Yucatán

Yucatán, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán, is one of the 31 states that, together with Mexico City, make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It has 106 separate municipalities, and its capital city is Mérida. The state is located on the northern part of the Yucatán Peninsula, with the Gulf of Mexico along its northern coast. It shares borders with the states of Campeche to the southwest and Quintana Roo to the southeast.

Long before Europeans arrived, the area was a key part of the Maya civilization. The Maya built famous cities such as Chichen Itza, Izamal, Motul, Mayapan, Ek' Balam, and Ichkanzihóo, which is now the site of Mérida.

When the Spaniards arrived, they began the Spanish conquest of Yucatán. After Mexico gained independence in 1821, Yucatán first joined the First Mexican Empire and later the Federal Republic of United Mexican States. However, Yucatán declared independence twice, once in 1841 and again during the Caste War of Yucatán, before finally rejoining Mexico in 1848. Later, parts of Yucatán became the separate states of Campeche and Quintana Roo.

Etymology

See also: Yucatán Peninsula § Etymology

Before Spaniards arrived in the Yucatán Peninsula, the region was called Mayab. In the Yucatec Maya language, mayab means "flat," and this is where the word "Maya" comes from.

The name Yucatán came from early explorers from Europe. Three ideas explain where the name came from. Two of them involve the Maya inhabitants misunderstanding the Spanish explorers around 1517. One idea says the Spanish named the area Yucatán because the Maya answered with uh yu ka t'ann, meaning hear how they talk. Another idea says the Maya replied Ma'anaatik ka t'ann, meaning I do not understand your speech or I do not understand you.

The third idea comes from Bernal Díaz del Castillo. In his book Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva España he says Yucatá means "land of yucas", a plant the Maya grew for food.

History

Pre-Columbian era

Main article: Maya civilization

The first people in the Yucatán area may have arrived thousands of years ago, during a time called the ice age. Evidence from caves suggests humans were present around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

Later, around 250 CE, the Maya people moved to the Yucatán Peninsula from nearby areas. They built important cities such as Chichén Itzá, Izamal, and Mérida. Over time, new groups arrived and formed alliances, creating larger communities.

Exploration by Spanish soldiers

In 1517, Spanish explorer Francisco Hernández de Córdoba sailed from Cuba and reached the Yucatán Peninsula. His journey marked the beginning of European contact with the region.

Spanish conquest

Main article: Spanish conquest of Yucatán

The Spanish conquest of Yucatán happened in the 1500s. Leaders like Francisco de Montejo worked for many years to bring the region under Spanish control. They established new cities such as Mérida, using materials from older Maya buildings.

Canek rebellion, during the colonial Yucatán

Main article: Jacinto Canek

In 1761, a Maya leader named Jacinto Canek led a short-lived uprising against Spanish rule. The rebellion was quickly stopped, and the leaders were punished. This event showed growing tensions between the local people and Spanish rulers.

Yucatán in independent Mexico

Main article: Mexican War of Independence

Yucatán declared independence from Spain in 1821 and later joined Mexico. However, it sometimes operated independently, forming its own republic twice in the 1800s.

Republic of Yucatán

Main article: Republic of Yucatán

Yucatán declared itself a republic in 1823 and again later in 1841. During this time, it had its own flag and government, though it eventually rejoined Mexico.

Flag of the Republic of Yucatán

Main article: Flag of the Republic of Yucatán

The flag used during Yucatán's time as a republic had green, red, and white sections with five stars, representing the region's divisions.

Caste War

Main article: Caste War of Yucatán

From 1847 to 1901, a long conflict called the Caste War happened between Maya people and those of European descent. The war caused many changes in the region's borders and governance.

The henequen industry

Main article: Henequen industry in Yucatán

In the late 1800s, Yucatán became famous for growing henequen, a plant used to make strong rope. This industry brought great wealth to the region and helped build beautiful buildings in Mérida. Workers from Korea also came to help with this industry.

Late 20th century

Yucatán connected more with the rest of Mexico in the mid-1900s through railways and highways. Airports opened in places like Cozumel and Cancún, making tourism important to the local economy. Today, Yucatán remains a popular place for visitors and is home to many Maya people.

Geography

The State of Yucatán is found on the Yucatán Peninsula. It shares borders with the states of Campeche to the southwest and Quintana Roo to the east and southeast. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the north and west. The land in Yucatán is very flat, with only small changes in height, except for the Puuc hills in the southern part.

Demography

Largest cities

Languages

The most common local language in Yucatán is Yucatec Maya, used by around 800,000 people in Yucatán and nearby areas. Spanish in this region includes many words from the Mayan language.

Korean immigration

In 1905, 1,003 Korean immigrants arrived in Mérida after a long journey from Chemulpo. They worked on farms for four years and later spread out, forming families and creating a new community.

Government and politics

Government

The Constitution of Yucatán says that the government of Yucatán, like all other states in Mexico, has three parts: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.

The executive power is held by the governor of Yucatán. The governor is chosen by the people through a secret vote for a six-year term and cannot be reelected. The legislative power is in the Congress of Yucatán, which is made up of 25 deputies in a single group. The judicial power is in the High Court of Justice of Yucatán and its smaller courts.

Municipalities

Main article: Municipalities of Yucatán

The State of Yucatán is split into 106 areas called municipalities. Each municipality has a municipal president, also known as a mayor. Most municipalities are named after the main city in that area. For example, the main city of the municipality of Mérida is the city of Mérida.

Politics

The 2024 local election in Yucatán happened on June 2. Joaquín Díaz Mena was chosen to become the new governor, replacing Mauricio Vila Dosal.

Media

Yucatán has several newspapers. Some of these include Artículo 7, De Peso (Mérida), Diario de Yucatán, La I Noticias para Mí Mérida, Milenio Novedades (Antes El Mundo al Día), and Por Esto! (Yucatán).

Food

Yucatecan food is special and different from most Mexican foods. It has influences from the local Maya culture, as well as from the Caribbean, European, African, Middle Eastern, and other parts of Mexico.

There are many tasty dishes in this area, such as:

• Poc Chuc, a Maya-style barbecued pork.
• Salbutes and Panuchos. Salbutes are soft tortillas with lettuce, tomato, turkey, and avocado. Panuchos are fried tortillas filled with black beans and topped with turkey, chicken, lettuce, avocado, and pickled onions. Habanero chiles are often added to dishes, along with fresh limes and corn tortillas.
• Queso relleno, a dish with ground pork inside a carved Edam cheese ball, served with tomato sauce.
• Pavo en Relleno Negro, a turkey stew cooked with a special black paste made from roasted chiles.
• Sopa de Lima, a lime soup with meat like turkey, chicken, or pork, served with tortilla chips.
• Papadzules, egg tacos with pumpkin seed sauce and tomatoes.
• Cochinita Pibil, a famous marinated pork dish.
• Xcatik, a type of chili.
• Pavo en Relleno Blanco, a turkey stew similar to Pavo en Relleno Negro.
• Xnipec, a spicy salsa made with habanero chiles and Seville orange juice

Safety

See also: Yucatán State Police

As of 2016 the Mexican National Public Security System ranked Yucatán among the safest Mexican states. It is one of the two states the U.S. advises its citizens to exercise normal precautions, alongside neighbouring Campeche. Yucatán is the safest state in Mexico and Mérida was awarded City of Peace in 2011.

The Yucatán State Police is the law enforcement agency inside the state. The security in the interior of the state was praised multiple times by former president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, local and foreign businessmen, as well as by governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco.