In a country rich in history that predates Columbus, the city of Torreón, founded in 1907, may seem a mere speck on the time-line. However, explosive population growth due to the railroad, and repeated battles involving Pancho Villa put the city on the map. More infamously, it also marked the beginnings of the persecution of Chinese citizens, when a pogrom against the community led to the decimation of the Asian minority.

Today, one of the biggest cities in Coahuila, Torreón is riding high on textiles, clothing, and metal production. Irrigation has also built up farming and cotton processing in the area. And like any Norteño city, ranching is only a stone's throw away. Not bad for what was in living memory a town of 290.