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Coahuila Facts

Coahuila Facts
Coahuila is a Mexican state that borders the American state of Texas along a 318 stretch of the Rio Grande River. Historically speaking, the region of Coahuila was sparsely populated in the Pre-Columbian period and even after the Spanish conquered Mexico little development followed because few precious minerals were found there. Coahuila is a quite large state; at 58,531 square miles it ranks third in land mass among all of Mexico's thirty-one states. With a population of just under three million people, Coahuila ranks fifteenth in total population among all Mexican states, but due to its large size it is twenty-sixth in density. In terms of topography and climate, Coahuila is known for its arid, desert climate similar to west Texas, but it is divided diagonally by the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain chain.
Interesting Coahuila Facts:
The part of Coahuila that is west of the Sierra Madre Oriental is part of the Mexican Plateau.
The Chihuahuan Desert is partially in northwestern Coahuila.
Coahuila was the site of several battles during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Rebel leader Pancho Villa attacked the city of Torrean. Torrean was actually the site of numerous battles and was taken and retaken by different factions during the revolution.
Torrean, Coahuila was the site of the Torrean Massacre from May 13-15, 1911. During those days, revolutionaries captured and massacred more than 300 Chinese residents of the town.
Saltilo is the capital and largest city in Coahuila. It is located in southeastern Coahuila and has a metro area of nearly one million people.
Coahuila has been plagued in recent years with high crime, often the result of cartel gangs fighting for turf. The state has also been a transit area for Mexican, and more recently Central American, migrants headed to the United States.
Mining plays a major role in Coahuila's economy. The city of Torrean is the world's largest silver producer and Mexico's largest gold producer. In addition, Coahuila has 95% of Mexico's coal reserves.
Historically, due to its aridity and lack of natural water resources Coahuila has not been a very agriculturally productive region. In recent years, thanks to modern irrigation technology, Coahuila has become a leading cotton producer in Mexico.
Coahuila joined the United Mexican States on May 7, 1824, become the sixteenth state to join the federal union.
When Coahuila joined Mexico it was much bigger and included Texas and Nuevo Leon until Nuevo Leon became a state in late 1824 and Texas became independent in 1836. Coahuila was then joined to Nuevo Leon from 1856 to 1868.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which ruled all of Mexico for several decades until the early 2000s, is still powerful in Coahuila. The current governor and one senator are members of the PRI.
Most of the rivers in the state, such as the Nazas and Aguanaval rivers, are located in the western portion of the state.
Although it is known that "Coahuila" is an indigenous and not a Spanish word, its exact mean remains a mystery.


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