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Coahuila (formal name: Coahuila de Zaragoza) is one of Mexico's 31 component states. It is located in the north of the country. To the north Coahuila accounts for a 512 km stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas along the course of the Rio Grande (Río Bravo del Norte). Coahuila also borders on the Mexican states of Nuevo León to the east; San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas to the south; and Durango and Chihuahua to the west. With an area of 151,571 km², it is the nation's third biggest state. It comprises 38 municipalities (municipios). In 2000 Coahuila had an estimated population of some 2,300,000 inhabitants. The capital of Coahuila is the city of Saltillo. Coahuila also includes the cities of Monclova (a former state capital), Piedras Negras, and Torreón. HistoryThe Spanish explored the north of Mexico some decades after their victory in the capital of the Aztecs. Such exploration was delayed because in the north climate was harsher, because there was no gold there, and because they were attacked by natives. In the 16th century, Mexico and Guatemala were included in the vice-royalty of New Spain which included Nueva Extremadura. Coahuila was part of Nueva Extremadura. Francisco Cano was one of the earliest Europeans to explore Nueva Extremadura. Coahuila y Tejas ("Coahuila and Texas") was one of the constituent states of the newly independent United Mexican States under its 1824 Constitution. Much of the territory of Texas seceded in 1836, to form the Republic of Texas. On February 19, 1856, Santiago Vidaurri annexed Coahuila to his state, Nuevo León. During the Mexican Revolution, Francisco Villa attacked the city of Torreón. On April 5, 2004, the border city of Piedras Negras was flooded. More than 30 people died and more than 4000 lost their homes.
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