Hidalgo (state)

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.