Boy's Town , or "La Zona" en: the Zone as it is known in Spanish , is a commercial district in the border town of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas , Mexico, serving primarily as a "zone of tolerance" in the city for legal prostitution , and also a variety of other nocturnal entertainment. It is a walled compound containing three short east-west streets and two short north-south streets. It is located near the intersection of Monterrey and Anahuac Streets, about 5 km southwest of International Bridge 1.
Providencia Cantu was the one who came up with the name. She used to own a place there named "El Baston". The origins of the Boy's Town concept along the Mexico—United States border can be traced in part to the relationship that developed between the United States Army and various ad hoc entrepreneurs in northern Mexico during the army's —17 Punitive Expedition ; specifically when General John J.
Pershing 's forces were pursuing General Pancho Villa in Chihuahua. Eventually, General Pershing ordered that the prostitutes be restricted to the southern end of the camp where they would be inspected and certified by the military medical officers.
A flat rate for sexual intercourse was also established. Within a few decades, this concept was adopted by vice entrepreneurs and city managers elsewhere along the border. The government of Ciudad Victoria , Mexico, has considered establishing a similar zone. The current enclave in Nuevo Laredo was constructed in the s, during the municipal administration of Ernesto Ferrara Ferrara, to concentrate prostitution activities within a controlled zone.
The commercial activities can be differentiated into a number of broad categories, and their spatial organization is outlined in the map. The categories include: 1 primary or major brothels, 2 secondary brothels, 3 "cribs" of freelance prostitutes, 4 cantinas and bars catering to local patrons, 5 transvestite bars, 6 other commercial services, and 7 residences.
