Mexico (state, Mexico)

Mexico (state, Mexico), state in east central Mexico, surrounding the Distrito Federal (Federal District) which is the location of Mexico City, the capital of the country, on all but the south side. It is the most important and populous state in the country. Mexico State also is bordered by the states of Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Michoacán, and Guerrero. Three important rivers—the Pánuco, Lerma, and Balsas—are found in Mexico; the volcanoes Popocatépetl, 5,452 m (17,887 ft) high, and Iztaccíhuatl, 5,286 m (17,343 ft) high, are located in the southeast corner of the state. Valle de Bravo, a wooded and mountainous region located west of the state's capital, Toluca (Toluca de Lerdo), is a popular weekend vacation site for residents of Mexico City. In eastern Mexico is the remaining portion of Lake Texcoco; the lake once surrounded the capital of the Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlán, over whose ruins Mexico City was built. Northeast of Mexico City is Teotihuacán, a city constructed by the Toltec people; it is one of Mexico's most important and frequently visited archaeological sites, with pyramids dating from the 1st century ad.

Mexico State has high concentrations of industry as well as many important agricultural regions. The state is a leading producer of potatoes, corn, wheat, cattle, alfalfa, and fruit. The industrial belt between Toluca and Mexico City is on one of the country's newest and largest highways, and the main western rail line from Mexico City passes through Toluca. Other important cities include Texcoco de Mora; Netzahualcóyotl, one of Mexico's fastest-growing cities; and Tlalnepantla. An international airport is located at Toluca.

Mexico State received its name at the end of the 18th century, but its initial boundaries were established at Mexico's independence in 1824; Toluca became the capital in 1830. Beginning in 1948, Mexico began providing the Mexico City metropolitan area with much of its drinking water through an extensive series of concrete canals and tunnels through the surrounding mountains; one of these tunnels, the Atarasquillo-Dos Ríos (14.3 km/8.9 mi long), is one of the largest in the world. Area, 21,196 sq km (8,184 sq mi); population (2005) 14,007,495.