northern Mexico

{{See also|Southwestern United States#History}}{{expand section|date=June 2020}}

It is not known precisely when the first settlers came to northern Mexico. The harsh climate in the region limited the practice of agriculture, so ancient cultures developed a nomadic lifestyle dedicated to hunting and gathering.{{Cite web |last=Domínguez Chávez |first=Humberto |last2=Alfonso Carrillo Aguilar |first2=Rafael |title=Los pueblos recolectores y cazadores de Aridoamérica |url=https://portalacademico.cch.unam.mx/materiales/prof/matdidac/sitpro/hist/mex/mex1/HMI/Aridoamerica.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401000032/https://portalacademico.cch.unam.mx/materiales/prof/matdidac/sitpro/hist/mex/mex1/HMI |archive-date=Apr 1, 2023}}

One of the most important native cultures in northern Mexico are the Tepehuanes of Durango, whose autonym is Odami "people from the mountains".{{Cite web |title=Ódami. Tepehuanes del Norte |url=http://pueblosoriginarios.com/norte/suroeste/odami/odami.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123030625/https://pueblosoriginarios.com/norte/suroeste/odami/odami.html |archive-date=Jan 23, 2024}} Similarly, the Rarámuri "people who run" of Chihuahua are called the Tarahumaras by outsiders. Other important cultures are the Mayos in Sinaloa and Sonora, the Yaquis in Sonora, and the Laguneros of Laguna Pueblo in Coahuila. In Nuevo León, many nomads were exterminated for resisting the construction of Monterrey.{{Cite web |title=Historia y fundación de Monterrey |url=http://www.elclima.com.mx/historia_y_fundacion_de_monterrey.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003055441/https://www.elclima.com.mx/historia_y_fundacion_de_monterrey.htm |archive-date=Oct 3, 2023}}

The first city of the region was Durango, founded in 1563 by Francisco de Ibarra, a Basque explorer. During the colonial era, Durango, Chihuahua and some parts of Sinaloa and Coahuila were a Basque colony named the Nueva Vizcaya. Now, most Duranguenses are Basque descendants.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2011 |title=Siglos de Historia |url=https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/595895.siglos-de-historia.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003055441/https://www.elclima.com.mx/historia_y_fundacion_de_monterrey.htm |archive-date=Oct 3, 2023}} Other important cities like Monterrey were founded almost 50 years later.

The Spanish rulers expanded the northern frontier of the colony through centuries of difficult conquest.{{Cite book |last=Alonso |first=Ana Mar’a |url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=J7yBZUQTlnsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA22 |title=Thread of Blood: Colonialism, Revolution, and Gender on Mexico's Northern Frontier |date=November 1995 |publisher=University of Arizona Press |isbn=978-0-8165-1574-5 |language=en}} In the late 18th century, they established a punitive policy to defend against indigenous raids from the north.{{Cite journal |last=Park |first=Joseph F. |date=1962 |title=Spanish Indian Policy in Northern Mexico, 1765-1810 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40167885 |journal=Arizona and the West |volume=4 |issue=4 |pages=325–344 |issn=0004-1408}} During this period, they also established separate governance for the northern regions, which were thought of as "interior provinces" from the perspective of people in Mexico City.{{Cite book |last=Bancroft |first=Hubert Howe |url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=IaFFAQAAMAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA636 |title=History of the North Mexican States and Texas |last2=Oak |first2=Henry Lebbeus |last3=Peatfield |first3=Joseph Joshua |last4=Nemos |first4=William |date=1884 |publisher=History Company |language=en}}

File:Mexican Cession in Mexican View.PNG in the mid-19th century]]

Northern Mexico's proximity to the United States became a major factor in the region's postcolonial history, as the northern half of Mexico was annexed into the United States by the mid-19th century.{{Cite web |title=El Norte: The Overlooked History of Hispanic North America |url=https://www.andrews.edu/life/student-movement/issues/2024-10-04/id_norte.html |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.andrews.edu |language=en}} During the Porfiriato, the region's traditionally agricultural economy was disrupted as it became the focus of capital investments from the United States and the rest of Mexico.{{Cite book |last=Camín |first=Héctor Aguilar |url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=BUsu0Xky6iwC&oi=fnd&pg=PA9 |title=In the Shadow of the Mexican Revolution: Contemporary Mexican History, 1910–1989 |last2=Meyer |first2=Lorenzo |date=2010-06-04 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-0-292-79233-3 |language=en}}

Mexico sometimes feared the loss of Baja California, which had a particularly strong economic and geographic integration with the United States, due to its importance in protecting Pacific trade routes.{{Cite web |title=The Geopolitics of Northern Mexico - Foreign Policy Research Institute |url=https://www.fpri.org/article/2010/11/the-geopolitics-of-northern-mexico/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.fpri.org |language=en-US}}

Northern Mexican culture is very different from the culture in south and central Mexico. Northern Mexican opinion tends to be more conservative on average on cultural topics like abortion, gay marriage and legalization of marijuana,{{Cite web|url=https://distintaslatitudes.net/durango-en-busqueda-del-matrimonio-igualitario|title = Uno de los estados más conservadores de México en búsqueda del matrimonio igualitario|date = 13 February 2017}} but more liberal on topics like business or technology.{{Cite web|url=http://elojodemexico.blogspot.mx/2009/07/la-cultura-del-norte-de-mexico-mexicali.html|title=El Ojo de México: La cultura del norte de México (Mexicali)|access-date=2021-11-25|archive-date=2012-12-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121219231343/elojodemexico.blogspot.mx/2009/07/la-cultura-del-norte-de-mexico-mexicali.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}

In early 2014, the Strategic Communication Cabinet, a statistical consulting services company, published a report called "Social Intolerance In Mexico",{{cite web | author=Gabinete de Comunicación Estratégica | title=Intolerancia Social en México | date=2014 | url=http://gabinete.mx/wp-content/uploads/encuesta_nacional/2014_dossier/dossier_intolerancia_social_mexico_2014.pdf | access-date=12 August 2018 | language=es | archive-date=12 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812115836/http://gabinete.mx/wp-content/uploads/encuesta_nacional/2014_dossier/dossier_intolerancia_social_mexico_2014.pdf | url-status=dead }} in which polls that covered several social issues were conducted in the 45 largest cities and municipalities of the country. Aside from liberal Mexico City, the federal capital, the study found the strongest support for same-sex marriage in northern cities such as Tijuana and La Paz; whereas it was the weakest in Durango, Ciudad Victoria, Chihuahua and Monterrey. As for adoption by same-sex couples, it was more widely accepted in the border cities of Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, while the least support was found in Chihuahua and Durango. Support for abortion upon request, cannabis legalisation and euthanasia was the weakest in northern Mexico. Nonetheless, Coahuila became the first state to legalise same-sex marriage in the country.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29028305 | title=Mexican state of Coahuila approves same-sex marriage | publisher=BBC | date=2 September 2014 | access-date=12 August 2018}}

Some important days in the north are July 8, the foundation of Durango (the first city founded in the North) and the carnaval of Mazatlán, celebrated 6 days before Ash Wednesday.

As well as the Spanish and the Indigenous people, northern Mexico has received Lebanese, Jewish, Portuguese, Chinese, Irish, German, Italian and Spanish immigrants. All this mixture of cultures has strongly influenced the cuisine from the north. Northern Mexican gastronomy is based on beef, goat and pig meat and flour tortillas,{{Cite web|url=http://foodandtravel.mx/platillos-tipicos-de-torreon/|title = Food and Travel | Platillos típicos de Torreón|date = 29 June 2017}} which are remnants of Jewish and Lebanese heritage.{{Cite web |title=Mexico’s Arab Heritage: How the Flavors of Lebanon Ended up in Mexico |url=https://www.alfusaic.net/blog/convene/mexicos-arab-heritage-how-the-flavors-of-lebanon-ended-up-in-mexico |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Al Fusaic |language=en-US}} Because of the German influence cheese and dairy products are also important in the cuisine of the region.

Nachos, quesadillas and burritos are probably the three most famous dishes from the north. One of the most famous customs from northern Mexico is to reunite family and friends on weekends to prepare barbecue, named Carne Asada by the Mexicans.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title=Asada: The true essence of Mexican barbecue |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230504-asada-the-true-essence-of-mexican-barbecue |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} A variation of this tradition is to prepare discada, a mixture of grilled meats cooked on an agricultural plow disk harrow.

File:Estadio BBVA Bancomer (1).jpg, home to football team Monterrey, is expected to host some matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in North America.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/world-cup/news/world-cup-2026-what-are-the-host-cities-in-usa-mexico-and-canada-going-to-be/ | title=World Cup 2026: What are the host cities in USA, Mexico and Canada going to be? | last=Gonzalez | first=Roger | work=CBS Sports | date=14 June 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}}{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/3523349/2026-world-cup-bid-won-by-us-mexico-and-canada-which-venues-could-host-games | title=Which venues could host games for 2026 World Cup held in U.S., Mexico and Canada? | last=Carlisle | first=Jeff | publisher=ESPN | date=13 June 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}}]]

Association football, or soccer, is one of the region's most popular sports,{{cite web | url=http://startribune.com/index.php/soccer-insider-liga-mx-teams-make-inroads-into-u-s-markets/489360231/ | title=Soccer Insider: Liga MX teams make inroads into U.S. television markets | last=Mathaler | first=Jon | publisher=Star Tribune | date=28 July 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}} as it hosts five out of the eighteen teams that currently play in the Liga MX, the country's top division of the domestic football league system. Major cities are home to these teams such as Monterrey and Tigres UANL, both based in Monterrey, Santos Laguna in Torreón, Tijuana in the border city of the same name and Juárez based on the homonymous border city of Juárez. Notably, Northern teams have dominated the Liga MX in the 2010s, winning a combined total of nine titles and reaching more than half of the decade's finals.{{cite web | language=es | url=https://mexico.as.com/mexico/2017/12/03/futbol/1512325597_563899.html | title=El norte manda: Sus equipos han llegado a 7 de las 10 últimas finales | last=Juárez | first=César | publisher=Diario AS | date=3 December 2017 | access-date=12 August 2018}}{{cite web | language=es | url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/2018/05/14/con-santos-en-la-final-por-octava-vez-al-hilo-un-equipo-norteno-va-por-titulo | title=¡El Norte manda! Por octava vez al hilo, equipo norteño busca título de Liga MX | last=Rosales | first=Jorge | publisher=Medio Tiempo | date=14 May 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}}{{cite web | language=es | url=http://www.milenio.com/deportes/futbol/equipos-norte-siguen-mandando-liga-mx | title=Los equipos del norte siguen mandando en la Liga MX | last=Patiño | first=Lenin | publisher=Milenio | date=21 May 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}} Moreover, Northern teams that play in the Ascenso MX, the second professional level of the domestic football system, include Dorados de Sinaloa from Culiacán, Cimarrones de Sonora in Hermosillo, Tampico Madero and Correcaminos UAT, both based in the state of Tamaulipas.

File:Gran Estadio de Béisbol en Delicias Chihuahua 3. ..jpg

Baseball is another popular sport in northern Mexico,{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/baseball-revival-happening-in-mexico/c-265851562 | title=Baseball revival happening in Mexico | last=Sánchez | first=Jorge | publisher=MLB | date=2 February 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}} particularly in states such as Sinaloa and Sonora.{{cite web | language=es | url=https://www.debate.com.mx/guasave/Sinaloa-es-quien-mas-nutre-al-beisbol-mexicano-20151202-0170.html | title=Sinaloa es quien más nutre al beisbol mexicano | last=Cervantes | first=Héctor | publisher=El Debate | date=2 December 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}}{{cite web | language=es | url=https://www.debate.com.mx/mexico/Sonora-pasion-por-el-beisbol-en-las-venas-20171129-0329.html | title=Sonora, pasión por el beisbol en las venas | last=López | first=Tess | publisher=El Debate | date=29 November 2017 | access-date=12 August 2018}} Seven of the sixteen teams of the Triple-A Mexican League, the country's oldest running professional league, are based in the North: Sultanes de Monterrey, Saraperos de Saltillo, Acereros de Monclova, Algodoneros de Unión Laguna, Generales de Durango, Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos and Toros de Tijuana. Of these, three (Saraperos, Acereros, and Algodoneros) are based in Coahuila, which is thus the only state to have more than one team in the league, and one of only three states or provinces to have three teams in Triple-A baseball (the others being Texas and New York). Sultanes de Monterrey has been the most successful Northern team in the Mexican League, winning ten championships (the third most of any team), but Tecolotes, Saraperos, and Algodoneros all have multiple titles to their names. In winter-league play, the independent Mexican Pacific League (Liga Mexicana del Pacífico or LMP) is based in the North, with most of its eight teams playing in Northwestern Mexico. The league is considered competitive, as the winter schedule coincides with the Major League Baseball offseason and MLB players can participate. Since the 1970s, the winner of the Mexican Pacific League has competed in the prestigious Caribbean Series, won nine times by Mexican teams, primarily in the 21st century, such as Yaquis de Obregón and Naranjeros de Hermosillo, based in the state of Sonora, Venados de Mazatlán and Tomateros de Culiacán, both based in the state of Sinaloa.{{cite web | language=es | url=http://www.milenio.com/deportes/los-campeones-mexicanos-en-la-serie-del-caribe | title=Los campeones mexicanos en la Serie del Caribe | last=Padilla Márquez | first=Josué | publisher=Milenio | date=1 February 2018 | access-date=12 August 2018}} Moreover, there are several minor state-wide baseball leagues in the region such as Liga Estatal de Béisbol de Chihuahua, Liga Mayor de Béisbol de La Laguna and Liga Norte de México.

Another popular sport is basketball, played at the professional level throughout the entire year between the National Basketball League, founded in 2000, and the Pacific Coast Circuit, which exclusively involves teams based in Northwestern Mexico. The Liga de Básquetbol Estatal de Chihuahua is a minor league played primarily by local teams in the border state of Chihuahua. Remarkably, Chihuahua-born Eduardo Nájera became the second Mexican to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), after Sinaloa-born Horacio Llamas. As for American football, National Football League (NFL) following is popular in several northern cities, particularly amongst the middle and upper classes.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/nov/17/nfl-mexico-upper-class-elite-soccer | title='An upper-class picnic': the Mexican elite's curious love affair with NFL | last=Tucker | first=Duncan | work=The Guardian | date=17 November 2016 | access-date=12 August 2018}}{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17853442/american-football-taken-root-mexico-all-levels-youth-pro | title=From youth to pro, American football has taken root in Mexico | last=Weinfuss | first=Josh | publisher=ESPN | date=17 November 2016 | access-date=12 August 2018}} Notably, Torreón-born kicker Raúl Allegre played for several NFL teams throughout his career in the 1980s. Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the country and northern Mexico has long been a source of world-famous boxers such as Julio César Chávez, his son Julio, Jr., Jorge Arce and Jorge Paez.

Northern Mexican Spanish distinguishes itself from other varieties of Spanish spoken in the country for its strong intonation. Due to its proximity to the United States, it receives a great deal of influence from English. For example, English words such as troca (truck), lonche (lunch) and bai (bye) are of common usage.

In addition to Spanish, there are also many Indigenous languages, with Tepehuan, Mayo, and Tarahumara being among the largest and most prominent. However, another important difference between the North and South-Central Spanish is that northern Mexico Spanish has not received as much Native American influence as Central and South Mexico Spanish, this is because northern Mexico has the lowest concentration of Indigenous communities of all regions in the country and there is not a single Indigenous language that surpasses 100,000 speakers.

Curiously, in Spanish dubs from English language films or TV series, it is a cliche to associate the Northern Mexican accent with people from Australia or Southern USA, so a lot of Hispanics wrongly associate Northern Mexican Spanish with Australian English and Southern American English.

File:Oleo Guadalupe Victoria.PNG|Guadalupe Victoria, first president of Mexico

File:Portrait of Venustiano Carranza (cropped).jpg|Venustiano Carranza, the president that promulgated the constitution of Mexico

File:Pancho villa horseback.jpg|Francisco Villa, the most notable general in the Mexican Revolution

File:Francisco I Madero-retouched.jpg|Francisco I. Madero, initiator of the Mexican Revolution and President of Mexico

File:Dolores_del_R%C3%ADo_in_The_Fugitive_(1947_film).jpg|Dolores del Río, first major female Latin American crossover star in Hollywood

File:María Félix 1947.jpg|María Félix, actress

File:Anthony Quinn signed.JPG|Anthony Quinn, actor

File:Fernando Valenzuela in bullpen.jpg|Fernando Valenzuela, pitcher for the LA Dodgers and winner of two World Series

File:Lupita Jones.jpg|Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1991

File:Adal Ramones.jpg|Adal Ramones, comedian

File:Eduardo Najera.jpg|Eduardo Najera, former NBA player

File:Aracely Arámbula in May 2017.png|Aracely Arámbula, actress

File:Omar Chaparro in 2017.jpg|Omar Chaparro, comedian and actor

File:Susana Zabaleta 2017.png|Susana Zabaleta, soprano singer and actress

File:JaredBorgetti.jpg|Jared Borgetti, second all time scorer from the Mexican national soccer team

File:María_Espinoza_2016.jpg|María del Rosario Espinoza, three time Olympic medal winner

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Category:Geography of Mexico

Category:Regions of Mexico

Category:Cultural regions

Category:Former Spanish colonies