Municipalities of Nuevo León

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Map of Mexico with Nuevo León highlighted
Map of Mexico with Nuevo León highlighted

Nuevo León is a state in Northeast Mexico that is divided into 51 municipalities. According to the 2020 Mexican census, it is the seventh most populated state with 5,784,442 inhabitants and the 13th largest by land area spanning 64,156.2 square kilometres (24,770.8 sq mi).[1][2]

Municipalities in Nuevo León are administratively autonomous of the state according to the 115th article of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.[3] Every three years, citizens elect a municipal president (Spanish: presidente municipal) by a plurality voting system who heads a concurrently elected municipal council (ayuntamiento) responsible for providing all the public services for their constituents. The municipal council consists of a variable number of trustees and councillors (regidores y síndicos).[4] Municipalities are responsible for public services (such as water and sewerage), street lighting, public safety, traffic, and the maintenance of public parks, gardens and cemeteries.[5] They may also assist the state and federal governments in education, emergency fire and medical services, environmental protection and maintenance of monuments and historical landmarks. Since 1984, they have had the power to collect property taxes and user fees, although more funds are obtained from the state and federal governments than from their own income.[5]

Outside the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, the state is sparsely populated. The largest municipality by population is Monterrey, with 1,142,994 residents (19.75% of the state's total), while the smallest is Parás with 906 residents.[1] The largest municipality by land area is Galeana which spans 7,068.30 km2 (2,729.09 sq mi), and the smallest is Abasolo, with 46.90 km2 (18.11 sq mi).[2] The newest municipality is Melchor Ocampo, established in 1948.[6]

Nuevo León has several distinctive municipalities: Pesquería was the fastest growing municipality in Mexico from 2010 to 2020;[1] Hualahuises is one of the very few enclaves in Mexico, surrounded by Linares;[7] and San Pedro Garza García has the best quality of living in Mexico[8] and is considered among the most affluent municipalities in Latin America.[9]

Municipalities[edit]

  State capital

Municipalities of Nuevo León
Name Seat Population (2020)[1] Population (2010)[10] Change Land area[2] Population density
(2020)
Incorporation Origin and Etymology[6][11] Map
km2 sq mi
Abasolo Abasolo 2,974 2,791 +6.6% 46.9 18.1 63.4/km2 (164.2/sq mi) April 6, 1827 Founded as the Hacienda of Eguía de Viudas in 1648, renamed as Abasolo in 1826.
Mariano Abasolo, revolutionist during the Mexican War of Independence.
Agualeguas Agualeguas 3,382 3,443 −1.8% 980.9 378.7 3.4/km2 (8.9/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as a mission, Santa Teresa de Alamillo.
Renamed San Nicolás Gualeguas in 1675 and Agualeguas in 1793.
Gualeguas, an extinct Native American nomadic tribe which scarcely inhabited this area.
Allende Allende 35,289 32,593 +8.3% 190.5 73.6 185.2/km2 (479.8/sq mi) March 12, 1850 Founded as Rancho del Reparo in 1825, changing its name in 1850.
Ignacio Allende, captain of the Spanish Army, sympathizer with the Mexican War of Independence.
Anáhuac Anáhuac 18,030 18,480 −2.4% 4,539.2 1,752.6 4.0/km2 (10.3/sq mi) May 31, 1935 Created with land from Lampazos, Vallecillo and Juárez, Coahuila, to expand Nuevo León's border with Texas.
Anáhuac, the Aztec name for the region which comprises the Valley of México.
Apodaca Ciudad Apodaca 656,464 523,370 +25.4% 224.0 86.5 2,930.6/km2 (7,590.3/sq mi) December 29, 1845 Founded as San Francisco in 1585, changing its name on December 16, 1917.
Salvador de Apodaca, former bishop of Linares.
Aramberri Aramberri 14,992 15,470 −3.1% 2,688.6 1,038.1 5.6/km2 (14.4/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as the Santa María de los Angeles in 1648, renamed as Río Blanco in 1660.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on October 31, 1877.
José Silvestre Aramberri, military general born in this municipality who fought in the Reform War.
Bustamante Bustamante 3,661 3,773 −3.0% 466.7 180.2 7.8/km2 (20.3/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded in 1686 as San Miguel de Aguayo.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on December 29, 1845.
Anastasio Bustamante, president of Mexico.
Cadereyta Jiménez Cadereyta Jiménez 122,337 86,445 +41.5% 1,140.9 440.5 107.2/km2 (277.7/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Villa de Cadereyta in 1637, known as San Juan Bautista de Cadereyta from 1692.
Lope Díez de Armendáriz, 1st Marquess of Cadreita, Viceroy of New Spain.
José Mariano Jiménez, rebel officer in the Mexican War of Independence.
Cerralvo Cerralvo 7,340 7,855 −6.6% 1,007.4 389.0 7.3/km2 (18.9/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded in 1582, Villa of San Gregorio de Cerralvo was the first Spanish settlement and capital of Nuevo León.
Rodrigo Pacheco, 3rd Marquess of Cerralvo, fifteenth Viceroy of New Spain.
Ciénega de Flores Ciénega de Flores 68,747 24,526 +180.3% 138.7 53.6 495.7/km2 (1,283.7/sq mi) February 23, 1863 Settled as Hacienda of Ciénega de Flores in 1624, in the area known as Valle del Carrizal.
Ciénega, a Spanish word for a swampy or boggy area. Flores, the surname of an early rancher of the area.
China China 9,930 10,864 −8.6% 4,265.7 1,647.0 2.3/km2 (6.0/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded in 1719 as San Felipe de Jesús de China, renamed China in 1812.
Doctor Coss and General Bravo were created out of their territory.
Saint Philip of Jesus, Mexican Catholic missionary in China and Japan, one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan
Doctor Arroyo Doctor Arroyo 36,088 35,445 +1.8% 5,053.7 1,951.2 7.1/km2 (18.5/sq mi) April 7, 1827 Established as Valle de la Purísima Concepción in 1826, changing its name on March 31, 1851.
During the Mexican Revolution, Doctor Arroyo became capita of Mexico in 1915 for 45 days.
José Francisco Arroyo de Anda, doctor and first delegate to the Nuevo León's congress.
Doctor Coss Doctor Coss 1,360 1,716 −20.7% 720.7 278.3 1.9/km2 (4.9/sq mi) March 2, 1850 Founded in 1740 as Rancho del Zacate. Merged with China in 1851-1882.
José María Cos, doctor and delegate to the Congress of Chilpancingo.
Doctor González Doctor González 3,256 3,345 −2.7% 614.7 237.3 5.3/km2 (13.7/sq mi) November 14, 1883 Founded as Hacienda de Ramos, in the Las Salinas valley area.
Renamed Doctor González in 1883.
José Eleuterio González, doctor, philanthropist, writer and governor of Nuevo León.
El Carmen El Carmen 104,478 16,092 +549.3% 104.3 40.3 1,001.7/km2 (2,594.4/sq mi) February 5, 1852 Founded as Hacienda de Chipinque in 1614, part of Las Salinas valley.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of the Carmelite Order.
Galeana Galeana 40,903 39,991 +2.3% 7,068.3 2,729.1 5.8/km2 (15.0/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as San Pablo de Labradores in 1678.
Originally incorporated as Labradores and renamed Galeana on February 19, 1829.
Hermenegildo Galeana, hero of the Mexican War of Independence.
García García 397,205 143,668 +176.5% 1,032.0 398.5 384.9/km2 (996.9/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Pesquería Grande in 1583.
Originally incorporated under that name, renamed García on March 31, 1851.
Joaquín García, former Governor of Nuevo León.
General Bravo General Bravo 5,506 5,527 −0.4% 1,888.6 729.2 2.9/km2 (7.6/sq mi) November 18, 1868 Founded as Rancho del Toro in 1790. Established with territory from China.
Nicolás Bravo, Mexican president and general in the Mexican–American War.
General Escobedo General Escobedo 481,213 357,937 +34.4% 149.4 57.7 3,221.0/km2 (8,342.3/sq mi) February 24, 1868 Founded as Hacienda del Topo de los Ayala in 1624, renamed as Villa del General Escobedo in 1868.
Mariano Escobedo, Mexican Army general and former Governor of Nuevo León.
General Terán General Terán 14,109 14,437 −2.3% 2,478.8 957.1 5.7/km2 (14.7/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as La Mota in 1746.
Originally incorporated under that name, renamed General Terán on March 31, 1851.
Manuel de Mier y Terán, military general in the Mexican War of Independence.
General Treviño General Treviño 1,808 1,277 +41.6% 387.9 149.8 4.7/km2 (12.1/sq mi) December 3, 1868 Settled as Rancho del Puntiagudo in 1688, renamed to General Treviño in 1868.
Jerónimo Treviño, military general in the Reform War and former Governor of Nuevo León.
General Zaragoza General Zaragoza 6,282 5,942 +5.7% 1,306.7 504.5 4.8/km2 (12.5/sq mi) September 26, 1886 Founded as San José de Río Blanco in 1626. It merged with Aramberri from 1660 to 1886.
Ignacio Zaragoza, military general, led the Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla.
General Zuazua General Zuazua 102,149 55,213 +85.0% 184.5 71.2 553.7/km2 (1,434.0/sq mi) March 6, 1863 Founded as Hacienda of Santa Helena in 1660, created out of Marín.
Juan Zuazua, military general in the Reform War.
Guadalupe Guadalupe 643,143 678,006 −5.1% 118.4 45.7 5,432.0/km2 (14,068.7/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded in 1714 as a Spanish mission, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of Mexico and Latin America.
Hidalgo Hidalgo 16,086 16,604 −3.1% 170.6 65.9 94.3/km2 (244.2/sq mi) February 13, 1828 Founded as Hacienda de Enmedio in 1611.
Originally incorporated as San Nicolás Hidalgo, changing its name on May 30, 1923.
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican War of Independence.
Higueras Higueras 1,386 1,594 −13.0% 443.2 171.1 3.1/km2 (8.1/sq mi) February 18, 1863 Founded as Teresa de las Higueras in 1714.
Figuera, Spanish word for the fig tree, abundant throughout the area
Hualahuises Hualahuises 7,026 6,914 +1.6% 127.8 49.3 55.0/km2 (142.4/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as the mission of San Cristóbal de los Hualahuises in 1646.
Hualahuises, a Native American tribe which inhabited the area before the Spanish settlement.
Iturbide Iturbide 3,298 3,558 −7.3% 560.5 216.4 5.9/km2 (15.2/sq mi) March 9, 1850 Agustín de Iturbide, army general and politician and first Emperor of Mexico.
Juárez Ciudad Benito Juárez 471,523 266,970 +76.6% 247.3 95.5 1,906.7/km2 (4,938.3/sq mi) March 9, 1850 Founded as Hacienda de San José in 1604.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on December 16, 1868.
Benito Juárez, 26th president of Mexico.
Lampazos de Naranjo Lampazos de Naranjo 5,351 5,349 0.0% 3,428.0 1,323.6 1.6/km2 (4.0/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as the Mission of Nuestra Señora de la Punta de Lampazos in 1698.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on October 4, 1847.
Lampazo, Spanish word for Xanthosoma robustum, a plant that grows in this area.
Linares Linares 84,666 78,669 +7.6% 2,509.2 968.8 33.7/km2 (87.4/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as San Felipe de Linares in 1712.
Fernando de Alencastre, 1st Duke of Linares and Viceroy of New Spain.
Los Aldamas Los Aldamas 1,407 1,374 +2.4% 694.5 268.1 2.0/km2 (5.2/sq mi) May 7, 1829 Founded as the Mission of Puerto de Hoyos in 1760, renamed Santa María de los Aldamas.
Brothers Ignacio Aldama and Juan Aldama, revolutionary soldiers during the Mexican War of Independence.
Los Herreras Los Herreras 1,959 2,030 −3.5% 496.6 191.7 3.9/km2 (10.2/sq mi) December 9, 1874 Settled as Hacienda de la Manteca around 1760.
Originally incorporated as Villa de los Herreras, changing its name on November 29, 1878.
Brothers José Martín Herrera and Rafael Herrera, who participated in the Battle of San Bernabé in 1872.
Los Ramones Los Ramones 5,389 5,359 +0.6% 1,341.0 517.8 4.0/km2 (10.4/sq mi) November 1, 1912 Settled as Rancho del Capadero in Cerralvo around 1750.
Later annexed to Cadereyta Jiménez as Valle de San José de los Ramones.
Brothers Juan Ignacio Ramón and Buenaventura Ramón, who fought in the Mexican War of Independence.
Marín Marín 5,119 5,488 −6.7% 264.9 102.3 19.3/km2 (50.0/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Settled as Rancho de San Antonio de los Martínez in 1684, renamed Villa de San Carlos de Marín in 1804.
Primo Feliciano Marín de Porras, bishop of the New Kingdom of León and honorary chaplain of Spain's king.
Melchor Ocampo Melchor Ocampo 1,483 862 +72.0% 207.9 80.3 7.1/km2 (18.5/sq mi) October 5, 1948 Newest municipality in Nuevo León. Settled as a ranch named Charco Redondo in 1702.
Melchor Ocampo, Foreign Secretary during the Reform War.
Mier y Noriega Mier y Noriega 7,652 7,095 +7.9% 997.9 385.3 7.7/km2 (19.9/sq mi) July 27, 1849 Founded as Hacienda de San Antonio de Medina around 1715.
Servando Teresa de Mier, Catholic priest and politician, involved in the Mexican War of Independence.
Mina Mina 6,048 5,447 +11.0% 3,860.0 1,490.4 1.6/km2 (4.1/sq mi) May 30, 1837 Founded as San Francisco de Cañas in 1608, in the Las Salinas valley area.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on March 31, 1851.
Martín Javier Mina y Larrea, sympathizer with the Mexican War of Independence.
Montemorelos Montemorelos 67,428 59,113 +14.1% 1,869.0 721.6 36.1/km2 (93.4/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Settled as San Mateo del Pilón in 1637.
Originally incorporated as Pilón, changing its name on October 26, 1826.
Monte, Spanish word for mountain.
José María Morelos, priest and leader in the Mexican War of Independence.
Monterrey Monterrey 1,142,994 1,135,550 +0.7% 324.4 125.3 3,523.4/km2 (9,125.6/sq mi) March 5, 1825 First founded as Santa Lucía in 1577, formally settled as Our Lady of Monterrey in 1596.
Gaspar de Zúñiga, 5th Count of Monterrey, Viceroy of New Spain, and his wife.
Parás Parás 906 1,034 −12.4% 1,171.2 452.2 0.8/km2 (2.0/sq mi) February 17, 1851 Originally known Rancho del Huizachal de los Canales. Formally incorporated as Parás in 1851.
José María Parás, first Governor of Nuevo León.
Pesquería Pesquería 147,624 20,843 +608.3% 322.8 124.6 457.3/km2 (1,184.5/sq mi) December 29, 1845 Founded as Hacienda del Espíritu Santo in 1699, later known as Pesquería Chica.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on 1995.
From the Pesquería River, meaning fishery in Spanish.
Rayones Rayones 2,377 2,628 −9.6% 683.1 263.7 3.5/km2 (9.0/sq mi) September 13, 1851 Founded as San Miguel del Tasajal, joined with Hacienda de los Barreales to form Los Rallones in 1851.
Brothers Ramón, Francisco and Ignacio López Rayón, who fought in the Mexican War of Independence.
Sabinas Hidalgo Sabinas Hidalgo 34,709 34,671 +0.1% 1,541.5 595.2 22.5/km2 (58.3/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Valle de Santiago de las Sabinas in 1693.
Sabinas, Spanish word for junipers, coniferous plants abundant in the area.
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican War of Independence.
Salinas Victoria Salinas Victoria 86,766 32,660 +165.7% 1,667.4 643.8 52.0/km2 (134.8/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Villa de Cueva in 1586.
Renamed as Cañón de Guadalupe de Salinas, administrative seat of Las Salinas valley.
Changed its name to Salinas Victoria on May 30, 1837.
"Salinas", Spanish word for salt marshes characteristic of the lands.
Guadalupe Victoria, first president of Mexico.
San Nicolás de los Garza San Nicolás de los Garza 412,199 443,273 −7.0% 60.1 23.2 6,858.6/km2 (17,763.6/sq mi) December 30, 1830 Settled in 1596, and formally founded as Estancia de los Garzas in 1634.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on May 20, 1837.
Saint Nicholas, early Christian bishop
Garza, surname of Pedro de la Garza, early Spanish settler of the area.
San Pedro Garza García San Pedro Garza García 132,169 122,659 +7.8% 70.8 27.3 1,866.8/km2 (4,835.0/sq mi) December 14, 1882 Settled as San Pedro de los Nogales in 1725.
Originally incorporated as Garza García, changing its name on October 14, 1987.
Saint Peter, one of the first leaders of the early Church
Genaro Garza García, Governor of Nuevo León.
Santa Catarina Santa Catarina 306,322 268,955 +13.9% 915.8 353.6 334.5/km2 (866.3/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Hacienda de Santa Catalina in 1596, renamed Santa Catarina in 1837.
Saint Catherine, an earlier Christian martyr; it was founded on the eve of Saint Catherine's day, November 24.
Santiago Santiago 46,784 40,469 +15.6% 739.2 285.4 63.3/km2 (163.9/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Valle de Santiago del Huajuco in 1648.
Originally incorporated as Guajuco, changing its name on June 30, 1831.
"Santiago", Spanish name of Saint James apostle.
Vallecillo Vallecillo 1,552 1,971 −21.3% 1,764.9 681.4 0.9/km2 (2.3/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Real de San Carlos de Vallecillo in 1768.
The location of the settlement in a small valley, vallecillo in Spanish,
or El Vallecillo, municipality in the province of Teruel, Spain.
Villaldama Villaldama 3,573 4,113 −13.1% 879.3 339.5 4.1/km2 (10.5/sq mi) March 5, 1825 Founded as Boca de Leones in 1690.
Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on April 18, 1827.
Juan Aldama, revolutionary soldier during the Mexican War of Independence.
Nuevo León 5,784,442 4,653,458 +24.3% 64,156.2 24,770.8 90.2/km2 (233.5/sq mi)
Mexico 126,014,024 112,336,538 +12.2% 1,960,646.7 757,010 64.3/km2 (166.5/sq mi)


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020 - SCITEL" (in Spanish). INEGI. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  2. ^ a b c "México en cifras - Medio Ambiente - Nuevo León" (in Spanish). INEGI. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos". Article 115, of 1917 (in Spanish). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  4. ^ OECD (November 12, 2004). New Forms of Governance for Economic Development. OECD Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 9264015329.
  5. ^ a b International Business Publications (2009). Mexico Company Laws and Regulations Handbook. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-4330-7030-3. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b Estado de Nuevo León División Territorial de 1810 a 1995 (PDF) (in Spanish). Mexico: INEGI. 1996. ISBN 970-13-1504-9.
  7. ^ Camilo Contreras Delgado (2007). Geografía de Nuevo León (PDF) (in Spanish). Mexico: Gobierno del Estado de Nuevo León. p. 207. ISBN 978-970-9715-36-1.
  8. ^ "San Pedro, a highlight in quality of living in Mexico" (in Spanish). Mexico: El Financiero. September 4, 2020.
  9. ^ "Fitch Affirms Municipality of San Pedro Ratings". Fitch Ratings. September 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "Censo de Población y Vivienda 2010 - SCITEL" (in Spanish). INEGI. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  11. ^ "Enciclopedia de los Municipios - Nuevo León" (in Spanish). INAFED. Retrieved 2021-02-28.