"de Mariano Escobedo" was added to the city's name in 1902 in honor of the general who fought in the Mexican–American War and for the liberals during the period of La Reforma with Benito Juárez.

It is an important site because it establishes the presence of man here to about 15000–13000 BC, making it one of the oldest human settlements in the Americas.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross (Capilla de la Santa Cruz) was probably begun in the 17th century and is now integrated into the new municipal palace.

[5] As municipal seat, the city has governing jurisdiction over the following communities: Buenavista, Sierra de Guadalupe (Loma Sta.

[3] It has the distinction of being the only municipality in Mexico that has two cities (localities) of over 100,000 population (Buenavista and San Pablo de las Salinas).

It divides into two geographic zones: the plains and the mountain range of La Sierra de Guadalupe, which extendes into various other municipalities and was declared an ecological park.

The area is a source of building materials such as stone, and agricultural activities such as the grown of corn, alfalfa and fruit trees is still practiced.

Industry is now the major employer with entities devoted to chemicals, cardboard boxes, plastics, and various types of metal production.

It is also a perfect opportunity to explore the center of the plaza where many traditional food is found such as quesadillas, pambazos, tlacoyos, huaraches, tacos, baked bread, barbacoa made of sheep and other appetizers like strawberries in cream, fried sausages and many traditional candies (cocada, alegria, chilacayote and obleas).

In addition to this food the inhabitants also can find a great variety of strange drinks made with combinations of vodka, beer, whisky, rum, tequila, coke and mineral water.