The early modernization of Merida, Yucatan. A new urban duality

Abstract

Early Modernity in Yucatan occurred in the mid-twentieth century and led to an important development of Merida, its capital city, due to a change in the regional development model that prevailed over the previous decades, which was based on growing and processing henequen. The diversification of economic activities ensuing from the country´s industrialization under President Miguel Aleman fostered a new economy for the city, based on trade and a variety of services, which in turn promoted the development of Mexico´s southeastern region. As a result, the city of Merida underwent profound transformations, in particular an explosive peripheral growth and the consolidation of the central role of its historic district for the urban economy. These dynamics inaugurated an urban development model which affected to some extent the heritage of the historic center while reordering and uncovering the potential of the services and infrastructure located in the new periphery.