Useful Notes / The Free and Sovereign States of Mexico

"It is the will of the Mexican people to organize themselves into a federal democratic, representative Republic composed of free and sovereign States in all that concerns their internal government' but united in a Federation established according to the principles of this fundamental law. "

— Mexican Constitution, Article 40

Mexico is made up of thirty-one states and Mexico City. According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign in all matters concerning their internal affairs. They have their own congress and constitution.

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Northwest

Baja California

Postal Code: 21–22
Demonym: Bajacaliforniano(a)
Capital: Mexicali
Largest City: Tijuana
Other Cities of Note: Ensenada, Los Algodones, Tecate, Rosarito, San Quintín, San Felipe
Area: 71,450 km2 / 27,587 mi2 (12th largest)
Population: 3,769,020 (11th largest)
Date of Admission: January 16, 1952 (29th)
Governor: Jaime Bonilla (MRN)

One of the newer states in Mexico, it was admitted in 1952 after spending the previous 127 years as a territory. It borders the US state of California, with which it has close economic and cultural links. It is a quite prosperous state, having the country's highest HDI outside CDMX. During colonial times, this was the original California that the Spanish envisioned, with the US state (Alta California) being essentially a land extension. Since Baja California consists of a very long peninsula, the Spanish originally did not realize that it was connected to the mainland, as a result naming it after the mythical island of California from the Spanish novel Las sergas de Esplandián. Prior to the adoption of the 1824 Constitution, it and the US state were part of the same administration (intendecia) of California.

The small border town of Los Algodones (officially Vicente Guerrero) has two special distinctions. First, it's the country's northernmost community. More importantly, it's one of the world's major medical tourism destinations, specifically for dentistry. The town has only about 7,000 residents... and about 600 dentists working in about 300 clinics. The vast majority of patients are Americans, with pretty much all of the rest being Canadians. The draw, as you might guess, is prices for major procedures that are far cheaper than those north of the border. Virtually all of the dentists are bilingual, and most of the offices have US telephone numbers. This has led to the town being dubbed "Molar City".

Baja California Sur

Postal Code: 23
Demonym: Sudcaliforniano(a)
Capital & Largest City: La Paz
Other Cities of Note: San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, Ciudad Constitución, Loreto, Guerrero Negro, Santa Rosalía, Ciudad Insurgentes
Area: 73,909 km2 / 28,537 mi2 (9th largest)
Population: 798,447 (31st largest)
Date of Admission: October 8, 1974 (31st)
Governor: Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío (MRN)

The least populous and newest state in Mexico, it was admitted in 1974 after 43 years of being a territory. Before 1930, it was part of the Territory of Baja California.

Chihuahua

Postal Code: 31-33
Demonym: Chihuahuaense
Capital: Chihuahua
Largest City: Ciudad Juárez
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 247,413 km2 / 95,527 mi2 (Largest)
Population: 3,741,869 (11th largest)
Date of Admission: July 6, 1824 (18th)
Governor: Javier Corral Jurado (PAN)

The largest state in Mexico, it was named after the titular desert, though it only covers a third of the area, with the rest being made up of the Central Mexican Plateau and the Sierra Madre Occidental, part of the North American Cordillera. It borders the US states of New Mexico and Texas; the largest city of Ciudad Juárez is right next to the Texan city of El Paso. With Durango, it formed the colonial intendencia of Nuevo Vizcaya, Vizcaya being the Castilian transliteration of Biscay province located in Basque Country. Casas Grandes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 280 km southwest of Ciudad Juárez, is a prehistoric archaeological site related to the Mogollon Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico and was extant between the 12th and 15th century.

Durango

Postal Code: 34-35
Demonym: Duranguense
Capital: Chihuahua
Largest City: Durango
Other Cities of Note: Gómez Palacio
Area: 123,364 km2 / 47,631 mi2 (4th largest)
Population: 1,832,650 (24th largest)
Date of Admission: May 22, 1824 (17th)

Sinaloa

Postal Code: 80-82
Demonym: Sinaloense
Capital & Largest City: Culiacán
Other Cities of Note: Mazatlán, Los Mochis
Area: 57,365 km2 / 22,148 mi2 (17th largest)
Population: 3,026,943 (16th largest)
Date of Admission: October 14, 1830 (20th)

Sonora

Postal Code: 83-85
Demonym: Sonorense
Capital & Largest City: Hermosillo
Other Cities of Note: Ciudad Obregón, Nogales, San Luis Río Colorado
Area: 179,355 km2 / 69,249 mi2 (2nd largest)
Population: 2,944,840 (18th largest)
Date of Admission: January 10, 1824 (12th)

Northeast

Coahuila

Postal Code: 25-27
Demonym: Coahuilense
Capital & Largest City: Saltillo
Other Cities of Note: Torreón, Monclova, Piedras Negras, Ciudad Acuña
Area: 151,595 km2 / 58,531 mi2 (3rd largest)
Population: 3,146,771 (15th largest)
Date of Admission: May 7, 1824 (16th)

Nuevo León

Postal Code: 64-67
Demonym: Neoleonés
Capital & Largest City: Monterrey
Other Cities of Note: Guadalupe, Apodaca, General Escobedo, San Nicolás de los Garza, Juárez^* not to be confused with Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua, Santa Catarina, García
Area: 64,156 km2 / 24,771 mi2 (13th largest)
Population: 5,784,442 (8th largest)
Date of Admission: May 7, 1824 (15th)

Tamaulipas

Postal Code: 87-89
Demonym: Tamaulipeco(a)
Capital: Ciudad Victoria
Largest City: Reynosa
Other Cities of Note: Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Tampico, Ciudad Madero, Miramar
Area: 80,249 km2 / 30,984 mi2 (6th largest)
Population: 3,527,735 (13th largest)
Date of Admission: February 7, 1824 (14th)

Central North

Aguascalientes

Postal Code: 20
Demonym: Aguascalentense
Capital & Largest City: Aguascalientes
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 5,616.80 km2 / 2,168 mi2 (29th largest)
Population: 1,312,544 (27th largest)
Date of Admission: February 5, 1857 (24th)

Guanajuato

Postal Code: 36-38
Demonym: Guanajuatense
Capital: Guanajuato
Largest City: León
Other Cities of Note: Irapuato, Celaya, Salamanca
Area: 30,607 km2 / 11,817 mi2 (22nd largest)
Population: 6,166,934 (6th largest)
Date of Admission: December 20, 1823 (2nd)

San Luis Potosí

Postal Code: 78-79
Demonym: Potosino(a)
Capital & Largest City: San Luis Potosí
Other Cities of Note: Soledad
Area: 61,138 km2 / 23,606 mi2 (15th largest)
Population: 2,822,255 (19th largest)
Date of Admission: December 22, 1823 (6th)

Zacatecas

Postal Code: 98-99
Demonym: Zacatecano(a)
Capital & Largest City: Zacatecas
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 75,275 km2 / 29,064 mi2 (8th largest)
Population: 1,622,138 (25th largest)
Date of Admission: December 23, 1823 (10th)

West

Colima

Postal Code: 28
Demonym: Colimense
Capital: Colima
Largest City: Manzanillo
Other Cities of Note: Villa de Álvarez
Area: 5,627 km2 / 2,173 mi2 (28th largest)
Population: 731,391 (Smallest)
Date of Admission: December 9, 1856 (23rd)

Jalisco

Postal Code: 44-49
Demonym: Jalisciense
Capital & Largest City: Guadalajara
Other Cities of Note: Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, Puerto Vallarta
Area: 78,596 km2 / 30,346 mi2 (7th largest)
Population: 8,348,151 (4th largest)
Date of Admission: December 23, 1823 (9th)

Michoacán

Postal Code: 58-61
Demonym: Michoacano(a)
Capital & Largest City: Morelia
Other Cities of Note: Uruapan, Zamora
Area: 58,599 km2 / 22,625 mi2 (16th largest)
Population: 4,748,846 (9th largest)
Date of Admission: December 22, 1823 (5th)

Nayarit

Postal Code: 63
Demonym: Nayarita
Capital & Largest City: Tepic
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 27,857 km2 / 10,756 mi2 (23rd largest)
Population: 1,235,456 (29th largest)
Date of Admission: January 26, 1917 (28th)

Central

Hidalgo

Postal Code: 42-43
Demonym: Hidalguense
Capital & Largest City: Pachuca
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 20,821 km2 / 8,039 mi2 (26th largest)
Population: 3,082,841 (17th largest)
Date of Admission: December 23, 1823 (11th)

Mexico (Estado de México or Edomex)

Postal Code: 50-57
Demonym: Mexiquense
Capital: Toluca
Largest City: Ecatepec de Morelos
Other Cities of Note: Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Naucalpan, Chimalhuacán, Tlalnepantla, Ciudad López Mateos, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Ojo de Agua, Xico, Ixtapaluca, Ciudad Nicolás Romero, San Francisco Coacalco
Area: 22,352 km2 / 8,630 mi2 (25th largest)
Population: 16,992,418 (Largest)
Date of Admission: December 20, 1823 (1st)

The most populous state in the country. It was originally even larger, with Hidalgo, Mexico City, and Morelos all being former territories of the state. Its overall territory roughly corresponds to the former lands of the Aztec Empire.

Mexico City (Ciudad de México or CDMX)

Postal Code: 00-16
Demonym: Capitalino(a), Chilango(a)
Area: 1,485 km2 / 573 mi2 (Smallest)
Population: 9,209,944 (2nd largest)

The capital city of the country, the oldest in the Americas, and one of the only two to be built on top of a pre-Columbian settlement (the other being Quito). Its metropolitan area, which encompasses the eastern half of the State of Mexico and parts of Hidalgo, has over 21 million people, making it the largest metro area in North America and the world's largest Spanish-speaking metro area. It is vying with Greater São Paulo as the largest metro area in the Western Hemisphere. CDMX has the highest HDI in the country, generates over 15% of the country's total GDP, and would have been the fifth largest economy in Latin America if it were a country in its own right. It is also a significant tourist attraction, with three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 170 museums.

Although a federal entity with senators and deputies in the Mexican legislature, the city is constitutionally forbidden from becoming a state. Until 1997, it had no elected mayor or local legislature, with governors being appointed by the federal government to oversee the city.

Morelos

Postal Code: 62
Demonym: Morelense
Capital & Largest City: Cuernavaca
Other Cities of Note: Jiutepec, Cuautla
Area: 4,879 km2 / 1,884 mi2 (30th largest)
Population: 1,971,520 (23rd largest)
Date of Admission: April 17, 1869 (27th)

Puebla

Postal Code: 72-75
Demonym: Poblano(a)
Capital & Largest City: Puebla
Other Cities of Note: Tehuacán
Area: 34,310 km2 / 13,247 mi2 (21st largest)
Population: 6,583,278 (5th largest)
Date of Admission: December 21, 1823 (4th )

Querétaro

Postal Code: 76
Demonym: Queretano(a)
Capital & Largest City: Querétaro
Other Cities of Note: San Juan del Río
Area: 11,691 km2 / 4,514 mi2 (27th largest)
Population: 2,368,467 (22nd largest)
Date of Admission: December 23, 1823 (11th)

Tlaxcala

Postal Code: 90
Demonym: Tlaxcalteca
Capital: Tlaxcala
Largest City: San Pablo del Monte
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 3,997 km2 / 1,543 mi2 (31st largest)
Population: 1,342,977 (28th largest)
Date of Admission: December 9, 1856 (22nd)

South

Campeche

Postal Code: 24
Demonym: Campechano(a)
Capital & Largest City: Campeche
Other Cities of Note: Ciudad del Carmen
Area: 57,485 km2 / 22,195 mi2 (17th largest)
Population: 928,363 (30th largest)
Date of Admission: April 29, 1863 (25th)

Chiapas

Postal Code: 29-30
Demonym: Chiapaneco(a)
Capital & Largest City: Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Other Cities of Note: Tapachula, San Cristóbal de las Casas
Area: 73,311 km2 / 28,306 mi2 (10th largest)
Population: 5,543,828 (15th largest)
Date of Admission: September 14, 1824 (19th)

Guerrero

Postal Code: 39-41
Demonym: Guerrerense
Capital: Chilpancingo
Largest City: Acapulco
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 63,596 km2 / 24,555 mi2 (14th largest)
Population: 3,540,685 (12th largest)
Date of Admission: December 22, 1823 (7th)

Oaxaca

Postal Code: 68-71
Demonym: Oaxaqueño(a)
Capital & Largest City: Oaxaca
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 93,758 km2 / 36,200 mi2 (5th largest)
Population: 4,132,148 (10th largest)
Date of Admission: December 21, 1823 (3rd)

Quintana Roo

Postal Code: 77
Demonym: Quintanarroense
Capital: Chetumal
Largest City: Cancún
Other Cities of Note: Playa del Carmen
Area: 44,705 km2 / 17,261 mi2 (19th largest)
Population: 1,857,985 (24th largest)
Date of Admission: October 8, 1974 (30th)

Tabasco

Postal Code: 86
Demonym: Tabasqueño(a)
Capital & Largest City: Villahermosa
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 24,731 km2 / 9,549 mi2 (24th largest)
Population: 2,402,598 (20th largest)
Date of Admission: February 7, 1824 (13th)

Veracruz

Postal Code: 90
Demonym: Veracruzano(a)
Capital: Xalapa
Largest City: Veracruz
Other Cities of Note: Coatzacoalcos, Poza Rica, Minatitlán
Area: 71,824 km2 / 27,731 mi2 (11th largest)
Population: 8,062,579 (3rd largest)
Date of Admission: December 22, 1823 (7th)

Yucatán

Postal Code: 97
Demonym: Yucateco(a)
Capital & Largest City: Mérida
Other Cities of Note:
Area: 39,524 km2 / 15,261 mi2 (20th largest)
Population: 2,320,898 (21st largest)
Date of Admission: December 23, 1823 (8th)

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