Puebla
the third city of Mexico, capital of the State of the same name; (area, 12,992 square miles; pop. about 1,250,000); on a fruitful plain, 7,120 feet above sea-level, and 68 miles S. E. of the city of Mexico. It was founded in 1531, and is one of the handsomest towns in the republic. The city contains nearly 50 churches, theological, medical, art schools and a museum of antiquities dating from 1728. On the great square stands the cathedral, the interior of which is decorated in the most sumptuous manner with ornaments of gold and silver, paintings, statues, etc.
Puebla has a thriving trade. The chief articles produced are cotton, paper, iron, glass, porcelain, leather. Puebla was besieged for two months by the French, and then taken by storm, May 17, 1863.
Pop. about 100,000.