Coahuila, officially known as Estado de Coahuila de Zaragoza, stands as a significant state in northern Mexico, sharing a border with the United States, specifically Texas, to its north and northeast. It is further bordered by the Mexican states of Nuevo León to the east, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas to the south, and Durango and Chihuahua to the west. Saltillo, a city steeped in history and culture, serves as its capital.
Coahuila, Mexico Locator Map
Coahuila’s geography is remarkably diverse, bisected by the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, stretching from the Rio Grande (known as Río Bravo del Norte in Mexico) down to Torreón in the southwest. The eastern part of the state is characterized by cool, humid highlands, which host most of Coahuila’s settlements, including its capital, Saltillo. In stark contrast, western Coahuila presents a vast expanse of arid desert landscape. For those seeking natural beauty, Balneario de los Novillos National Park, located in the northeast, offers breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities.
The history of Coahuila dates back to 1575 with the establishment of the first Spanish settlement in Saltillo, initially part of the Nueva Vizcaya province. A significant demographic shift occurred when colonial authorities brought Tlaxcala Indians from central Mexico to “civilize” the indigenous nomadic and seminomadic Chichimec peoples of the region. Historically, Coahuila and Texas were united as a single state in 1824. However, this union dissolved when U.S. settlers in Texas declared independence in 1836. The Mexican-American War saw the strategically important Battle of Buena Vista in 1847 fought near Saltillo. Coahuila briefly merged with Nuevo León in 1857 but regained its status as a separate state in 1868.
Coahuila operates under a governmental structure led by a governor, elected for a single six-year term. The state’s legislative power resides in a unicameral House of Deputies, with members elected for three-year terms. For local administration, Coahuila is divided into municipios, which are governmental units similar to municipalities, each encompassing a city or town and its surrounding areas, or clusters of villages.
Agriculture in western Coahuila has been made possible through irrigation, though water scarcity has posed challenges to productivity. Key agricultural products include cotton, grapes, and various fruits. Corn, wheat, and beans are also cultivated. Southern Coahuila is particularly renowned for its long-standing tradition of wine and brandy production. The state is rich in mineral resources, including lead, fluorite, barite, cadmium, copper, zinc, gold, silver, and iron. Notably, Coahuila holds Mexico’s largest coal reserves. Manufacturing in Coahuila is largely driven by maquiladoras, export-oriented assembly plants, producing goods like automobile parts and beverages.
Beyond Saltillo and Torreón, other important urban centers in Coahuila include Parras de la Fuente, a significant rail hub, and the maquiladora centers of Ciudad Acuña and Piedras Negras. These border cities face Del Rio and Eagle Pass in Texas, respectively, across the Rio Grande, facilitating cross-border trade and movement. Coahuila benefits from robust transportation infrastructure, including air and rail networks, and is traversed by a major highway connecting Piedras Negras and Mexico City, enhancing its connectivity within Mexico. Covering an area of 57,908 square miles (149,982 square km), Coahuila had a population of 3,146,771 in 2020.
