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This article is about the state in Mexico. For the capital city of that state, see Durango, Durango. For other uses, see Durango (disambiguation).
Durango (Spanish pronunciation: [duˈɾaŋɡo]) is one of the constituent states of Mexico, with a population of 1,509,118.[1] It has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja California Sur. The city of Durango is the state's capital.
[edit] HistoryFrancisco de Ibarra, the first to colonize Durango, settled this part of the vast northern province of Nueva Vizcaya in 1563, when he founded the capital city and named it Durango for the Basque town Durango, Biscay, Spain, Europe. The foundation was just one in his larger program of initiating settlements throughout the province. This was a late colonization for the Spanish, due mostly to heavy resistance by the indigenous population. From first contact to modern times, the indigenous peoples have attempted to gain some autonomy, address grievances, and maintain traditional land ownership. Spanish colonists became highly attracted to the Durango area for its mining and grazing prospects. In 1823, shortly after victory over Spain in the Mexican War of Independence, Durango earned the right to become a separate state. [edit] GeographyThe state of Durango is bordered to the north by Chihuahua, to the north-east by Coahuila, to the south-east by Zacatecas, to the south-west by Nayarit, and to the west by Sinaloa. Most of the state is heavily mountainous and a good part forested; the Sierra Madre Occidental occupies the western and central part of the state. This mountain range contains a good supply of minerals, including the silver that encouraged Spanish occupation of the territory after it was discovered. These mines extend north into Chihuahua and south into the state of Zacatecas. Vast desert basins in the Laguna District are irrigated by the Nazas River. Major crops grown in the area include cotton, wheat, corn, alfalfa, beans, sorghum, and other vegetables. Durango is famous for its scorpions. Mexicans generally refer to the people of Durango as Alacrán de Durango (Scorpions from Durango). The demonym for the natives of Durango is Duranguense(s). The major occupations in Durango are farming, lumbering and ranching. [edit] DemographyAccording to the last census that took place in 2005, Durango, with just over a million and a half inhabitants, occupies the 24th position within the 32 federal entitiesregarding population, and reports an average growth rate so low that it would take more than 250 years to double its number of inhabitants. Despite the low demographic density it contains, only 12 inhabitants per sq. km., 60% of the population concentrate in only three of the 39 state municipalities : Durango, Gomez Palacios and Lerdo. The rest live in small and disperse localities, for as much as 6,258 communities can be found in the state, 82% of which have less than 100 inhabitants. Only 2% of the population over 5 years of age speak a native dialect, 80% of which belong to the Tepehuana ethnic group, a native culture from Durango. Other smaller indigenous groups include the Huicholes and the Mexicaneros, the latter of an unknown descent and who speak the Nahuatl tongue. Some 67% of the population live in urban areas, below the 76% national average. Even so, the migration of people from the rural zones towards urban environments represents a serious issue for the government of Durango because it implies satisfying a high demand for public services and utilities. [edit] MunicipalitiesDurango is divided into 39 municipalities (municipios). See municipalities of Durango. Durango has recently experienced an increase in organized crime and vandalism. [edit] Major communities
[edit] Popular culture
[edit] Notable people[edit] References
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 24°56′05″N 104°54′43″W / 24.93472°N 104.91194°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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