Population
In the 2005 census the INEGI reported 1,137,465 people living in the city of León, 1,278,087 in the municipality of León, and 1,425,210 in the metropolitan area (which includes the neighbouring municipality of Silao). The municipality of León, which has an areal extent of 1,219.67 km² (490.92 sq mi) also includes numerous smaller outlying communities, the largest of which are Centro Familiar la Soledad, Medina, and La Ermita.
There is a large Argentinian community in the city, as well as one formed by Lebanese descendants.

Public Transportation system
The city has a new bus rapid transit system called Optibus known also as "La Oruga" (The Caterpillar). This system transportation began on September 27, 2003; León was the first city in Mexico using this class of transportation, moreover this system includes the payment system called Pagobus which began about four years before the beginning of the system Optibus. León is one of the few Mexican cities with a modern municipally operated bus transit system rather than independent pesero style collective buses.

History
León was inhabited in pre-hispanic times by diverse native groups, such as the Toltecs, chichimecas, guamares, among others. The archaeological sites of Alfaro and Ibarrilla, close to the city of León, reveal that the oldest settlements of this zone date from Preclassical times.
The city of León was founded January 20, 1576 with the name Villa de Leon, by the order of the Virrey Don Martín Enríquez de Almaza, for the purpose of creating a defense against the attacks of the chichimecas. In 1580 it was elevated to the category of Alcaldía Mayor, separating it from Guanajuato and had jurisdiction in the present municipality of León.
In June of 1830 it was elevated to the rank of city with the official name: León de los Aldama. During the process of the movement of Independence, it suffered in the political, social, and economic aspect. Because many people abandoned the mines of Guanajuato because of the war, many workers were re-established themseves in León. The agriculture was the main economic activity to the 18th century, until the craft and the production of footwear began to compete with it.
The years of the post-revolution for León were of prosperity and material progress, as well as of population growth. The economic development resulted in the extraordinary agricultural, industrial exposition and wealth of 1923.

Places to visit
1.- Arco de la Calzada
2.- Plaza de los Mártires del 2 de Enero
3.- Plaza de los Fundadores
4.- Fuente de los Leones
5.- Catedral Basílica
6.- Templo Expiatorio
7.- Parque Explora
8.- Parque Metropolitano
9.- Parque Zoológico de León
10.- Centro Poliforum de León

From: wikipedia.com