Nuevo León is a state in Northeast Mexico that is divided into 51 municipalities. According to the 2020 Mexican census, it is the seventh most populated state with inhabitants and the 13th largest by land area spanning 64156.2km2.[1] [2]
Municipalities in Nuevo León are administratively autonomous of the state according to the 115th article of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.[3] Every three years, citizens elect a municipal president (Spanish: presidente municipal) by a plurality voting system who heads a concurrently elected municipal council (ayuntamiento) responsible for providing all the public services for their constituents. The municipal council consists of a variable number of trustees and councillors (regidores y síndicos).[4] Municipalities are responsible for public services (such as water and sewerage), street lighting, public safety, traffic, and the maintenance of public parks, gardens and cemeteries.[5] They may also assist the state and federal governments in education, emergency fire and medical services, environmental protection and maintenance of monuments and historical landmarks. Since 1984, they have had the power to collect property taxes and user fees, although more funds are obtained from the state and federal governments than from their own income.
Outside the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, the state is sparsely populated. The largest municipality by population is Monterrey, with 1,142,994 residents (19.75% of the state's total), while the smallest is Parás with 906 residents. The largest municipality by land area is Galeana which spans 7068.3km2, and the smallest is Abasolo, with 46.9km2. The newest municipality is Melchor Ocampo, established in 1948.[6]
Nuevo León has several distinctive municipalities: Pesquería was the fastest growing municipality in Mexico from 2010 to 2020; Hualahuises is one of the very few enclaves in Mexico, surrounded by Linares;[7] and San Pedro Garza García has the best quality of living in Mexico[8] and is considered among the most affluent municipalities in Latin America.[9]
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| Name | Seat | Population (2020) | Population (2010)[10] | Change | Land area | Population density (2020) | Incorporation | Origin and Etymology[11] | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | ||||||||
| Abasolo | Abasolo | 46.9km2 | Founded as the Hacienda of Eguía de Viudas in 1648, renamed as Abasolo in 1826. Mariano Abasolo, revolutionist during the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Agualeguas | Agualeguas | 980.9km2 | Founded as a mission, Santa Teresa de Alamillo. Renamed San Nicolás Gualeguas in 1675 and Agualeguas in 1793. Gualeguas, an extinct Native American nomadic tribe which scarcely inhabited this area. | ||||||
| Allende | Allende | 190.5km2 | Founded as Rancho del Reparo in 1825, changing its name in 1850. Ignacio Allende, captain of the Spanish Army, sympathizer with the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| 4539.2km2 | Created with land from Lampazos, Vallecillo and Juárez, Coahuila, to expand Nuevo León's border with Texas. Anáhuac, the Aztec name for the region which comprises the Valley of México. | ||||||||
| Ciudad Apodaca | 224km2 | Founded as San Francisco in 1585, changing its name on December 16, 1917. Salvador de Apodaca, former bishop of Linares. | |||||||
| Aramberri | Aramberri | 2688.6km2 | Founded as the Santa María de los Angeles in 1648, renamed as Río Blanco in 1660. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on . José Silvestre Aramberri, military general born in this municipality who fought in the Reform War. | ||||||
| Bustamante | Bustamante | 466.7km2 | Founded in 1686 as San Miguel de Aguayo. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on . Anastasio Bustamante, president of Mexico. | ||||||
| Cadereyta Jiménez | Cadereyta Jiménez | 1140.9km2 | Founded as Villa de Cadereyta in 1637, known as San Juan Bautista de Cadereyta from 1692. Lope Díez de Armendáriz, 1st Marquess of Cadreita, Viceroy of New Spain. José Mariano Jiménez, rebel officer in the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Cerralvo | Cerralvo | 1007.4km2 | Founded in 1582, Villa of San Gregorio de Cerralvo was the first Spanish settlement and capital of Nuevo León. Rodrigo Pacheco, 3rd Marquess of Cerralvo, fifteenth Viceroy of New Spain. | ||||||
| Ciénega de Flores | Ciénega de Flores | 138.7km2 | Settled as Hacienda of Ciénega de Flores in 1624, in the area known as Valle del Carrizal. Ciénega, a Spanish word for a swampy or boggy area. Flores, the surname of an early rancher of the area. | ||||||
| China | China | 4265.7km2 | Founded in 1719 as San Felipe de Jesús de China, renamed China in 1812. Doctor Coss and General Bravo were created out of their territory. Saint Philip of Jesus, Mexican Catholic missionary in China and Japan, one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan | ||||||
| Doctor Arroyo | Doctor Arroyo | 5053.7km2 | Established as Valle de la Purísima Concepción in 1826, changing its name on . During the Mexican Revolution, Doctor Arroyo became capita of Mexico in 1915 for 45 days. José Francisco Arroyo de Anda, doctor and first delegate to the Nuevo León's congress. | ||||||
| Doctor Coss | Doctor Coss | 720.7km2 | Founded in 1740 as Rancho del Zacate. Merged with China in 1851-1882. José María Cos, doctor and delegate to the Congress of Chilpancingo. | ||||||
| Doctor González | Doctor González | 614.7km2 | Founded as Hacienda de Ramos, in the Las Salinas valley area. Renamed Doctor González in 1883. José Eleuterio González, doctor, philanthropist, writer and governor of Nuevo León. | ||||||
| El Carmen | El Carmen | 104.3km2 | Founded as Hacienda de Chipinque in 1614, part of Las Salinas valley. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of the Carmelite Order. | ||||||
| Galeana | Galeana | 7068.3km2 | Founded as San Pablo de Labradores in 1678. Originally incorporated as Labradores and renamed Galeana on . Hermenegildo Galeana, hero of the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| García | García | 1032km2 | Founded as Pesquería Grande in 1583. Originally incorporated under that name, renamed García on . Joaquín García, former Governor of Nuevo León. | ||||||
| General Bravo | General Bravo | 1888.6km2 | Founded as Rancho del Toro in 1790. Established with territory from China. Nicolás Bravo, Mexican president and general in the Mexican–American War. | ||||||
| General Escobedo | General Escobedo | 149.4km2 | Founded as Hacienda del Topo de los Ayala in 1624, renamed as Villa del General Escobedo in 1868. Mariano Escobedo, Mexican Army general and former Governor of Nuevo León. | ||||||
| General Terán | General Terán | 2478.8km2 | Founded as La Mota in 1746. Originally incorporated under that name, renamed General Terán on . Manuel de Mier y Terán, military general in the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| General Treviño | General Treviño | 387.9km2 | Settled as Rancho del Puntiagudo in 1688, renamed to General Treviño in 1868. Jerónimo Treviño, military general in the Reform War and former Governor of Nuevo León. | ||||||
| General Zaragoza | General Zaragoza | 1306.7km2 | Founded as San José de Río Blanco in 1626. It merged with Aramberri from 1660 to 1886. Ignacio Zaragoza, military general, led the Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla. | ||||||
| General Zuazua | General Zuazua | 184.5km2 | Founded as Hacienda of Santa Helena in 1660, created out of Marín. Juan Zuazua, military general in the Reform War. | ||||||
| Guadalupe | Guadalupe | 118.4km2 | Founded in 1714 as a Spanish mission, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of Mexico and Latin America. | ||||||
| Hidalgo | Hidalgo | 170.6km2 | Founded as Hacienda de Enmedio in 1611. Originally incorporated as San Nicolás Hidalgo, changing its name on . Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Higueras | Higueras | 443.2km2 | Founded as Teresa de las Higueras in 1714. Figuera, Spanish word for the fig tree, abundant throughout the area | ||||||
| Hualahuises | Hualahuises | 127.8km2 | Founded as the mission of San Cristóbal de los Hualahuises in 1646. Hualahuises, a Native American tribe which inhabited the area before the Spanish settlement. | ||||||
| Iturbide | Iturbide | 560.5km2 | Settled as Hacienda de los San Pedros, renamed Iturbide in 1850. | Agustín de Iturbide, army general and politician and first Emperor of Mexico. | |||||
| Juárez | Ciudad Benito Juárez | 247.3km2 | Founded as Hacienda de San José in 1604. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on . Benito Juárez, 26th president of Mexico. | ||||||
| Lampazos de Naranjo | Lampazos de Naranjo | 3428km2 | Founded as the Mission of Nuestra Señora de la Punta de Lampazos in 1698. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on . Lampazo, Spanish word for Xanthosoma robustum, a plant that grows in this area. | ||||||
| Linares | Linares | 2509.2km2 | Founded as San Felipe de Linares in 1712. Fernando de Alencastre, 1st Duke of Linares and Viceroy of New Spain. | ||||||
| Los Aldamas | Los Aldamas | 694.5km2 | Founded as the Mission of Puerto de Hoyos in 1760, renamed Santa María de los Aldamas. Brothers Ignacio Aldama and Juan Aldama, revolutionary soldiers during the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Los Herreras | Los Herreras | 496.6km2 | Settled as Hacienda de la Manteca around 1760. Originally incorporated as Villa de los Herreras, changing its name on . Brothers José Martín Herrera and Rafael Herrera, who participated in the Battle of San Bernabé in 1872. | ||||||
| Los Ramones | Los Ramones | 1341km2 | Settled as Rancho del Capadero in Cerralvo around 1750. Later annexed to Cadereyta Jiménez as Valle de San José de los Ramones. Brothers Juan Ignacio Ramón and Buenaventura Ramón, who fought in the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Marín | Marín | 264.9km2 | Settled as Rancho de San Antonio de los Martínez in 1684, renamed Villa de San Carlos de Marín in 1804. Primo Feliciano Marín de Porras, bishop of the New Kingdom of León and honorary chaplain of Spain's king. | ||||||
| Melchor Ocampo | Melchor Ocampo | 207.9km2 | Newest municipality in Nuevo León. Settled as a ranch named Charco Redondo in 1702. Melchor Ocampo, Foreign Secretary during the Reform War. | ||||||
| Mier y Noriega | Mier y Noriega | 997.9km2 | Founded as Hacienda de San Antonio de Medina around 1715. Servando Teresa de Mier, Catholic priest and politician, involved in the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Mina | Mina | 3860km2 | Founded as San Francisco de Cañas in 1608, in the Las Salinas valley area. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on . Martín Javier Mina y Larrea, sympathizer with the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Montemorelos | Montemorelos | 1869km2 | Settled as San Mateo del Pilón in 1637. Originally incorporated as Pilón, changing its name on . Monte, Spanish word for mountain. José María Morelos, priest and leader in the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Monterrey | Monterrey | 324.4km2 | First founded as Santa Lucía in 1577, formally settled as Our Lady of Monterrey in 1596. Gaspar de Zúñiga, 5th Count of Monterrey, Viceroy of New Spain, and his wife. | ||||||
| Parás | Parás | 1171.2km2 | Originally known Rancho del Huizachal de los Canales. Formally incorporated as Parás in 1851. José María Parás, first Governor of Nuevo León. | ||||||
| Pesquería | Pesquería | 322.8km2 | Founded as Hacienda del Espíritu Santo in 1699, later known as Pesquería Chica. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on 1995. From the Pesquería River, meaning fishery in Spanish. | ||||||
| Rayones | Rayones | 683.1km2 | Founded as San Miguel del Tasajal, joined with Hacienda de los Barreales to form Los Rallones in 1851. Brothers Ramón, Francisco and Ignacio López Rayón, who fought in the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Sabinas Hidalgo | Sabinas Hidalgo | 1541.5km2 | Founded as Valle de Santiago de las Sabinas in 1693. Sabinas, Spanish word for junipers, coniferous plants abundant in the area. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, leader of the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Salinas Victoria | Salinas Victoria | 1667.4km2 | Founded as Villa de Cueva in 1586. Renamed as Cañón de Guadalupe de Salinas, administrative seat of Las Salinas valley. Changed its name to Salinas Victoria on . "Salinas", Spanish word for salt marshes characteristic of the lands. Guadalupe Victoria, first president of Mexico. | ||||||
| San Nicolás de los Garza | San Nicolás de los Garza | 60.1km2 | Settled in 1596, and formally founded as Estancia de los Garzas in 1634. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on . Saint Nicholas, early Christian bishop Garza, surname of Pedro de la Garza, early Spanish settler of the area. | ||||||
| San Pedro Garza García | San Pedro Garza García | 70.8km2 | Settled as San Pedro de los Nogales in 1725. Originally incorporated as Garza García, changing its name on . Saint Peter, one of the first leaders of the early Church Genaro Garza García, Governor of Nuevo León. | ||||||
| Santa Catarina | Santa Catarina | 915.8km2 | Founded as Hacienda de Santa Catalina in 1596, renamed Santa Catarina in 1837. Saint Catherine, an earlier Christian martyr; it was founded on the eve of Saint Catherine's day, November 24. | ||||||
| Santiago | Santiago | 739.2km2 | Founded as Valle de Santiago del Huajuco in 1648. Originally incorporated as Guajuco, changing its name on . "Santiago", Spanish name of Saint James apostle. | ||||||
| Vallecillo | Vallecillo | 1764.9km2 | Founded as Real de San Carlos de Vallecillo in 1768. The location of the settlement in a small valley, vallecillo in Spanish, or El Vallecillo, municipality in the province of Teruel, Spain. | ||||||
| Villaldama | Villaldama | 879.3km2 | Founded as Boca de Leones in 1690. Originally incorporated under that name, changing it on . Juan Aldama, revolutionary soldier during the Mexican War of Independence. | ||||||
| Nuevo León | - | 64156.2km2 | - | - | - | ||||
| Mexico | - | 1960646.7km2 | - | - | - |