San Luis Potosí

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Lore & Background

In pre-Columbian times, the territory now occupied by the state of San Luis Potosí contained parts of the cultural areas of Mesoamerica and Aridoamerica. Its northern and western-central areas were inhabited by the Otomi and Chichimeca tribes, nomadic hunter-gatherers. Huasteco groups still live, along with Pame and Náhua peoples. In 1592, gold and silver deposits were discovered, which triggered the establishment of the state. Spanish miners established the first town known as 'San Luis de Mezquitique', modern location of the capital San Luis Potosí. This led to Juan de Oñate being appointed as the first mayor. The State was given the name 'San Luis Rey', King Saint Louis, in honor of Louis IX of France, and 'Potosí' because the wealth of the state compared to the rich silver mines in Potosí, Bolivia. Settlers had hopes of rivaling the wealth of the Bolivian mine, but this was never truly accomplished. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Franciscans, Augustinians, and Jesuits arrived in the area and settled, then began to build churches and other buildings, many of which are still standing and have been turned into museums and universities.

Reader's Guide

In mid-1821, after the Independence of Mexico, General Jose Antonio Echavarri intimidated and threatened the Mayor and the City Council to surrender the city of San Luis to the Army of the Three Guarantees of Agustín de Iturbide. They submitted to his demand, as there was no way to resist, and thus proclamation of Independence of San Luis Potosí was declared. The first Constitution of San Luis Potosí was then written on October 16, 1826, and was in effect until 1835 when Congress proclaimed it centralist. The state's participation in the Mexican–American War in 1846–1847 gave it the name 'San Luis de la Patria', for having contributed important leaders and ideas during the struggle with the United States. During the French Intervention in 1863, the city of San Luis Potosí became the capital of the country under the order of President Benito Juárez. The state lies mostly on the Mexican Plateau, with the eastern part breaking down into the tropical valley of the Tampaon River. The Sierra Madre Oriental runs north and south through the state, separating the Mexican Plateau from the Gulf Coastal Plain. The eastern quarter of the state is known as the Huasteca potosina. The state has several protected natural areas, including El Gogorrón National Park and El Potosí National Park, both declared in 1936. Mining remains a contested issue: in 1996, Minera San Xavier announced plans for open pit mining at Cerro San Pedro, which started operating in 2007 and was still disputed as of 2016. Additionally, a mountain within the state's declared National Sacred Site, Wirikuta, is being purchased for silver mining by First Majestic Silver, despite being claimed by UNESCO as a protected area on October 27, 2000, and declared a National Sacred Site on June 9, 2001.

Did You Know?

• The state was named after Louis IX of France and the silver mines of Potosí, Bolivia, though settlers' hopes of rivaling that wealth were never truly accomplished.
• During the French Intervention in 1863, the city of San Luis Potosí became the capital of the country under the order of President Benito Juárez.
• The state's participation in the Mexican–American War (1846–1847) earned it the name 'San Luis de la Patria'.
• The Cocinera lode in the Ramos district was said to have had a total yield of over $60,000,000 in the first decade of the 20th century.
• On October 27, 2000, UNESCO claimed Wirikuta as a protected area for its importance as a cultural route and endemic species, and it was later declared a National Sacred Site on June 9, 2001.