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Chihuahua

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For other uses, see Chihuahua (disambiguation).

Chihuahua

Flag

Coat of arms

Nickname: "Lady of the Desert"

Location within Mexico

Country

Mexico

Capital

Government

- Governor

José Reyes Baeza Terrazas (

PRI)

- Federal Deputies

PRI: 5
PAN:4

- Federal Senators

PAN: 2
PRI: 1

Area
Ranked 1st

- Total

244,938 km² (94,571.1 sq mi)

Population (2005)

- Total

3,241,444 (Ranked 11th)

- Demonym

Chihuahuense

HDI (2004)

0.8224 - high
Ranked 8th

ISO 3166-2

MX-CHH

Postal abbr.

Chih.

Website: Chihuahua State Government

Chihuahua is a state in Mexico, with a mainland area of 244,938 square kilometers (94,571.1 sq mi), slightly bigger than the United Kingdom, is in the northwest surrounded by the Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango and Coahuila and the U.S. states of Texas and New Mexico.

Although Chihuahua is primarily identified with its namesake, the Chihuahuan Desert, it has more forests than any other Mexican state. On the slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains (around the regions of Casas Grandes, Cuauhtémoc and Parral), there are vast prairies of short yellow grass, the source of the bulk of the state's agricultural production.

As of 2005, there were 3.2 million inhabitants of the state. The largest city is the U.S.-border city of Ciudad Juárez, which has 1,301,452 residents (2005 census). The capital, Chihuahua, has 748,518 inhabitants.

The state also has a large service sector: tourism, banking and high-tech enterprises.

One of the most notable features of Chihuahua is the Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon, a spectacular canyon system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Chihuahua played a pivotal role in the Mexican Revolution and was a battleground between revolutionary forces led by Pancho Villa and federal forces.

Chihuahua is one of the Mexican states that holds a slight population plurality of people that are primarily of European ancestry (as is the case in much of northern Mexico), with around 46% of the state population being of European descent, commonly Spanish, Italian, German, French and Dutch. Around 44% of its population has mixed European and Amerindian ancestry (Mestizo). The population of Amerindians in northern Mexico tends to be low compared to the southern part, and Chihuahua is no exception. While there are Amerindians in Chihuahua, they comprise only around 7% of the state's population, and they mostly live in isolated areas in the mountains.

1 History
2 Administrative divisions
3 Major communities
4 Pictures
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

Main article: Nueva Vizcaya, New Spain

Spanish exploration of the area began in 1531 with Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán's expedition. He called the area Nueva Galicia after his birthplace, although that name later came to be applied to a different area, namely what became the colonial intendencia of Guadalajara. Nueva Vizcaya originally included the area of Spanish settlement north of Zacatecas. Eventually that included most of the area of the modern Mexican states of Chihuahua and Durango, and at times parts of the states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Coahuila.

The objections that led to the division of the internal provinces in 1785, increased with growing population and resources. In 1804, a royal decree ordered the redivision of the provinces into two districts. The new comandante general of each district exercised the same authority as the existing commander. ^[1]

The war of independence started in 1812. Viceroy Venegas appointed brigadier Alejo Garcia Conde, governor of Sonora and Sinaloa to the command of the Occidente region.^[1] Command of the Oriente region was offered to the Mariscal de campo, Felix Calleja, who declined the position. It was offered to Simon Herrera, governor of Nuevo León, but he was killed by insurgents before he could accept the position. Finally, José Joaquín de Arredondo received the position.^[1]

After the suppression of the insurrection of 1811 in Nuevo Santander, José Bernardo Maximiliano Gutiérrez de Lara, a citizen of Revilla, and a strong supporter of the revolutionary movement, took refuge in the United States, seeking assistance on behalf of his cause. The welcome accorded to him by the people, and the well-known intentions of the United States government with regard to the Texan frontier, had given rise to no little uneasiness in Mexico, which was further increased by a report that he was marching at the head of a large army, returning to aid the insurgents.^[1]

The troops under Gutiérrez de Lara's command consisted of only 450 men, many of whom were military adventurers from the United States. He invaded Texas with this slender force in 1812, taking possession of several cities and driving back the forces of Manuel María de Salcedo and José Joaquín de Herrera. Warned of this danger, José Joaquín de Arredondo, whose forces were quartered in the valley del Maiz, marched to engage Gutiérrez de Lara, collecting men and material on the way through Nuevo Santander. Colonel Ignacio Elizondo, sent in advance, allowed himself to be drawn into an engagement, and was totally routed.^[1]

A few weeks later Arredondo himself defeated the insurgents, now under the command of José Álvarez de Toledo y Dubois, who had replaced Gutiérrez de Lara. Many prisoners were executed, including all the captured U. S. citizens, ending all hope of aid from the United States.

Issues of increased of population and development of natural resources took second place to military matters and the suppression of revolutionary movements. In the northwest hostilities with Indians continued, while in the east revolution fomenting.^[1]

Salcedo managed to accumulate a large fortune while avoiding the conflict to the south. From May to July, 1811, he was responsible for overseeing the trial and execution of Miguel Hidalgo, and his chief officers.^[1]

Nueva Vizcaya was not spared from the war. A month before Hidalgo’s capture, a number of insurgents were detained, and a conflict at San Francisco between several hundred men occurred early in 1812.^[1]

Toward the close of 1814, José Félix Trespalacios and Juan Pablo Caballero planned an outbreak at Chihuahua, but the plot was revealed to Garcia Conde, who now controlled the Occidente section from this point, and promptly arrested the principals. The men were pardoned through the efforts of authorities and clergy. Chihuahua continued to suffer from Apache raids, and Durango a brief rebellion by the Opatas in 1820, which was quelled without any serious bloodshed. In 1819 explorer Zebulon Pike visited and the Jesuits were reestablished.^[1]

Spanish Constitution of 1812 was well received by the provinces, but was suspended soon after by the viceroy. Nueva Vizcaya managed to elect a representative to the Cortes Generales. Royalist Agustin de Iturbide went to Durango to make a final effort in behalf of Spain. He entered that city July 4, 1821, attended by officials from Zacatecas and other points, with a few hundred soldiers. Pedro Celestino Negrete, Iturbide’s lieutenant, followed in pursuit, and laid siege to the city early in August, with about 3,000 men.^[1]

The defense was maintained for over three weeks, with brisk firing and occasional sorties, varied by assaults, which involved severe losses. Negrete finally planted a battery against a vulnerable point, and on the August 30 gained a decided advantage. By this time defection undermined the zeal of the royalist. A truce was accepted, and on September 3 the garrison surrendered, with the honors of war, and permission to retire with Cruz to Spain.^[1]

M. Urrea was installed as governor, while Antonio Cordero, who had governed at Durango as civil and military governor for the past three years, replaced of Garcia Conde.^[1]

The federalists rose against Agustin de Iturbide, joined by Chihuahua after a momentary objection from Janos. Durango was initially against the movement, but on March 5, 1823 it gained the favor of the troops followed by the people. Comandante general Cordero resigned, as did Brigadier I. del Corral, civil and military governor at Durango, whereupon a provincial delegation declared Juan Navarro successor to the latter, and Gaspar de Ochoa, as commander in place of Cordero.^[1]

On July 19, 1823, the supreme congress decreed the division of Nueva Vizcaya into two provinces, to be known as Chihuahua and Durango. The capital of the former receiving the title of city and became the seat of a provincial council. Chihuahua, with a population of over 100,000, benefited from a separate administration from that of the distant and sometimes uncooperative Durango. Nevertheless, a party persuaded the chamber to create a new state — Estado Interno del Norte — by reuniting the two provinces and including New Mexico, with a capital at Chihuahua. Durango, however, raised objections, demanding retention of the capital, or exclusion from the new state, because of its large population and superior resources.^[1]

On May 22 and July 6, 1824 the separation was affirmed, New Mexico being declared a territory of the federation. In the following year the two states, issued their constitution. Chihuahua established a legislative chamber of not less than eleven deputies, while Durango created a senate of seven members in addition to a legislature.^[1]

In the constituent legislature or convention, the conservative and liberal elements formed using the nicknames of Chirrines and Cuchas. The military entered as a third party. The elections for the first regular legislature were disputed, and it was not until May 1, 1826, that the body was installed. The liberals gained control and the opposition responded by fomenting a conspiracy. This was promptly stopped with the aid of informers, and more strenuous measures were taken against the conservatives. Extra powers were conferred on the Durango governor, Santiago Baca Ortiz, deputy to the first national congress, and leader of the liberal party.^[1]

Opponents continued to plot against the new government. In March 1827, Lieutenant J.M. Gonzalez proclaimed himself comandante general, arrested the governor, and dissolved the legislature. General Parras was sent to suppress the movement. Comandante general J. J. Ayestaran was replaced by Jose Figueroa. When elections failed, the government intervened in favor of the Yorkino party, which had elected Vicente Guerrero to the presidency.^[1]

Because of the general instability of the Mexican government during 1828, the installation of the new legislature did not take place until the middle of the following year. It was quickly dissolved by Governor Baca, who replaced it with a more pronounced Yorkino type. When Guerrero’s liberal administration was overthrown in December, Gaspar de Ochoa aligned with Anastasio Bustamante, and in February 1830, organized an opposition group that arrested the new governor, F. Elorriaga, along with other prominent Yorkinos. He then summoned the legislature, which had been dissolved by Baca. The civil and military authorities were now headed by J. A. Pescador and Ochoa.^[1]

The general features of the preceding occurrence applied also to Chihuahua, although in a modified form. The first person elected under the new constitution of 1825, was Simon Elias Gonzalez, who being in Sonora, was induced to remain there, J. A. Arce taking his place as ruler in Chihuahua. In 1829, however, Gonzalez became comandante general of Chihuahua, his term of office on the west coast having expired. Arce showed himself a less thorough yorkino than his confrere of Durango. Although unable to resist the popular clamor for the expulsion of the Spaniards, he soon quarreled with the legislature, which declared itself firmly for Guerrero, and announcing his support of Bustamante’s revolution, he suspended, in March 1830, eight members of that body, the vice-governor, and several other officials, and expelled them from the state. The course thus outlined was followed by Governor J. I. Madero, who succeeded in 1831, associated with J. J. Calvo as comandante general, stringent laws being issued against secret societies, which were supposed to be the main spring to the anti-clerical feeling among liberals.^[1]

This feeling was wide-spread, and at the first symptom of reaction against the government at Mexico, Durango displayed active approval. In May 1832, Jose Urrea, a rising officer, undertook to support the restoration of President Pedraza, and on July 20, Governor Elorriaga was reinstated, and the legislative minority overthrown together with Baca was brought back to assist in forming a new legislature, which met on September 1. Chihuahua showing no desire to imitate the evolutionary movement, Urrea prepared to invade the state. Comandante-general J.J.Calvo threatened to retaliate, and a conflict seemed imminent when the entry of Santa Ana into Mexico put an end to the charge of the administration to feel the public pulse, while he kept safely in the background till the turn of affairs should become clear.^[1]

One step was the banishment of Bishop Zubiria for resisting the law relating to priests and other encroachments on the church; another joined the western states in a short lived coalition for sustaining the federal system. No sooner, however, had Santa Ana turned upon his colleague in alarm at the imposing efforts of the clerical party, than legislature as well as governor followed the example by adopting, in July 1834, his plan of Cuernavaca, which put a check to reforms. But such was their lukewarmness in enforcing it that the commanding officer, Colonel J. I. Gutierrez, on September 3, at the head of the garrison, affirmed the plan, and at the same time declared the term of the legislature and governor expired. At a convention of citizens called by himself to select a new provisional ruler, he naturally obtained the vote, with P. J. Escalante for his deputy, and a council to guide the administration.^[1] Considering it for his interest to discountenance such radical dispositions of state authorities, Santa Ana ordered the reinstatement of Mendarozqueta, associated with Ochoa as comandante general. Gutierrez humbly yielded, but Escalante refused to surrender office, midst riotous demonstrations, whereupon troops were summoned from Zacatecas. Their approach gave force to the mediation of the returned prelate, and the change was effected without bloodshed. The ensuing election brought a new legislature, with governors conforming to the change of aspects. Nevertheless, in September 1835 political influence brought in as ruler Jose Urrea, of federalist tendencies, whose different revolutionary efforts had brought him to the grade of brigadier, with an ambition to gain further distinction.^[1]

In Chihuahua, where the reaction under Farias had found less active response, the Cuernavaca plan was adopted in July 1834, with quiet deference to the national decision. At the same time the old favorite, Simon Elias Gonzalez, lately comandante general, was nominated governor, while the supreme authorities conferred the military command upon Colonel J. J. Calvo, whose firmness had earned well-merited praise. The state was in the midst of a war with the Apaches, which required the concentration of all energies and resources for defence. After a review of the situation, Simon Elias Gonzalez declared that the interests of the territory would be best served by uniting the civil and military power, at least while the campaign lasted. Opposition being made, he firmly insisted, and resigned. This exemplary abnegation was not lost, for in 1837 he was renominated with acclamation.^[1] yea whatever

Chihuahua is subdivided into 67 municipios (municipalities). See municipalities of Chihuahua.

Metropolitan cathedral of Chihuahua city

Chihuahua during a snowfall.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w History Of The North Mexican States And Texas, Vol. II 1801-1889, San Francisco,The History Company, Publishers,1889, Chapter 24