Hidalgo (state)

Hidalgo is a state in Mexico.

It has many big mountains. Some parts are near the sea.

Long ago, people lived here. They left cave paintings.

You can also see old stone ruins.

Many people work in mines. They dig for gold and silver. This helps the state make money.

Some people came from far away. They brought new foods. You can eat a snack called a paste.

Hidalgo is a very special place to see.

Hidalgo is a state in east-central Mexico.

It sits near the State of Mexico and Veracruz. The state has many mountains. Some parts are also on a flat coastal plain.

Many people lived here a long time ago. You can find old cave paintings in Huichapan.

The Toltecs once lived here too. They built a capital called Tula. You can still see large stone figures there. We call these the Atlantes.

Mining is a big part of the state's story. People dig for silver and gold. In the 1800s, miners came from Cornwall in England. They brought new ways to work. They also brought a snack called a paste.

People still eat these today.

Today, many people live in Hidalgo. The capital city is Pachuca de Soto. The state is known for its beautiful sights. You can visit hot water springs or old ruins. It is a place full of history and nature.

Hidalgo is a state in east-central Mexico.

It is one of 32 federal entities in the country. The state sits near many other places. It borders San Luis Potosí and Veracruz to the north. Puebla is to the east. Tlaxcala and the State of Mexico are to the south. Querétaro is to the west.

The land is mostly made of mountains. However, some parts sit on a flat coastal plain. The state is one of the smaller states in Mexico. It covers about 20,813 square km and has 2.858 million people.

History in this land goes back a very long time.

People lived in these areas as far back as 14,000 B.C.E. The Olmec groups were among the first settlers. They looked for jade and serpentine in the earth. Later, the Toltecs settled in places like Xochicoatlán. They eventually built a capital called Tollan, which we now call Tula.

You can still see the ruins of Tula today. The Aztecs also arrived and took over the southern part of the state. They joined the land into the Aztec Empire.

Spanish explorers arrived after the Aztec Empire fell.

They took control of many natural resources. Mining became a huge part of how people lived. People dug for silver and gold in the Pachuca area. This work was the backbone of the economy for a long time. In the 1800s, British companies came to help. They brought steam-powered machines to the mines.

They also brought miners from Cornwall in England. These miners left behind new foods like the "paste."

You can still find these snacks in the state today.

Creating the state of Hidalgo was a slow process.

It was originally part of a much larger territory. In 1869, Benito Juárez officially created the state. He named it after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Hidalgo was a leader in the Mexican War of Independence. Pachuca was named the capital city. The name "de Soto" was added to the capital later. This was to honor a man who helped create the state.

The state has 84 different municipalities.

Today, Hidalgo is a place of many cultures.

The Otomi people still keep much of their traditional culture. There are also descendants of Italian and Jewish families. Many people visit for ecotourism and history. You can see old haciendas or visit natural hot water springs.

Some people visit the Huasteca area for its beauty. The state also has many archaeological sites to explore. It is a land where old traditions meet new ways of living.

Hidalgo, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Hidalgo, is a federal entity in Mexico.

It is one of the 32 federal entities that make up the country. The state is located in the east-central region of Mexico. It is bordered by San Luis Potosí and Veracruz to the north. Puebla sits to the east of the state. To the south, it shares borders with Tlaxcala and the State of Mexico. Querétaro lies to the west. The state is divided into 84 municipalities. Its capital city is Pachuca de Soto.

The geography of Hidalgo is defined by diverse landscapes. Much of the state consists of mountainous terrain. However, parts of the state sit on a coastal plain. Hidalgo is one of the smaller states in Mexico. It covers an area of approximately 20,813 square kilometers. The state has a population of about 2.858 million people. This landscape supports various attractions like the Huasteca area. Visitors can find natural hot water springs and mountain ranges. The state also contains old haciendas and archaeological sites.

Human history in the region began thousands of years ago. Prehistoric artifacts have been found in Tepeapulco, Tulancingo, Actopan, and Huichapan. These items date from 14,000 to 2,500 B.C.E.

The oldest evidence of occupation was found in Huapalcalco. Early Olmec groups settled here to exploit jade and serpentine. During the Mesoamerican Preclassic period, people used obsidian for relief work. The first signs of social stratification appeared at La Loma in Tepeji del Río de Ocampo. The region was part of the ancient Mesoamerica area.

Various civilizations moved through and settled in the territory. The Toltecs arrived in Xochicoatlán at the start of the 7th century. They later moved to locales like Huejutla and Tulancingo. They established their capital at Tollan, which is known today as Tula.

Eventually, Chichimecas overran the Toltecs and built a capital at Metztitlán. The Aztecs arrived in the 12th century. They first settled in Mixquiahuala and later founded Tizayuca. The Aztecs eventually incorporated the southern portion of the state into their empire. During this time, the area was a mix of Otomi, Nahua, and Chichimec communities.

The Spanish conquest brought significant social and economic changes. Hernán Cortés took possession of lands extending into modern Hidalgo. Franciscan missionaries arrived for evangelization efforts in 1523. The Spanish took control of natural resources and local labor. This period saw a massive decrease in the native population. By the 18th century, mining and agricultural haciendas dominated the economy. People raised livestock like sheep and pigs. They also produced pulque from the native maguey plant. Mining for silver and gold in Pachuca and Real del Monte became the economic backbone.

The modern state was formed through political shifts in the 19th century. Originally, the area was part of a large territory called "Mexico." This territory included the modern State of Mexico. In 1869, Benito Juárez officially created the State of Hidalgo. He named the state after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.

This man was the initiator of the Mexican War of Independence. Pachuca was named the capital. The name "de Soto" was added to the capital later to honor a key figure. The state's mining industry faced ruin during the War of Independence. In 1824, British companies arrived to revive the sector. They brought steam-powered machinery and Cornish miners from England.

These miners introduced English foods like the "paste."

In the 20th century, Hidalgo underwent industrial and social transformations. The Mexican Revolution caused much instability and fighting in the state. After the war, the 1920s brought new infrastructure like telephone lines and highways. In 1961, the state focused on developing professionals through the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. The economy began shifting from mining to manufacturing. In 1952, the Diesel Nacional (DINA) automotive plant was built. Recently, the southern border has grown due to the expansion of Greater Mexico City. However, the state must now manage water contamination from the Valley of Mexico. This drainage affects agriculture and the environment in the northern zones.