boom ended in the early 1930s; the minerals that were extracted were sent to the United States for final processing and then shipped back to Mexico, the US and other markets.

She distinguished herself in Parral history by fighting against a contingent of U.S. soldiers sent to capture Pancho Villa after he crossed the border and attacked Columbus, New Mexico.

Parral was recently named as one of the “Ten Gastronomic Marvels of Mexico,” primarily for its artisan confectioneries dulces de leche.

Parral's candies have been shipped around the world; interesting destinations include Vatican City, Washington DC, and London.

One of the most famous confectionery artisans in Parral was Don Pablo Rodríguez, founder of La Gota de Miel.

Anthropological evidence suggests that the indigenous people of the Valley of Mexico traditionally ate corn tortillas folded or rolled around small fish.

Writing at the time of the Spanish conquistadors, Bernal Díaz del Castillo documented a feast enjoyed by Europeans hosted by Hernán Cortés in Coyoacán.

Among the most recognized alumni of Judokan is Vanessa Zambotti, and Olympic judo-fighter with international experience, winner of a gold medal in the XIX Central American and Caribbean Games and silver medalist at the Judo World Cup in 2008.

Parral has an altitude-moderated semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with rainfall limited to heavy thunderstorms during the hot summer months.