San Luis Potosí

/sahn' looh ees" paw'taw see"/

1. a state in central Mexico. 1,527,000; 24,415 sq. mi. (63,235 sq. km).

2. the capital of this state. 303,000.

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I

City (pop., 2000: 629,208), capital of San Luis Potosí state, Mexico.

Situated on the central plateau, it is about 6,100 ft (1,850 m) above sea level. Founded as a Franciscan mission in 1583 and made a city in 1658, it was the centre of the region's colonial administration. It was the site of Benito Juárez's government in 1863. In 1910 Francisco Madero drew up the basic social and political program of the Mexican Revolution in the city. It is the hub of a rich silver mining and agricultural region and is a leading manufacturing, metal smelting, and refining centre.

II

State (pop., 2000: 2,299,360), northeastern Mexico.

It has an area of 24,351 sq mi (63,068 sq km), and its capital is San Luis Potosí. It is a fertile area, and crops are cultivated in the uplands and in the lower tropical valleys. Livestock raising is important, and hides, tallow, and wool are exported. Some of the richest silver mines in Mexico are located in the state.

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▪ Mexico

 city, capital of San Luis Potosí estado (state), northeastern Mexico. It is situated on the Mesa Central at an elevation of 6,158 feet (1,877 metres) above sea level, giving it a temperate climate. Founded as a Franciscan mission in 1583 and made a city in 1658, San Luis Potosí was the centre of the region's colonial government and mining operations. It played an important part in the political disorders following Mexico's independence, and for a brief time in 1863 it was the seat of Benito Juárez (Juárez, Benito)'s government. It was there that Francisco Madero (Madero, Francisco) drew up his Plan of San Luis Potosí (1910), which contained the political and social goals for the Mexican Revolution against Porfirio Díaz (Díaz, Porfirio).

      The city, the largest urbanized area in the state, is the hub of a rich mining (silver, gold, lead, and copper) and agricultural region and is an important centre for manufacturing, metal smelting, and oil refining. It is known for its Spanish Baroque-style cathedral, the state capitol, and several ornately decorated churches. The city is the site of Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (1826; present status 1923). It is on major highway and railroad routes and has an international airport. Pop. (2000) city, 629,208; urban agglom., 850,828.

▪ state, Mexico

 estado (state), northeastern Mexico. It is bounded by the states of Coahuila to the north; Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz to the east; Hidalgo, Querétaro, and Guanajuato to the south; and Jalisco and Zacatecas to the west. The capital, the city of San Luis Potosí, is located in the southwest.

      Although the relief is generally level, the state's mean elevation is about 6,000 feet (1,800 metres). Precipitation is light and infrequent, but the state's eastern corner, which drops toward the Gulf of Mexico's coastal plain, is generally humid. The soil is fertile, and in favourable seasons large crops are cultivated in the uplands and in the lower tropical valleys. The principal crops are corn (maize), beans, wheat, and cotton. Livestock raising is important, and hides and wool are exported. Some of the richest silver (silver processing) mines in Mexico are located in northern San Luis Potosí. Gold, copper, and zinc are also mined. The state has good transportation networks; San Luis Potosí city is on a major highway and railroad that connect Piedras Negras (in Coahuila) and Mexico City via Monterrey (in Nuevo León).

      In prehistoric times the region was home to Huastec, Chichimec, and Guachichile Indians. Their descendants make up a large segment of the state's present population, and many of them speak an indigenous language.

      State government is headed by a governor, who is elected to a single six-year term. Members of the unicameral legislature (the House of Deputies) serve for terms of three years. The state government can levy taxes, but it depends on the federal government for most of its revenue. The state is divided into several local governmental units called municipios (municipalities); each is headquartered in a city, town, or village that administers the surrounding rural areas.

      San Luis Potosí has become part of Mexico's so-called “hollow core” because many residents have left to seek jobs in the Federal District, along the U.S.-Mexican border, or farther north. Area 24,351 square miles (63,068 square km). Pop. (2000) 2,299,360; (2005) 2,410,414.

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