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Queretaro Facts

Queretaro Facts
Queretaro is one of the smallest states in Mexico at 4,517 square miles it is twenty-seventh among the thirty-one states and the Federal District of Mexico city. Despite its small land area, Queretaro is somewhat densely populated, with more than two million people, making it the seventh most densely populated Mexican state and twenty-second in overall population. Located in north-central Mexico, just north of Mexico City, Queretaro has been the scene during many of Mexico's important historical periods, from the Pre-Columbian era to the present. Queretaro also has one of the most diverse topographies of any Mexican state, ranging from desert to rain forests and from plains to mountains.
Interesting Queretaro Facts:
The capital and largest city in Queretaro is Queretaro City, which has a metro population of more than one million people, or about half the state's population.
The name "Queretaro" is probably derived from an indigenous language, although the precise origin and meaning has been a subject of debate.
All of Queretaro is in the Central Standard Time Zone.
Queretaro has eighteen municipalities.
The Toltecs (AD 900-1200) were the most important Pre-Columbian culture to inhabit the region of Queretaro, but others did as well. Although the powerful Aztec Empire had influence over the region in the 1400s, it never incorporated the people into its empire.
Queretaro has one of the strongest economies of all Mexican states. The tourism and service industry comprises 57% of the state's GDP. The tourist sector is driven by a combination of well-preserved colonial era buildings and monuments and a growing interest in eco-tourism.
Queretaro has one of the best highway systems in Mexico. It has more than 350 miles of federal highways, which connect the state to Mexico City in the south and to other highways in the north that ultimately go to the United States. Queretaro's highway system is one of the features that has helped propel its economy, as the roads make shipping easier and allow tourists to travel to the state by land with far less hassle.
Las Ranas, Toluquilla, El Quirambal, and El Cerrito are the main Pre-Columbian archaeological sites open to visitors. El Cerrito features a large pyramid and Las Ranas has an intact Mesoamerican ballcourt.
Queretaro is enclosed by mountain chains, with the Sierra Madre Oriental range cutting through the northeast section of the state and the Sierra Nevada or Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt running east-west along the southern end of the state.
The Sierra Madre Oriental blocks moist air from coming into the region, which has created a semi-arid region across a large swath of central Queretaro.
The northern and southern thirds of Queretaro actually receive plenty of rain. The region of Sierra Gordo in northern Queretaro is home to two biosphere reserves.
Queretaro became the eleventh Mexican state on December 23, 1823.
Mining plays a big role in Queretaro's economy. Lead, silver, copper, and gold are just a few of the valuable mineral resources that are extracted in the state.
The Otomi is the largest indigenous group in Queretaro.
Queretaro's low crime rate and strong economy has drawn many migrants from the poor, crime ravaged northern Mexican states.


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