Uruapan is a city and municipality in the west-central part of the Mexican state of Michoac�n. The city is the municipal seat of the municipality. The town and surroundings are world famous for the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary nearby, Uruapan is in the crossroads of Michoacan, is the middle city anywhere in Michoacan, in part because of the great quantity of avocado farming and packaging, exported in large parts to the United States, Japan and other countries.
Uruapan is one of the oldest cities in Mexico. Its main natural attraction is the Cupatitzio River (dubbed "the river that sings"), because along its flow are tourist attractions. The National Park Eduardo Ruiz is home of "La Rodilla del Diablo", the source of the river which courses through the city and out toward "La Tzar�racua" and "La Tzararacuita", waterfalls on the southern outskirts of the city, and flows into the Presa Infernillo and eventually the Pacific Ocean. Paricut�n volcano emerged in the vicinity in 1943, scaring away much of the population. As of the 2010 census, the population of the municipality was 315,379. The municipality has an area of 954.17 km� (368.4 sq mi). The city and the municipality are both the second-largest in the state, behind only the state capital of Morelia.
Uruapan is served by Uruapan International Airport. Uruapan has a sister city: Culver City, California, the street where the National Park is has that name (Culver City Street); also, the firefighters of Uruapan received a few years ago personal equipment and vehicles from Culver City and Kansas City Fire Department to do a better job. Large numbers of residents live in Mexican communities throughout Southern California such as Culver City, Coachella and Los Angeles California where some local businesses carry the name "Uruapan", along with other Michoacanos from the towns of Jiquilpan, Sahuayo and Jucutacato.
The word Uruapan comes from the Pur�pecha word ulhupani, meaning "place of eternal
