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, during ancient times when small groups of hunter-gatherers lived in the area. These early people left behind stone tools and remains of large animals like mammoths.

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, each with their own ways of life.

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 that lasted until the arrival of Spanish explorers.

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 with a rich past.

Geography

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

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

The climate varies with altitude, with cooler temperatures in the highlands and warmer weather near the coast. The state is rich in forests, with trees like oak and pine, and wildlife including raccoons, deer, birds, and butterflies. Protected areas help preserve its natural beauty.

Economy

Michoacán's economy relies on farming, raising animals, growing forests, fishing, and making crafts. Most people work in farming (34%), mining and making things (23%), or selling goods (37%).

Farming uses over a million hectares of land, with main crops like 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 60% of the land, providing wood and resin, especially in the eastern highlands. Fishing is important along lakes, rivers, and the coast, with tilapia and carp being key catches. Mining occurs mainly in the east, with metals like silver and gold, as well as non-metallic minerals like sand and limestone. Factories are mostly around the capital, Morelia, making iron, steel, bottles, and paper products.

Transport

Michoacán has over 12,804 kilometers of roads for cars and buses. Important roads include Federal Highway 15 and the Morelia-Pátzcuaro highway. Buses connect towns within Michoacán and other parts of Mexico. Most of these buses are second class, with a smaller number being first class. Rail lines mainly run through the north and center of the state, mostly carrying goods to Mexico City and Guadalajara.

The main port in Michoacán is Lázaro Cárdenas, with almost 3,000 meters of docks used 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 produces 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 is well-known for acting in the 1987 science fiction film Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

By 1995, Michoacán had eight television stations, though 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 offers public schools from preschool to high school. In places with enough children, formal preschool programs are available, while smaller towns have less formal options. By 1996, there were thousands of primary schools with many students and teachers. Some students leave school early mainly because of poverty.

At the secondary level, many students choose vocational studies or learn through distance education. There are both public and private colleges and universities, including the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo in Morelia. This university has a long history, with its earliest roots going back to 1540, making it one of the oldest in the Americas.

Tourism

Michoacán is a place with many tasty foods, like carnitas, cotija cheese, guacamole, and tamales. The state has many beautiful places to visit, split into different areas around big 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. Every year, it hosts music festivals, dance competitions, and movie events. There are also natural places to explore, like hot springs and parks.

Uruapan has a mix of nature and history, with 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, surf, and enjoy nature.

Pátzcuaro is rich in history and culture, with old towns, museums, and special celebrations like Noche de Muertos, a festival where people honor their ancestors with altars and candles.

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 beautiful 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 the election of Vicente Fox in 2000, there was a sudden increase in crime in Michoacán. As political power changed, criminal groups grew stronger, causing danger and instability. These groups sometimes work closely with local officials, making it hard for the government to stop them.

Criminal groups in Michoacán are often more powerful than local police. Even avocado farmers, who are important to the state's economy, had to form their own groups to protect themselves. This happened because the local police were not always helpful or were sometimes involved with the criminals.

When President Felipe Calderón sent troops to fight these groups in 2006, it led to even more violence. Michoacán has one of the highest rates of violent incidents in Mexico. Some criminal groups, like the Knights Templar Cartel, took control of parts of the state before losing power, but the violence continued.

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

Demographics

Michoacán is the seventh most populated state in Mexico. The average resident lives about 73 years. Each year, around 40,000 people move to Michoacán, but about 78,000 leave. Many of those leaving go to other parts of Mexico or to the United States.

The biggest cities in Michoacán are Morelia, Uruapan, and Zamora. Most people in Michoacán are mestizos, which means they have both indigenous and European (mainly from Spain) roots, with some African heritage. The state is known for its strong Catholic traditions.

Charreada is a popular sport in Michoacán. It celebrates the heritage of the mestizo culture, where indigenous people and Spaniards worked together. The sport remembers how both sides in the Mexican Revolution used skilled riders, called charros, for various roles.

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

About seven percent of Michoacán’s 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 like Noche de Muertos.

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