Chihuahua

Free and Sovereign State of Chihuahua
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): "Lady of the Desert", "The Big State"
Location within Mexico
Country	Mexico
Capital	Chihuahua
Municipalities	67
Largest City	Ciudad Juárez
Government
- Governor	José Reyes Baeza Terrazas ( PRI)
- Federal Deputies	PRI: 5 PAN:4
- Federal Senators	PAN: 2 PRI: 1
Area Ranked 1st
- Total	244,938 km2 (94,571.1 sq mi)
Population (2005)
- Total	3,241,444 (Ranked 11th)
- Density	13.2/km2 (34.2/sq mi)
- Demonym	Chihuahuense
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
- Summer (DST)	MDT (UTC-6)
HDI (2004)	0.8224 - high Ranked 8th
ISO 3166-2	MX-CHH
Postal abbr.	Chih.
Website	Chihuahua State Government

Chihuahua is a state in northern Mexico with a mainland area of 247,087 square kilometers (95,400.8 sq mi)^[1], slightly bigger than the United Kingdom. It is surrounded by the Mexican states of Sonora to the west, Sinaloa to the south-west, Durango to the south, and Coahuila to the east, and by the U.S. states of Texas to the north-east and New Mexico to the north. Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico by area, and therefore has the nickname El Estado Grande ("The Big State").

Although Chihuahua is primarily identified with its namesake, the Chihuahuan Desert, it has more forests than any other state. On the slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains (around the regions of Casas Grandes, Cuauhtémoc and Parral), there are vast prairies of short yellow grass, the source of the bulk of the state's agricultural production.

As of 2005, there were 3.2 million inhabitants of the state. The largest city is the U.S.-border city of Ciudad Juárez, which has 1,301,452 residents (2005 census). The capital, Chihuahua, has 748,518 inhabitants.

The state also has a large service sector: tourism, banking and high-tech enterprises.

One of the most notable features of Chihuahua is the Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon, a spectacular canyon system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon.

This state, holds the largest proportion of White population of Mexico, as is the case in much of Northern Mexico. Caucasians make up the 55% of the population^{[citation needed]}, most of them of Spaniard origin, but also of French, Basque, Italian, German, Dutch and Middle Eastern descent, while the rest of the population responds to Mestizo groups of predominant Spaniard descent^{[citation needed]}. Indians form the 5% of the State habitants and remain isolated in the woods of the Southwestern portion of Chihuahua. The admixture with Indians never existed in Nueva Vizcaya due to the scarcity of natives (most of them warrior and anti-European Conchos and Tarahumaras), and the size of the territory^{[citation needed]}.

Chihuahua played a pivotal role in the Mexican Revolution and was a battleground between revolutionary forces led by Pancho Villa and federal forces.

History

Colonial Era

Nueva Vizcaya was the first province of northern New Spain to be explored and settled by the Spanish. Around 1528 a group of Spaniard explorers led by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca first stepped the actual territory of Chihuahua. The conquest of the territory lasted nearly one century and encountered a fiercy resistance of the barbarian Conchos Indians, but, the hopes of the Spanish Crown to transform the region into a bustling mining center brought the reinforcing of a strong strategy to control the zone.

In the second half of the 16th century, the Spaniards organized several expeditions into the North of Mexico to find the mythical Seven Golden Cities of Cibola, and in 1564, the conquistador lieutenant Rodrigo del Rio y Loza, found gold in the area when the Sierra ends and founded Santa Barbara the first Spanish city of the State that brought 400 European families. Later, in 1631, Juan Rangel de Biesma, discovered a rich vein of silver and created the villa of San Jose del Parral, that attracted the most prominent families of Spain and was the head of the Nueva Vizcaya province, converting itself into an important economic and cultural center for around 300 years.

Many mining towns, missions and presidios were founded along the actual territory of Chihuahua. Santa Eulalia, Camargo and Paso del Norte (now Ciudad Juarez. The Spanish society that developed in the region, disappeared the scarce group of Indians that once inhabited the state. The absence of servants and workers forged the spirit of Northern People as self-dependent, creative people that defended their European heritage and made it survive until our days.

Constituent legislatures

In the constituent legislature or convention, the conservative and liberal elements formed using the nicknames of Chirrines and Cuchas. The military entered as a third party. The elections for the first regular legislature were disputed, and it was not until May 1, 1826, that the body was installed. The liberals gained control and the opposition responded by fomenting a conspiracy. This was promptly stopped with the aid of informers, and more strenuous measures were taken against the conservatives. Extra powers were conferred on the Durango governor, Santiago Baca Ortiz, deputy to the first national congress, and leader of the liberal party.^[2]

Gonzalez’ rebellion

Opponents continued to plot against the new government. In March 1827, Lieutenant J.M. González proclaimed himself comandante general, arrested the governor, and dissolved the legislature. General Parras was sent to suppress the movement. Comandante general J. J. Ayestaran was replaced by José Figueroa. When elections failed, the government intervened in favor of the Yorkino party, which had elected Vicente Guerrero to the presidency.^[2]

Because of the general instability of the federal government during 1828, the installation of the new legislature did not take place until the middle of the following year. It was quickly dissolved by Governor Baca, who replaced it with a more pronounced Yorkino type. When Guerrero’s liberal administration was overthrown in December, Gaspar de Ochoa aligned with Anastasio Bustamante, and in February 1830, organized an opposition group that arrested the new governor, F. Elorriaga, along with other prominent Yorkinos. He then summoned the legislature, which had been dissolved by Baca. The civil and military authorities were now headed by J. A. Pescador and Ochoa.^[2]

Vicente Guerrero

The general features of the preceding occurrence applied also to Chihuahua, although in a modified form. The first person elected under the new constitution of 1825 was Simón Elías Gonzalez, who being in Sonora, was induced to remain there. J. A. Arce took his place as ruler in Chihuahua. In 1829, González became comandante general of Chihuahua, when his term of office on the west coast expired. Arce was less of a yorkino than his confrere of Durango. Although unable to resist the popular demand for the expulsion of the Spaniards, he soon quarreled with the legislature, which declared itself firmly for Guerrero, and announcing his support of Bustamante’s revolution, he suspended, in March 1830, eight members of that body, the vice-governor, and several other officials, and expelled them from the state. The course thus outlined was followed by Governor J. I. Madero, who succeeded in 1831, associated with J. J. Calvo as comandante general, stringent laws being issued against secret societies, which were supposed to be the main spring to the anti-clerical feeling among liberals.^[2]

Durango and Bustamante

The anti-clerical feeling was widespread, and Durango supported the initial reaction against the government at Mexico. In May 1832, José Urrea, a rising officer, supported the restoration of President Pedraza. On July 20, Governor Elorriaga was reinstated, and Baca along with the legislative minority were brought back to form a new legislature, which met on September 1. Chihuahua showied no desire to imitate the revolutionary movement and Urrea prepared to invade the state. Comandante-general J.J.Calvo threatened to retaliate, and a conflict seemed imminent. The entry of General Santa Anna into Mexico brought calm, as the leaders waited for clarity.^[2]

Santa Anna

Bishop Zubiria was banished for resisting the law relating to priests and other encroachments on the church; another joined the western states in a short lived coalition for sustaining the federal system. Chihuahua adopted the Cuernavaca Plan in July 1834 while President Valentín Gómez Farías was in power. Because the plan was not enforced, commanding officer, Colonel J.I. Gutiérrez, declared the term of the legislature and governor expired on September 3. At a convention of citizens called to select a new provisional ruler, Gutierrez obtained the vote, with P. J. Escalante for his deputy, and a council to guide the administration.^[2] Santa Anna ordered the reinstatement of Mendarozqueta as comandante general. Gutiérrez yielded, but Escalante refused to surrender office, demonstrations of support ensued, but Escalante yielded when troops were summoned from Zacatecas. A new election brought a new legislature, and conforming governors. In September 1835 José Urrea a federalist army officer came into power.^[2]

Comandante general Simón Elías González, was nominated governor and military command was given to Colonel J.J. Calvo, whose firmness had earned well-merited praise. The state was in the midst of a war with the Apaches, which became the focus of all their energy and resources. After a review of the situation, Simón Elías González declared that the interests of the territory would be best served by uniting the civil and military power, at least while the campaign lasted. He resigned under opposition, but was renominated in 1837.^[2]

Settlements

Chihuahua is subdivided into 67 municipios (municipalities). See municipalities of Chihuahua.

The state's major communities include:

• Camargo
• Chihuahua
• Ciudad Jiménez
• Ciudad Juárez
• Cuauhtémoc
• Delicias
• Guachochi
• Madera
• Nuevo Casas Grandes
• Ojinaga
• Parral

Economy

As of 2005, Chihuahua’s economy represents 4.5% of Mexico’s total gross domestic product or 29,826 million USD.^[3] Chihuahua's economy has a strong focus on export oriented manufacturing (i.e. maquiladora / INMEX). As of 2005, 329,939 people are employed in the manufacturing sector.^[4] There are a more than 406 companies operating under the federal INMEX or Prosec program in Chihuahua. The average wage for an employee in Chihuahua is approximately 193 pesos per day.^[5]

In Fiction

• In the Harry Turtledove novel How Few Remain, Chihuahua (along with Sonora) is annexed into a fictional Confederate States of America in the 1880s. In all eleven novels of the timeline-191 series, Chihuahua and Sonora function as part of the Confederacy.

Gallery

Metropolitan cathedral of Chihuahua, Chih.

Plaza de Armas of Chihuahua, Chih.

Chihuahua during a snowfall

See also

• Mexico
• Geography of Mexico

References

External links

• (Spanish) Chihuahua state government
• (Spanish) Secretariat of Industrial Development of Chihuahua State Government
• (Spanish) Chihuahua's municipal governments
• (Spanish) Chihuahua photos
• (English) Encyclopaedia Britannica, Chihuahua

v • d • e   State of Chihuahua Chihuahua. (capital) Municipalities and municipal seats Ahumada (Villa Ahumada)  · Aldama (Juan Aldama)  · Allende (Valle de Ignacio Allende)  · Aquiles Serdán (Santa Eulalia)  · Ascension (Ascensión)  · Bachiniva (Bachíniva) · Balleza (Mariano Balleza)  · Batopilas (Batopilas) · Bocoyna (Bocoyna)  · Buenaventura (San Buenaventura) · Camargo (Santa Rosalía de Camargo)  · Carichí (Carichí) · Casas Grandes (Pueblo de Casas Grandes) · Chihuahua (Chihuahua)  · Chínipas (Chínipas de Almada) · Coronado (José Esteban Coronado) · Coyame del Sotol (Santiago de Coyame) · Cuauhtémoc (Ciudad Cuauhtémoc)  · Cusihuiriachi (Cusihuiriachi) · Delicias (Delicias)  · Dr. Belisario Domínguez (San Lorenzo)  · El Tule (El Tule) · Galeana (Hermenegildo Galeana) · Gómez Farías (Valentín Gómez Farias) · Gran Morelos (San Nicolás de Carretas) · Guacochi (Guachochi)  · Guadalupe (Guadalupe) · Guadalupe y Calvo (Guadalupe y Calvo)  · Guazapares (Témoris) · Guerrero (Vicente Guerrero) · Hidalgo del Parral ( Hidalgo del Parral)  · Huejotitán (Huejotitán)  · Ignacio Zaragoza (Ignacio Zaragoza) · Janos (Janos)  · Jiménez (Ciudad Jiménez) · Juárez (Ciudad Juárez)  · Julimes (Julimes)  · La Cruz (La Cruz) · López (Villa López) · Madera (Ciudad Madera) · Maguarichi (Maguarichi)  · Manuel Benavides (Manuel Benavides)  · Matachí (Matachí)  · Matamoros (Mariano Matamoros) · Meoqui (Pedro Meoqui) · Morelos (Morelos)  · Moris (Moris) · Namiquipa (Namiquipa) · Nonoava (Nonoava) · Nuevo Casas Grandes (Nuevo Casas Grandes) · Ocampo (Melchor Ocampo) · Ojinaga (Ojinaga) · Práxedis G. Guerrero (Praxedis G. Guerrero) · Riva Palacio (San Andrés) · Rosales (Santa Cruz de Rosales) · Rosario (Valle del Rosario) · San Francisco de Borja (San Francisco de Borja) · San Francisco de Conchos (San Francisco de Conchos) · San Francisco del Oro (San Francisco del Oro) · Santa Bárbara (Santa Bárbara) · Santa Isabel (Santa Isabel) · Satevó (San Francisco Javier de Satevó) · Saucillo (Saucillo) · Temósachi (Temósachi)  · Urique (Urique) · Uruachi (Uruachi) · Valle de Zaragoza (Valle de Zaragoza)

v • d • e Political divisions of Mexico States of Mexico: Aguascalientes · Baja California · Baja California Sur · Campeche · Chiapas · Chihuahua · Coahuila · Colima · Durango · Guanajuato · Guerrero · Hidalgo · Jalisco · Mexico State · Michoacán · Morelos · Nayarit · Nuevo León · Oaxaca · Puebla · Querétaro · Quintana Roo · San Luis Potosí · Sinaloa · Sonora · Tabasco · Tamaulipas · Tlaxcala · Veracruz · Yucatán · Zacatecas Federal District

Coordinates: 28°48′51″N 106°26′22″W / 28.81417°N 106.43944°W / 28.81417; -106.43944