Villahermosa

Villahermosa ( VEE-(y)ə-air-MOH-sə, Spanish: [ˌbiʝaeɾˈmosa] ; "beautiful town") is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Tabasco, and serves as the municipal seat (governing county) of the state. Located in Southeast Mexico, Villahermosa is known for its cultural history, natural resources, commercial development, and modern industrialization. Coined La Esmeralda del Sureste ("The Emerald of the Southeast"), Villahermosa is a modern city with history dating back to the early 1500s. Its natural resources like cacao, sugarcane, bananas, tobacco, rice, and hardwood trees have made Villahermosa attractive to domestic investors. The city has become a hub for oil and gas operations in Southern Mexico and is referred to as the "Energy City of Mexico". The most recent oil discovery, at the Ogarrio oil field just 107 km west of Villahermosa, make it an important city in the production of hydrocarbons. Commercially, the city is popular with major retailers like Liverpool, Fábricas de Fráncia, Palacio de Hierro, Walmart, City Club, Costco, Soriana, Chedraui, Comercial Mexicana and Home Depot. National banks Santander Mexico and Banamex serve the city's financial needs.