Michoacán

Michoacán, formally called Michoacán de Ocampo, is one of the 31 states that make up Mexico. Its capital city is Morelia, which used to be called Valladolid. Morelia was named to honor José María Morelos, a hero of the Mexican War of Independence.

The state is in western Mexico and has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean. It borders several other states, including Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, the State of México, and Guerrero.

Michoacán means "place of the fishermen" in Nahuatl, an ancient language. Long ago, the area was home to the powerful Purépecha Empire, which was one of the biggest empires in Mexico before the Spanish conquest. Today, many Purépecha people still live there.

The state is famous for its beautiful places, such as Lake Pátzcuaro and the nearby pyramids. Every year, people in towns like Janitzio and Pátzcuaro hold wonderful celebrations for the Day of the Dead. The Parícutin volcano, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is also found in Michoacán near the city of Uruapan. Because of its rich history and lovely sights, Michoacán is often called "the soul of Mexico".

History

The history of Michoacán begins very early, when small groups of people lived in the area. These early people left behind stone tools and remains of large animals.

Later, during a time called the Preclassic period, people began to live in villages and farm. They made pottery and lived in places like El Opeño. As time went on, different cultures grew in the region.

In the Classic period, some villages grew into bigger centers with buildings and places for ceremonies. These centers had links with other cultures far away.

Eventually, the Purépecha people formed a powerful state centered around Lake Pátzcuaro. They were skilled in working with metal and had a strong empire.

When the Spanish came in the 16th century, they took control of the area. They built cities, started farms, and set up missions. The capital of Michoacán was moved several times before settling in what is now Morelia.

Throughout its history, Michoacán has seen many changes, from ancient cultures to Spanish rule and into the modern era. Today, it remains an important part of Mexico.

Geography

Michoacán is a state in west-central Mexico. It borders Jalisco, Guerrero, Estado de México, Guanajuato, Querétaro, and Colima. It has a coastline on the Pacific Ocean and covers 58,836.95 km².

The state has many different landscapes. These include mountain ranges like the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, as well as valleys and coastal areas. Michoacán is home to lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, such as Lake Pátzcuaro and the Lerma and Balsas rivers.

The climate changes with height. It is cooler in the highlands and warmer near the coast. The state has many forests with trees like oak and pine. Wildlife includes raccoons, deer, birds, and butterflies. Protected areas help keep its natural beauty safe.

Economy

Michoacán's economy is based on farming, raising animals, growing forests, fishing, and making crafts. Many people work in farming, mining, making things, or selling goods.

Farming uses a lot of land. Main crops include corn, avocados, and strawberries. Michoacán is the top avocado producer in Mexico and the world. The state also raises cattle, chickens, sheep, goats, and pigs.

Forests cover much of the land, providing wood and resin. Fishing is important along lakes, rivers, and the coast. Key catches include tilapia and carp. Mining happens mainly in the east, with metals like silver and gold, and minerals like sand and limestone. Factories are mostly around the capital, Morelia, making iron, steel, bottles, and paper products.

Transport

Michoacán has many roads for cars and buses. Important roads include Federal Highway 15 and the Morelia-Pátzcuaro highway. Buses connect towns in Michoacán and other parts of Mexico. Most buses are second class, with a few first class.

Rail lines go through the north and center of the state, mostly carrying goods to Mexico City and Guadalajara.

The main port in Michoacán is Lázaro Cárdenas. It has long docks for shipping minerals and grains. The state has two big international airports: Morelia International Airport and Uruapan International Airport. There are also smaller airports in Zamora and Lázaro Cárdenas. Michoacán makes a lot of electricity from dams on the Balsas, Lerma, and Tepalcatepec rivers.

Two new cable car projects are being built, one in Morelia and another in Uruapan. The Uruapan cable car opened in April 2026.

Media

Michoacán is home to a famous actress named Elpidia Carrillo. She acted in the 1987 science fiction film Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

By 1995, Michoacán had eight television stations, but seven were not working. The state also had a network of educational television with 528 broadcast antennas.

The state has several newspapers and news websites, such as La Opinión de Apatzingán, a. m. de La Piedad, Diario ABC de Michoacán, El Diario Grande de Michoacán Provincia, El Sol de Morelia, El Sol de Zamora, Frecuencia Informativa Escrita, La Jornada Michoacán, La Opinión de Michoacán, and La Voz de Michoacán.

Education

Michoacán has public schools from preschool to high school. In places with enough children, there are preschool programs. Smaller towns have less formal options. By 1996, there were thousands of primary schools.

Many students choose vocational studies or distance education at the secondary level. There are public and private colleges and universities, including the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo in Morelia. This university is one of the oldest in the Americas, with its earliest roots going back to 1540.

Tourism

Michoacán is a place with many tasty foods, like carnitas, cotija cheese, guacamole, and tamales. The state has many beautiful places to visit around cities such as Morelia, Uruapan, Pátzcuaro, Zamora, Lázaro Cárdenas, and Zitácuaro.

Morelia is famous for its old buildings, like a big church and an old water system. It has music festivals, dance competitions, and movie events. There are also natural places to explore, like hot springs and parks.

Uruapan has forests, farms, and old buildings. It is home to the narrowest house in the world, and there are waterfalls and dams to see. The town of Paracho is known for making great guitars and musical instruments.

The Lázaro Cárdenas area has long sandy beaches where people can swim and surf.

Pátzcuaro has old towns, museums, and special celebrations like Noche de Muertos, a festival where people honor their ancestors.

Zamora is known for its crafts, like pottery and embroidery, and for its delicious local foods.

Zitácuaro is famous for its forests where monarch butterflies live during the winter. There are special places to see these butterflies, and the area also has old mining towns and interesting crafts.

Michoacán has ten special towns called Pueblos Mágicos, including Pátzcuaro, Tlalpujahua, and Paracho.

Crime

After Vicente Fox was elected in 2000, crime in Michoacán increased quickly. As leaders changed, criminal groups became stronger, creating danger and unrest. These groups sometimes worked with local leaders, making it tough for the government to stop them.

In Michoacán, criminal groups are often stronger than the local police. Even important avocado farmers had to create their own protection groups because the police were not always helpful or sometimes worked with the criminals.

When President Felipe Calderón sent troops in 2006 to fight these groups, it caused even more violence. Michoacán has high rates of violent events in Mexico. Some groups, like the Knights Templar Cartel, controlled parts of the state before losing power, but the violence kept going.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some criminal groups tried to gain more influence by helping communities, making it harder for the government to manage the situation. The United States Bureau of Consular Affairs warned people not to travel to Michoacán because of the ongoing dangers.

Demographics

Michoacán is one of the most populated states in Mexico. People there usually live about 73 years. Many people move to Michoacán each year, but even more leave for other places in Mexico or the United States.

The largest cities are Morelia, Uruapan, and Zamora. Most people in Michoacán are mestizos, meaning they have both indigenous and European roots, mainly from Spain, with some African heritage. The state has strong Catholic traditions.

Charreada is a popular sport in Michoacán. It celebrates the culture where indigenous people and Spaniards worked together. The sport remembers skilled riders, called charros, from the Mexican Revolution.

Michoacán has immigrants from Italy, Spain, and France. Small Italian communities live in places like Nueva Italia, Michoacán. During the Spanish Civil War, children from Spain found safety in Morelia.

About seven percent of the people are indigenous, mostly Purépecha. They live in areas such as the Meseta-Cañada, Pátzcuaro Lake, Zirahuén Lake, and Zacapu regions. Other groups include Mazahua, Otomi, and Purépecha in eastern areas, and Aquila, Chinicuila, and Coahuayana on the coast. The Purépecha people are known for their strong Catholic faith and traditions.

According to the 2020 Census, around 1.55% of Michoacán’s population identified as Black, Afro-Mexican, or of African descent.

Municipalities

Main article: Municipalities of Michoacán

Michoacán, like all states in Mexico, is divided into smaller areas called municipalities. There are 113 of these in Michoacán.

Major communities

• Apatzingán
• Churumuco
• Ciudad Hidalgo
• Coalcomán
• Cotija
• El Rodeo de San Antonio
• Irimbo
• Jacona de Plancarte
• Jiquilpan
• Jungapeo
• La Huacana
• La Piedad de Cavadas
• Lázaro Cárdenas
• Los Reyes
• Maravatio
• Morelia
• Nueva Italia
• Pátzcuaro
• Puruandiro
• Quiroga
• Sahuayo de Morelos
• Santa Ana Maya
• Santa Ines
• Tacámbaro
• Tangancícuaro
• Tepalcatepec
• Uruapan
• Venustiano Carranza
• Villa Madero
• Villamar
• Yurécuaro
• Zacapu
• Zamora de Hidalgo
• Zináparo
• Zinapécuaro
• Zitácuaro