Ciudad Mendoza, city, west-central Veracruz estado (state), east-central Mexico. Formerly known as Santa Rosa, it lies on the Blanco River at the south foot of Volcano Pico de Orizaba, in the Sierra Madre Oriental. Although once primarily a textile (cotton ginning and weaving) and agricultural (coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, and fruit) centre, Ciudad Mendoza has become an important regional commercial centre. It is linked by highway and railroad to the city of Veracruz to the east-northeast and to Mexico City to the west-northwest. Pop. (2005) 34,313; (2010) 35,641.