Paseo Montejo, no. 473 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico Late in the 19th century and the early 20th Century, the area surrounding Mérida prospered from the production of henequén. For a brief period, around the turn of the 20th century, Mérida was said to house more millionaires than any other city in the world. The result of this concentration of wealth can still be seen today. Many large and elaborate homes still line the main avenue called Paseo de Montejo, though few are occupied today by individual families. MERIDA OLIGARCHY: The Peón family was one of the "Divina casta" families at the top of the heap in Merida. The Peón family arrived in the 18th century, late for these "24 families", and were pioneers of the Henequen trade in the 19th Century. The family included José Peón Contreras, intellectual, and Carlos Peón Machado, Governor of the state. Mexico 2015 795