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Aguascalientes

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Aguascalientes is a sovereign state located in north-central Mexico. It is part of the Bajío region, specifically the western Bajío.

Mapa de Mexico 1865
Mapa de Mexico 1865

The state is bordered by Zacatecas to the north, east, and west. To the south, it shares a border with the state of Jalisco. It is one of the smallest states in Mexico by land area.

Edificio del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
Edificio del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática

The name Aguascalientes means "hot waters." This name refers to the abundance of hot springs found in the area.

Boca de Túnel, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, México 5
Boca de Túnel, San José de Gracia, Aguascalientes, México 5

The climate is mostly semi-arid, which means the environment is generally dry. Most of the state experiences this dry weather. However, the northwestern part is different due to the Sierra Fría mountain range. This area has a temperate highland climate.

Atardecer con el Cerro del muerto desde la UAA 02
Atardecer con el Cerro del muerto desde la UAA 02

May and June are the hottest months, with mean temperatures reaching 25°C. During these months, temperatures can actually exceed 30°C. January is the coldest month, with temperatures averaging 7°C. Frost frequently occurs between November and February. Most rainfall happens in the summer, while winters remain dry.

Human history in this territory stretches back more than 20,000 years. Archaeological evidence includes rock paintings in the Sierra del Laurel caverns.

Pinturas rupestres en El Ocote, Aguascalientes 01
Pinturas rupestres en El Ocote, Aguascalientes 01

Visitors can also find pre-Columbian arrowheads and potshards. The Chichimeca people inhabited the land before Spanish explorers arrived. The Chichimeca made the territory very difficult for outsiders to access. This difficulty meant it took nearly two centuries to occupy the El Bajío region.

Ruinas, La Quemada - panoramio (4)
Ruinas, La Quemada - panoramio (4)

Spanish explorers entered the territory in the early 1530s. Pedro Almíndez Chirino was the first Spaniard to enter the area. To protect the Camino de la Plata, soldiers built several garrisoned fortifications called presidios. These forts protected the road between Zacatecas and Mexico City. One such fort, the Ciénega Grande presidio, was established around 1570.

Ruinas, La Quemada - panoramio (4)
Ruinas, La Quemada - panoramio (4)

These fortifications secured the passage of convoys carrying silver and other metals through the Valle de los Romero.

The official town of Aguascalientes was founded on October 22, 1575. King Felipe II ordered the settlement to expel the Chichimeca. He wanted to ensure safe passage through the territory. A man named Juan de Montoro led eleven people to settle the area. The town was originally called San Marcos. It changed its name to the Villa of Our Lady of the Assumption of Aguas Calientes in 1611. It eventually became the city of Aguascalientes.

Templo de Nuestra Señora de Belén en Real de Asientos
Templo de Nuestra Señora de Belén en Real de Asientos

The path to statehood was long and involved many legal disputes. Aguascalientes spent a long time as part of Zacatecas. In 1835, President Antonio López de Santa Anna tried to separate it. However, this order did not meet the legal requirements of the time. A war even occurred between Aguascalientes and Zacatecas in 1847. Finally, the Constitution of 1857 included Aguascalientes as a state. It was officially established as a state on December 10, 1856.

Pancho Villa, el presidente provisional Eulalio Gutiérrez y Emiliano Zapata
Pancho Villa, el presidente provisional Eulalio Gutiérrez y Emiliano Zapata

Today, Aguascalientes is a highly developed and growing state. As of the 2020 census, it has 1,425,607 inhabitants. Most people live in the capital city. While it is the 27th most populated state, it is the 4th most densely populated. It was the fastest-growing state in Mexico during the 2010s. The state ranks 7th in the Human Development Index. It also has the 8th highest GDP per capita.

Edificio del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
Edificio del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática

The state is famous for several unique industries and traditions. It has a long history of textile and railroad industries. Wine making is also a major industry that continues today.

Viñedos Leal
Viñedos Leal

One of the most notable events is the San Marcos Fair. This is the largest fair in Mexico. It is also one of the largest fairs in all of Latin America.

The state is divided into 11 municipalities, including Calvillo and Asientos.

Templo de Nuestra Señora de Belén en Real de Asientos
Templo de Nuestra Señora de Belén en Real de Asientos
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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
Himno en Honor de Aguascalientes.ogg
File:PAN Party (Mexico).svg
PAN Party (Mexico).svg
File:PT Party (Mexico).svg
PT Party (Mexico).svg
File:Morena logo (Mexico).svg
Morena logo (Mexico).svg
File:Pinturas rupestres en El Ocote, Aguascalientes 01.jpg
Pinturas rupestres en El Ocote,...
File:Ruinas, La Quemada - panoramio (4).jpg
Ruinas, La Quemada - panoramio (4).jpg
File:Templo de Nuestra Señora de Belén en Real de Asientos.jpg
Templo de Nuestra Señora de Belén en Real...
File:Mapa de Mexico 1865.PNG
Mapa de Mexico 1865.PNG
File:Pancho Villa, el presidente provisional Eulalio Gutiérrez y Emiliano Zapata.jpg
Pancho Villa, el presidente provisional...
File:Atardecer con el Cerro del muerto desde la UAA 02.jpg
Atardecer con el Cerro del muerto desde...
File:Edificio del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática.JPG
Edificio del Instituto Nacional de...
File:Viñedos Leal.jpg
Viñedos Leal.jpg

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