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Durango Facts

Durango Facts
Durango is a relatively large Mexican state located in north-central Mexico. Durango has a total land area of 47,613 square miles, which makes it fourth in physical size among all United Mexican States, but because it only has a population of just over 1.7 million people it is the thirtieth least densely populated state. Although located in northern Mexico and bordering several more desert states, Durango is known for its forested and mountainous landscape; two-thirds of the state is covered by the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain chain. The state is divided into four ecological regions: the semi-desert northeast, the Valley of the central part, the Sierras or mountains that cover most of the western part of the state, and the Las Quebradas of the far western part of the state.
Interesting Durango Facts:
During the Spanish colonial period, Durango was part of an administrative division known as Nuevo Vizcaya, which included the future state of Chihuahua to the north.
Durango was the seventeenth state admitted into the United Mexican States on May 22, 1824.
The state is much more rural and less developed than most other Mexican states. Because of its lack of development, farming is still the most common profession in the state. In recent years, the timber has made major strides in Durango, as more than 40% of the state is covered in timber.
During the Reform War (1857-1860), Durango was at first under the control of the Liberals, but the Conservative later took control of the state after the French Invasion of 1861.
Durango has traditionally been known as a lawless place where outlaws have gone to hideout. In the late 1800s, Apache Indians often hid out in the state's mountains, as did American and Mexican outlaws. More recently, drug kingpins such as the notorious El Chapo have hidden out in Durango.
The Las Quebradas region is known for its rugged canyons and raging rivers. This region attracted prospectors in the nineteenth century when several silver and gold deposits were discovered.
The capital and largest city of Durango is Victoria de Durango, often referred to as Durango City. Durango has a metropolitan area of nearly 700,000 people.
During the golden age of the Hollywood westerns, from the 1950s through the 1970s, scores of films were made in Durango.
The longest river in Durango is the Nazas River. The Nazas flows east from the Sierra Madre Occidental for about 375 miles.
Two branches of the Pan-American highway cut across Durango.
Durango was an active location during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Many revolutionary leaders lived there and others traveled through the state and recruited Duranguenese men.
Durango has an average temperature of about 60°F. The summers can be quite hot but snow is not uncommon in the winter, especially in the mountains.
The endangered Mexican gray wolf was once common throughout the state but can now only be found very rarely in the northwestern part of Durango


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