Nestled in the heart of Veracruz, Poza Rica (literally "Rich Well") is a city whose history is inextricably tied to the global energy industry. Founded in the early 20th century after the discovery of vast oil reserves, the city quickly became a hub for Mexico’s petroleum boom. The Mexican government’s expropriation of foreign oil companies in 1938—a landmark moment in Latin American economic sovereignty—cemented Poza Rica’s role as a symbol of national pride.
Yet, this black gold came at a cost. The rapid industrialization led to environmental degradation, a topic that resonates deeply today as the world grapples with climate change and the ethics of fossil fuel dependence. The once-lush landscapes of northern Veracruz were scarred by pipelines and refineries, a reminder of the trade-offs between progress and sustainability.
Long before oil rigs dotted the horizon, the region was home to the Totonac people, whose influence persists in Poza Rica’s traditions. Nearby archaeological sites like El Tajín—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—stand as testaments to their ingenuity. The Totonac’s voladores ritual, where performers spin from a tall pole to honor the gods, is still performed in Poza Rica’s festivals, a poignant contrast to the city’s industrial identity.
Poza Rica’s growth attracted workers from across Mexico and beyond, creating a vibrant, if uneven, multicultural tapestry. Spanish, Lebanese, and Chinese immigrants arrived alongside campesinos from rural Veracruz, each group contributing to the city’s cuisine (think zacahuil tamales meets Middle Eastern kibbeh) and dialect. Today, this diversity is both a strength and a challenge, as the city struggles to integrate newer waves of migrants fleeing violence in Central America—a microcosm of the global migration crisis.
The wealth generated by Poza Rica’s oil fields never trickled down evenly. PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned oil giant, became a symbol of both national pride and systemic corruption. In recent decades, the decline of production (and the rise of fracking abroad) has left the city economically vulnerable. Gangs like the Zetas and Jalisco Nueva Generación moved in, exploiting the region’s pipelines for fuel theft—huachicoleo—a problem so rampant it has drained billions from Mexico’s economy.
Poza Rica also mirrors Mexico’s alarming femicide rates. Activists cite the influx of transient oil workers and weak governance as factors in the city’s high violence against women. Murals demanding "Ni Una Más" (Not One More) dot the streets, echoing movements like #NiUnaMenos across Latin America.
As the world shifts toward renewables, Poza Rica faces a dilemma: Can it reinvent itself? Solar projects now dot the outskirts, and young entrepreneurs are pushing for eco-tourism centered on the Totonac rainforests. But with PEMEX still dominant, the transition is slow—a tension familiar to fossil-fuel-dependent communities worldwide.
Through crises, the city’s spirit endures. Street food vendors serve up molotes and café de olla as always, and the annual Carnaval Poza Rica bursts with color. Artists repurpose industrial waste into sculptures, while NGOs teach coding to kids in marginalized colonias. In these small acts, the city writes its next chapter—one that could inspire resource-rich towns everywhere.
For those venturing beyond Mexico’s tourist trails, Poza Rica offers raw, unfiltered lessons about energy, inequality, and cultural survival. Visit the Museo del Petróleo to grasp the oil saga, then hike to the Cascada de Texolo to see what’s at stake. Talk to locals in the mercado, and you’ll hear both frustration and fierce pride—a duality as rich as the soil beneath their feet.
In a world debating degrowth, post-oil economies, and Indigenous rights, Poza Rica isn’t just a dot on the map. It’s a living classroom.