Northern Mexico

Northern Mexico Location

Northern Mexico (Spanish: el Norte de México), commonly referred as El Norte or Aridoamerica, is the cultural and geographical area that contains the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Sonora and Tamaulipas. In fact there is not a border that separates northern states of the southern states in Mexico. For some authors, only states that have border with the US are considered as northern Mexico, but this description would exclude Durango, Sinaloa, Nuevo León and Baja California Sur. Other people considers that the north starts above the tropic of cancer, but this description would include some parts of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí that aren't considered as northern states.

History

Before colonization

It is not known exactly when the first men came to Aridoamérica. The bad weather in the region limited the practice of agriculture, so ancient cultures developed a nomadic lifestyle dedicated to hunting and gathering.

One of the most importants native cultures at northern Mexico are the Tepehuanes in Durango, who actually, are named the Odamis that means "people from the mountains ". Something similar happens with the Raramuris in Chihuahua, Raramuri means "people who run", but they are known as Tarahumaras. Other importants cultures are Mayos and Yaquis in Sonora and Laguneros in Coahuila. In Nuevo Leon, there were a lot of nomads who where exterminated for resisting the construction of Monterrey.

Colonial era

The first city of the region that was founded was Durango, that was founded by Francisco de Ibarra, a basque explorer. During the colonial era, Durango, Chihuahua and some parts of Sinaloa and Coahuila where a basque colony named the Nueva Vizacaya. In fact, nowadays, most part of duranguenses are basque descendants. Other important cities like Monterrey were founded almost 50 years later.

States

Baja California	Baja California Sur	Chihuahua
Mexicali	La Paz	Chihuahua
Coahuila	Durango	Nuevo León
Saltillo	Durango	Monterrey
Sinaloa	Sonora	Tamaulipas
Culiacán	Hermosillo	Ciudad Victoria