State of Mexico

This is the State of Mexico.

It sits in central Mexico.

It is near Mexico City. The state goes around the city on three sides.

Many people live here. It is the most crowded state in the land. The state capital is Toluca.

Long ago, the Aztecs lived here. They grew corn, beans, and squash. They also kept animals.

Today, it has many small towns. It also has big cities. It is a very busy place.

The State of Mexico sits in central Mexico.

It is a very busy place. It is the most populous state in the country. This means many people live there. The state surrounds Mexico City on three sides.

The state capital is Toluca. Its largest city is Ecatepec.

The state is split into 125 municipalities. These are smaller areas used for local rule.

History began here a long time ago. People lived in this area 20,000 years ago. They were hunter-gatherers. They hunted large animals like mammoths. Later, they became farmers. They grew corn, beans, and squash.

The Aztecs also lived in this region. They built great cities. One such place was Teotenango. It had walls, temples, and plazas. The state changed over many years. Parts of it became other states like Hidalgo and Morelos. This left the state with its shape today.

The State of Mexico is a very busy part of central Mexico.

It is the most populous state in the whole country. Many people live here, making it a very crowded place. The state surrounds Mexico City on three sides.

Its capital city is Toluca, but its largest city is Ecatepec de Morelos. The state is divided into 125 smaller areas called municipalities. You can see how these areas fit together on a map.

History in this land began a very long time ago. Humans lived here as far back as 20,000 years ago. The first people were hunter-gatherers who moved to find food. They hunted huge animals like mammoths.

Later, people stayed in one place to farm. They grew corn, beans, and squash in small villages. They even made beautiful things out of clay, called ceramics. One famous find is the Tequixquiac Bone, which was carved by an artist long ago.

Great civilizations once ruled these lands. The Teotihuacan people built huge Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Later, the Aztecs conquered much of the area.

They lived in places like the Toluca and Chalco valleys. The name "Mexico" might come from the Nahuatl words for the moon's navel. This comes from an old idea about the shape of the moon. Other groups, like the Otomi and Mazahua, also lived here for a long time.

When the Spanish arrived, the region became part of New Spain.

They built missions and schools, like the San Antonio de Padua school. People worked in mines and made things like soap and saddles. In 1810, a leader named Miguel Hidalgo marched through the state. He fought a big battle at Monte de las Cruces.

After Mexico became independent, the state was officially created in 1824.

Over the years, the state changed its shape many times. Mexico City used to be part of the state. However, the government later made the city its own separate place. This meant the state had to move its capital to Toluca in 1830.

Parts of the state also broke away to form new states like Hidalgo and Morelos. Today, the state is a mix of old history and busy modern life.

It remains a very important part of the nation.

The State of Mexico is a vital federal entity within the United Mexican States.

It is located in the central part of the country. This state is the most populous in Mexico. It also has the second highest population density. The state surrounds the capital, Mexico City, on three sides. It shares borders with several other Mexican states. To the north, it meets Querétaro and Hidalgo. To the south, it borders Morelos and Guerrero. Michoacán lies to the west. Tlaxcala and Puebla are to the east. The state is divided into 125 municipalities.

Its capital is Toluca de Lerdo. Its largest city is Ecatepec de Morelos.

Ancient history in this region began during the Pleistocene era. Archaeological evidence shows humans lived here 20,000 years ago. Early inhabitants were hunter-gatherers. They hunted large animals like mammoths. They also gathered wild fruits. One famous discovery is the Tequixquiac Bone. This is a piece of bone from a camelid. An artist carved it roughly 22,000 years ago.

This is considered a work of prehistoric art. Between 20,000 and 5,000 BCE, people became sedentary. They formed villages and practiced farming. They grew corn, beans, chili peppers, and squash. They also domesticated animals. Ceramics began appearing around 2500 BCE. The Tepexpan Man is another important archaeological find. This individual helps scientists understand the Valley of Mexico from 5,000 years ago.

Several major civilizations once dominated the territory. The Teotihuacan civilization was an early major power. They built the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon between 100 BCE and 100 CE. Later, the Matlatzincas ruled from their capital, Teotenango. This city featured walls, temples, and a Mesoamerican ball game court.

In the 15th century, the Aztecs conquered the Toluca and Chalco valleys. The Aztecs were also known as the Mexica. The name "Mexico" likely comes from the Nahuatl language. One theory says it means "from the navel of the moon." This relates to the idea that moon craters look like a rabbit. Another theory links it to "Mextictli," a name for the god Huitzilopochtli. Other groups like the Otomi and Mazahua also lived here.

Spanish colonization changed the region significantly. After the Spanish Conquest in 1521, these lands became part of New Spain. The territory was originally called the audiencia of Mexico. This area included modern states like Guerrero and Morelos. Spanish conquistadors like Juan Altamirano received land in the Toluca Valley. Franciscan missionaries arrived to establish missions. They also built the first school, San Antonio de Padua.

During this period, the economy relied on agriculture. Some areas practiced mining in places like Valle de Bravo. Other towns produced crafts like soap, saddles, and wool. However, many people remained extremely poor due to exploitation.

Mexico's fight for independence involved many battles in this state. In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla marched from Michoacán. He passed through Toluca toward Mexico City. He fought royalist forces at the Battle of Monte de las Cruces.

Although Hidalgo won, he did not enter Mexico City. The State of Mexico was officially created by the 1824 Constitution. At that time, it included the vast Aztec Empire lands. Mexico City served as the state capital initially. However, the federal government soon claimed the city as its own. This separated the city from the state's jurisdiction.

The state's borders changed many times during the 19th century. The state capital moved to Texcoco after the city was separated. In 1830, the capital moved permanently to Toluca.

Political struggles between liberals and conservatives caused further shifts. Parts of the state broke away to form Hidalgo and Morelos in 1869. These changes created the modern shape of the state. The state also saw conflict during the Mexican-American War. During that time, American forces occupied both Toluca and Mexico City.

Today, the State of Mexico is a hub of activity and history. It connects ancient traditions with modern infrastructure. For example, the Ferrocarril Suburbano serves the busy metropolitan area.

The landscape includes diverse features like the Popocatépetl volcano.

It also contains natural areas like La Marquesa National Park.

The state remains a central part of the nation's identity. It links the history of the Aztecs to the modern United Mexican States.