View source for Michoacán

{{short description|State of Mexico}}
{{Redirect|Michoacán de Ocampo|the town in Mexicali, Baja California|Michoacán de Ocampo, Baja California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement   
| name               = Michoacán
| native_name        = ''Michhuahcān ([[Nahuatl]])''
| native_name_lang   = es
| official_name      = {{raise|0.2em|Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo}}<br />{{nobold|''Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo'' {{small|([[Mexican Spanish|Spanish]])}}}}<br />{{nobold|{{lang|nah|Tlahtohcayotl Michhuahcān}} {{small|([[Nahuatl]])}}}}
| settlement_type    = [[List of states of Mexico|State]]
| image_skyline      = Cerro_Patamban.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = View of Cerro Patamban
| image_flag         = <!--As per the consensus reached at [[Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Mexico]] (oldid: 1007177146), this article should not use a flag because none is officially recognized by the government of the state-->
| flag_size          = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Escudo del Estado de Michoacán.svg
| shield_size        = 75px
| nickname           = <!--NO-->
| mottoes            = ''Heredamos Libertad, Legaremos Justicia Social''<br> 'We Inherited Freedom, We Will Bequeath Social Justice'<br> ''El alma de Mexico''<br> 'The soul of Mexico'
| anthem             = <!--NO-->
| image_map          = Michoacan in Mexico (location map scheme).svg
| map_caption        = State of Michoacán within Mexico
| coordinates        = {{coord|19.21|N|101.91|W|region:MX-MIC_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Mexico}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Capital city|Capital]]<br>{{nobold|and [[List of cities in Mexico|largest city]]}}
| subdivision_name1  = [[Morelia]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Municipalities of Mexico|Municipalities]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Municipalities of Michoacán|113]]
| established_title  = [[Sovereign state|Admission]]
| established_date   = December 22, 1823<ref>{{cite news |title=Las Diputaciones Provinciales |url=http://biblio.juridicas.unam.mx/libros/6/2920/11.pdf |page=15 |language=es |access-date=March 28, 2011 |archive-date=May 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528111641/http://biblio.juridicas.unam.mx/libros/6/2920/11.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| established_title2 = [[Territorial evolution of Mexico|Order]]
| established_date2  = [[Territorial evolution of Mexico|5th]]
| founder            = 
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| government_footnotes = 
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[List of Mexican state governors|Governor]]
| leader_name        = [[File:Morena logo (Mexico).svg|MORENA|link=National Regeneration Movement|25px]] [[Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla]]
| leader_title1      = [[Senate of Mexico|Senators]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senadores por Michoacán LXI Legislatura |url=http://www.senado.gob.mx/index.php?ver=int&mn=4&sm=4&id=15 |publisher=Senado de la Republica |access-date=March 24, 2010 |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225102800/http://www.senado.gob.mx/index.php?ver=int&mn=4&sm=4&id=15%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| leader_name1       = [[Cristóbal Arias Solís]] [[File:Morena Party (Mexico).svg|Morena|23px]]<br />[[Blanca Estela Piña Gudiño]] [[File:Morena Party (Mexico).svg|Morena|23px]]<br />[[Antonio García Conejo]] [[File:PRD logo without border (Mexico).svg|PRD|23px]]
| leader_title2      = [[Chamber of Deputies of Mexico|Deputies]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listado de Diputados por Grupo Parlamentario del Estado de Michoacán |url=http://sitl.diputados.gob.mx/LXI_leg/listado_diputados_gpnp.php?tipot=Edo&edot=16 |publisher=Camara de Diputados |access-date=March 28, 2010 |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720195100/http://sitl.diputados.gob.mx/LXI_leg/listado_diputados_gpnp.php?tipot=Edo&edot=16 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| leader_name2       = {{Collapsible list
 |title       = [[Chamber of Deputies of Mexico|Federal Deputies]]
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = <!-- (optional) -->
 |list_style  = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1           = • [[File:Morena_logo_(Mexico).svg|MRN|23px]] 14
 |2           = • [[File:PT_logo_(Mexico).svg|PT|23px]] 3
 |3           = • [[File:PAN_logo_(Mexico).svg|PAN|23px]] 2
 |4           = • [[File:PRD logo without border (Mexico).svg|PRD|23px]] 1
 |5           = • [[File:PRI logo (Mexico).svg|PRI|23px]] 1
}}
| unit_pref          = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Resumen |url=http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/monografias/informacion/mich/default.aspx?tema=me&e=16 |publisher=Cuentame INEGI |access-date=February 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723192809/http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/monografias/informacion/mich/default.aspx?tema=me&e=16 |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 58599
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note          = [[List of Mexican states by area|Ranked 16th]]
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Relieve |url=http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/monografias/informacion/mich/territorio/relieve.aspx?tema=me&e=16 |publisher=Cuentame INEGI |access-date=March 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930180651/http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/monografias/informacion/mich/territorio/relieve.aspx?tema=me&e=16 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| elevation_max_m    = 3840
| elevation_max_ft   = 
| elevation_min_m    = 
| elevation_min_ft   = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="inegi.org.mx">{{Cite web |url=https://www.inegi.org.mx/app/areasgeograficas/#tabMCcollapse-Indicadores |title=México en cifras |date=January 2016 |access-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=July 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718104723/https://www.inegi.org.mx/app/areasgeograficas/#tabMCcollapse-Indicadores |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_total   = 4,748,846
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_rank    = [[List of Mexican states by population|9th]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_rank = [[List of Mexican states by population density|13th]]
| population_demonym = Michoacano (a)
| population_note    = 
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.banamex.com/sitios/analisis-financiero/pdf/revistas//IRAE/IRAE2023.pdf|title=Indicadores Regionales de Actividad Económica 2023|author=Citibanamex|language=es|date=June 13, 2023|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = MXN 700 billion<br />(US$34.8 billion) (2022)
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = (US$7,066) (2022)
| timezone1          = [[Central Standard Time|CST]]
| utc_offset1        = −6
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in Mexico|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 58–61
| area_code_type     = [[Area code]]
| area_code          = {{Collapsible list
|title       = [[Area codes in Mexico by code|Area codes]]
|frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
|title_style = <!-- (optional) -->
|list_style  = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1           = • [[Area codes in Mexico by code (300-399)|1]]
 |2           = • [[Area codes in Mexico by code (400-499)|2]]
 |3           = • [[Area codes in Mexico by code (700-799)|3]]
 }}
| iso_code           = MX-MIC
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]]
| blank_info_sec1    = {{increase}} 0.758 <span style="color:#0c0">high</span> <small>[[List of Mexican states by HDI|Ranked 27th of 32]]</small>
| website            = {{URL|https://michoacan.gob.mx}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Michoacán''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|m|ɪ|ˌ|tʃ|oʊ|ə|ˈ|k|ɑː|n}}, {{IPA|es|mi.t͡ʃo.aˈkan}} or {{IPA|es|mi.t͡ʃwaˈkan}}}} formally '''Michoacán de Ocampo''',{{efn|{{IPA|es|mitʃoaˈkan de oˈkampo|-|ES-pe - Michoacán de Ocampo.ogg}}; [[Purépecha language|Purépecha]]: {{lang|pua|P'uɽempo}}}} officially the '''Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo''',{{efn|{{langx|es|Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo}}}} is one of the 31 states which, together with [[Mexico City]], compose the [[Political divisions of Mexico|Federal Entities]] of [[Mexico]]. The state is divided into 113 [[Municipalities of Michoacán|municipalities]] and its capital city is [[Morelia]] (formerly called Valladolid). The city was named after [[José María Morelos]], a native of the city and one of the main heroes of the [[Mexican War of Independence]].

Michoacán is located in western Mexico, and has a stretch of coastline on the [[Pacific Ocean]] to the southwest. It is bordered by the states of [[Colima]] and [[Jalisco]] to the west and northwest, [[Guanajuato]] to the north, [[Querétaro]] to the northeast, [[State of Mexico|the State of México]] to the east, and [[Guerrero]] to the southeast.

The name Michoacán is from [[Nahuatl]]: ''Michhuahcān'' {{IPA|nah|mit͡ʃˈwaʔkaːn|}} from ''michhuah'' {{IPA|nah|ˈmit͡ʃwaʔ|}} {{gloss|possessor of fish}} and ''-cān'' {{IPA|nah|kaːn|}} {{gloss|place of}} and means "place of the fishermen", referring to those who fish on [[Lake Pátzcuaro]].<ref name="introduccion">{{cite web |url=http://www.umich.mx/mich/mich-intro.html |title=El Estado de Michoacán Introduccion |publisher=UMSNH |location=Morelia, Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=The State of Michoacan Introduction |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719163442/http://www.umich.mx/mich/mich-intro.html |archive-date=July 19, 2011}}</ref> In pre-Hispanic times, the area was the home of the [[Purépecha Empire]], which rivaled the [[Aztec Empire]] at the time of Spanish encounter. After the [[Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire|Spanish conquest]], the empire became a separate province which became smaller over the colonial period. The state and its residents played a major role in the [[Mexican War of Independence]].

Today, the state is still home to a sizable population of [[Purépecha people]] as well as minor populations of [[Otomi people|Otomi]] and [[Nahua peoples|Nahua]]. 
The economy is based on agriculture, ranching, fishing, mining, and the arts. The major tourism draw for the state is the [[Lake Pátzcuaro]]–Tzintzuntzan–Quiroga area, which was the center of the [[Tarascan state|Purépecha Empire]]; as well as the location of the Tzintzuntzan yácata pyramids.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cartwright |first1=Mark |title=Tarascan Civilization |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Tarascan_Civilization/ |website=[[World History Encyclopedia]] |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513211436/https://www.worldhistory.org/Tarascan_Civilization/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The national and state parks which include the winter grounds of the monarch butterflies ''([[Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve|Mariposas Monarca]])'' are located here. Michoacán is known for its Spanish colonial towns. In 1991, Morelia was declared an [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] for its well-preserved colonial buildings, pink stone cathedral, historic center, and aqueduct.<ref name="encmuc">{{Cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_michoacan |title=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Michoacán Morelia |publisher=INAFED |location=Mexico |language=es |access-date=April 15, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162648/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_Michoacan |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref> Michoacán has ten ''[[Pueblos Mágicos]]''; such as the towns of [[Pátzcuaro]] and [[Santa Clara del Cobre]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Sam |title=PUEBLOS MAGICOS: A GUIDE TO MEXICO'S MAGIC TOWNS |url=https://www.journeymexico.com/blog/pueblos-magicos-mexico-magic-towns |website=JourneyMexico |date=October 15, 2019 |access-date=17 November 2020 |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230193025/https://www.journeymexico.com/blog/pueblos-magicos-mexico-magic-towns |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Day of the Dead]] celebrations in some parts of Michoacán, such as the towns of [[Janitzio]] and [[Pátzcuaro]], are often considered to be the most elaborate and famous in all of Mexico.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boulos |first1=Nick |title=Mexico's true spirit: Celebrating Day of the Dead in Michoacán |url=https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/day-of-the-dead-celebrations-michoacan/ |website=Wanderlust |access-date=April 15, 2020 |date=October 31, 2019 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804000031/https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/day-of-the-dead-celebrations-michoacan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The famous [[Parícutin]] volcano, which is one of the [[Seven Natural Wonders of the World]], is located near the city of [[Uruapan]]. The state is known as "the soul of Mexico".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/nacional/2018/11/6/michoacan-se-consolida-como-el-alma-de-mexico-con-dia-de-muertos-64078.html |title=Michoacán se consolida como "El alma de México" con Día de Muertos |work=El Heraldo de México |date=6 November 2018 |language=es |location=Morelia |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304154127/https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/nacional/2018/11/6/michoacan-se-consolida-como-el-alma-de-mexico-con-dia-de-muertos-64078.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Retrato de Morelos, 1813.png|thumb|Catholic priest and [[insurgent]] leader José María Morelos]]

==History==
[[File:4thYacatatztztz.JPG|thumb|left|Yacata pyramids of Tzintzuntzan]]
===Lithic period===
The earliest human settlement of the Michoacán region started during the [[Paleo-Indians|Palaeoindian]] or [[Lithic stage|Lithic period]], pre-dating {{c.|2500 BC}}, and carried out by small groups of [[Hunter-gatherer|hunter-gatherers]], as evidenced by fluted projectile points and other stone tools found together with remains of mammoths and bison.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=61}}

Most documentation for this human occupation during this period is from the basin of [[Lake Chapala]], although similar activities also happened in the late Pleistocene lakes of the region, such as [[Lake Cuitzeo|Cuitzeo]], [[Zacapu Lagoon|Zacapu]], and maybe [[Lake Pátzcuaro|Pátzcuaro]].{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=61}}

===Archaic Period===
There are barely any known remains of the Archaic period from Michoacán, with preceramic deposits from {{c.|2500}} to {{c.|2200 BC}} being attested from the Los Portales Cave in conjunction with waste flakes of basalt and obsidian, one projectile point, and one mano.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=61-62}}

===Preclassic period===
The Preclassic population of Michoacán lived in agricultural villages, especially located in [[El Opeño]] in the west and the basin of the [[Balsas River|Balsas river]] in the south.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

The remains of these first societies to produce ceramics suggest that the Michoacán region was occupied with various localised cultures with their own histories and dynamics of interaction with their neighbours and with each other. This diversity of cultures would remain the norm in the Michoacán region until the rise of the Purépecha Empire.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

The formative culture of El Opeño dates from {{c.|1500}} to {{c.|800 BC}}, and performed a burial cult whose remains consist of tombs including ceramic vessels, figurines, and the burial shafts themselves, suggesting that this culture interacted along the [[Lerma River|Santiago-Lerma river]] with more western cultures in [[Jalisco]] and [[Nayarit]], as well as with other cultures to the east.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

In the middle and lower basin of the Balsas river were El Infiernillo villages whose ceramics suggest ties to the [[Capacha Culture|Capacha culture]] of [[Colima]] and the Pacific coast from Nayarit to [[Guerrero]].

Remains of domesticated [[maize]] [[pollen]] from {{c.|1500 BC}} suggests that Michoacán was more densely inhabited during the Early and Middle Preclassic than attested by the archaeological evidence.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

During the late Preclassic period, at least three regional cultures existed in Michoacán:{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}
*the [[Chupícuaro culture]] of the northern and central zones, along the drainage of the middle Lerma river in northern [[Guanajuato]], the Cuitzeo basin, and some localised variants near [[Morelia]] and in the Zacapu and Pátzcuaro basins
**were adapted to lake environments, and built their villages on islands in marshes or along lake shores or rivers;
*the [[Chumbícuaro culture]] of the [[Tepalcatepec River|Tepalcatepec]] basin in the south west,
*and the Balsas/Mezcala culture in the central Balsas basin to the south.
These cultures were each defined by small village societies, and they have been distinguished from each other by differences in the ceramics associated with their respective burials.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

===Classic Period===
Over the course of the Late Preclassic and Early Classic periods, the sites of Santa Maria near Morelia, Loma Alta in the Zacapu basin, and Chehuayo in the Cuitzeo basin, experienced developments such as changes in the style of ceramics and public architecture becoming more complex, with sunken patios and platforms.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

At the Loma Alta site, there were some sherds of Thin Orange pottery, cloisonné, and an uncommon necropolis which had been repeatedly reused and where four types of burial had been performed.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

By the 1st centuries AD, social ranks existed in the larger settlements, although their location on the floor of lake basins and their absence in defensible positions suggests there was barely any aggression or population movements.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}

During the Classic period, three regionally distinct cultures existed in Michoacán which nonetheless were related to nearby areas in the south and west:{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=62}}
*the presence of Chupícuaro-type or similar artefacts along the upper Lerma river in the [[Toluca Valley|Toluca basin]] attests of significant but indirect links existed between northern Michoacán and Central Mexico,
*during {{c.|100 BC}} to {{c.|100 AD}}, the Chumbícuaro existed in the plain of Apatzingán,
*the Balsas/Mezcala culture was located along the central Balsas river.

====Development of ceremonial centres====
Between {{c.|400}} and {{c.|900 AD}}, an important cultural transformation happened in Michoacán in the form of the appearance of ceremonial centres where village societies had been the norm. The ceremonial centres from this period were widely spread out throughout Michoacán, and included the ones at El Otero near [[Jiquilpan]], Tres Cerritos near Cuitzeo, and minor ones at [[Queréndaro]] and/or [[Zinapécuaro]] in the Cuitzeo basin, and [[Tingambato]] near the Pátzcuaro basin. These ceremonial centres were separated from each other by lands inhabited by populations continuing to live in village societies while also interacting with these ceremonial centres.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63}}

Concurrent with this development, the Zacapu basin experienced significant population growth, with the number of sites doubling during the Jaruacuaro phase ({{c.|600}} to {{c.|700 AD}}), and again during the Lupe phase ({{c.|700}} to {{c.|850 AD}}), so that by the La Joya phase at the end of the Late Classic Period ({{c.|850}} to {{c.|900 AD}}), there were 58 sites. The settlements of this period were also located away from the lakeshore, especially in the area between Zacapu and the Lerma river, and they included pyramids, plazas and ball courts. A deeply buried irrigation canal in the Pátzcuaro basin from the Lupe-La Joya phase suggests an intensification of agriculture.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63}}

The major centres of this period contained architectural structures and artefacts suggesting they were in direct contact with the [[Teotihuacan|Teotihuacán culture]] of the Mexico basin:{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63}}
*at El Otero were present a ball court, plazas and pyramids, stucco painting, and large group tombs, including one where were buried 42 individuals along with jade, rock crystal, pyrites, and turquoise;
*at Tres Cerritos were three large mounts and two sunken plazas, with the largest structure there including talud-tablero and at least two large tombs, of which one contained 20 individuals together with 120 vessels, marine shell, jade, turquoise, rock crystal, and an alabaster Teotihuacán mask;
*at Tingambato, dating possibly from {{c.|800}} to {{c.|900 AD}}, were a series of plazas, altars, a central pyramid, a ball court, and large tombs where were buried at least 30 to 40 people together with a cloisonné-decorated vessel, marine shell, and mosaic disks inlaid with pyrites, jadeite, jade and turquoise, while six of the male burials exhibited dental mutilation; the [[talud-tablero]] of the pyramid and plazas showed links to central Mexico, although most of the ceramics were local.

Outside of the ceremonial centres, a few sites from the Lerman river to the Cuitzeo basin to the middle of the Balsas river contained Thin Orange pottery, cloisonné decoration, mosaic disks, Teotihuacán-like figurines, and sometimes talud-tablero architecture.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63}}

The number of Central Mexican-type artefacts is low in all these settlements, and they represent only a small part of material goods linked with the central Mexican Classic period culture: thus, while dental mutilation is attested at Tingambato, its variety is limited compared to those of Central Mexico, and for example dental incrustation was absent in Michoacán.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63}}

The significance of these new ceremonial centres and the presence of Teotihuacán-type artefacts there is still uncertain. Because most of the research on them was of salvage nature, none of the deposits at the large centres has been dated more precisely to between {{c.|400-900 AD}}, meaning that:{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63}}
*they might be from the Middle Classic and show that the local population worked significantly with the economic network from Teotihuacán;
*or they may be from the Epi-Classic period ({{c.|700-900 AD}}) and originated among elites, priests or artisans who moved out of the Mexico basin as a result of the collapse of Teotihuacán and brought aspects of their culture with them;
*or they may have resulted from a combination of both processes, in addition to the independent formation of complex societies in Jalisco during the Classic Period.
The strongest evidence suggests that these came about due to interaction between Teotihuacán along the Balsas river during the Middle Classic Period, as well as central Mexican interaction with central and northern Michoacán after {{c.|600 AD}}. Therefore, the presence of Thin Orange pottery, a Teotihuacán mask, and "al fresco" decoration on some sherds at Loma Alta in the Zacapu basin are not linked with any significant changes in settlement pattern or ceramic style during the Loma Alta and Jaracuaro phases ({{c.|0-600 AD}}), while observable changes in settlement patterns and ceramic styles are instead linked to populations moving from the lakeshore sites to the area between Zacapu and the Lerma river, meaning that the central Mexican elements entering Michoacán might have done so via Classic Period populations in southern Guanajuato instead of directly through the east.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63-64}}

As a result of these contacts, the process of social differentiation which was already happening accelerated, and the formation of polities occupying discrete territories and competing to access inter-regional and intra-regional trade to the east and west intensified. By {{c.|800 AD}}, regions of northeastern Michoacán were interacting directly with central Mexico, which in turn intensified the increased output of the obsidian mines at [[Zináparo]].{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=63-64}}

===Postclassic Period===
The changes in Michoacán continued so that by {{c.|900 AD}} they had caused major changes in settlement patterns: populations became concentrated at defensible locations in the Cuitzeo and Zacapu basins, as well as along the Lerma and Balsas rivers, with this process continuing until the formation of the Purépecha state.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64}}

Along with these changes in settlement patterns, the local population adopted red-on-cream ceramics on a widespread basis, integrating them with local pottery traditions. These ceramic style shifts are known from a wide part of northern and central Michoacán, including Zinapécuaro, Cuitzeo, Tiristaran, Morelia, Teremendo, Zacapu, Lake Pátzcuaro, Carapan, [[Zamora, Michoacán|Zamora]], and [[Tangamandapio|Tangamendapio]]. Polychrome pottery with negative decoration resembling the pottery of Guanajuato was already present at the site of Urichu in the Pátzcuaro basin by {{c.|400 AD}}, and after {{c.|900 AD}} these polychrome ceramics became more common.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64}} The ceramics of the future Purépecha would be derived from the polychrome pottery which became widespread in Michoacán after {{c.|900 AD}}.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64}}

[[Metallurgy]] was introduced in Michoacán during the early Postclassic Period by merchants from southern [[Ecuador]] who participated in the canoe trade through the Santiago-Lerma and Balsas-Tepalcatepec rivers. Metal objects from this time is known only from burial, and was made of copper and an alloy of copper and silver through cold hammering, annealing, and lost-wax casting in styles and object types known from earlier coastal Ecuador.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64}}

During the early and middle Postclassic Period, the local elites of Michoacán competed for communities and they marked their relative success with polychrome pottery, metal goods, and patron deities. Due to the lack of regional authority which possessed decision-making power while the populations were increasing, populations became extremely concentrated in some regions, such as at Zacapu, where 20,000 people and 13 sites occupied 11 kilometres square of the malpais, but the lake marsh below it was not inhabited.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64-65}}

During the middle and late Postclassic Period, the societies of Michoacán had little direct interaction with central Mexico, instead participating in regional cultures and sharing traits and beliefs which would later be typical of the Purépechas, and some of which might have arrived from further west along the Santiago-Lerma river system, while others were results of local cultural changes. Changes during this period included:{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64}}
* the development of more complex metallurgy,
* ceramic pipes becoming more abundant,
* the presence of polychrome pottery with negative decoration,
* the building of mounds filled with rubble which were clustered into plazas on hillslopes and malpaís,
* and the presence of petroglyphs which were later associated with the Purépecha solar god of hunting, [[Curicaueri]].
Sites which were already occupied at this period were later considered as sacred by the Purépecha.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64}}

At this time, new metalworking techniques and styles were introduced from Ecuador via the coastal trade routes. These new forms of metallurgy included loop-eye needles, axe [[money]] made of sheet metal, and wirework bells which were worked hot. New alloys were also produced, such as regular [[bronze]] and [[arsenical bronze]]s made of copper and arsenic or copper, tin and arsenic.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=64}}

During the late Postclassic Period, a migration of [[Chichimeca]] hunters (especially deer hunters) and gatherers of [[Nahuas|Nahua]] ethnicity arrived into central Michoacán, among whom were the {{transl|tsz|Uacúsecha}} ({{lit|eagles}}) who would become the royal dynasty of the Purépecha Empire. These migrants settled in discrete communities in and near the Pátzcuaro basin where already lived the Purépecha population. The new migrants were likely few in number or had assimilated into other local cultures before arriving into central Michoacán, due to which there is no evidence of movements of [[Uto-Aztecan languages|Uto-Aztecan]] Chichimecas from the northern boundary of Mesoamerica, and the inhabitants of the Michoacán central plateau remained predominantly [[Purépecha language|Purépecha]] speakers.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=65}}

====Formation of the Purépecha Empire====
The population sizes of the various language speakers in the Pátzcuaro basin differed significantly by {{c.|1200 AD}}, and among them the Nahuatl-speaking Chichimecs, that is the Uacúsecha of Pátzcuaro city, were small in number. Competition between the elites of these Chichimecs for access to basic resources led to several wars which resulted in the concentration pf political and economic power among the Uacúsecha, with the warrior-leader [[Tariácuri]] uniting the various polities of the Pátzcuaro basin into a single state over the course of {{c.|1300}} to {{c.|1350 AD}}.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=65}}

After Tiariacuri's death, his son and his nephews continued to expand the state he founded outside of the Pátzcuaro basin, and initiated the political and economic changes which saw the foundation of the Purépecha Empire.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=65}}

During the Middle Postclassic Period, the number of sites in the Purépecha Empire increased and the inhabited area increased twice, with many of the new sites being located on newly exposed islands and on fertile lake soil exposed by a phase of decrease in lake water levels. During the later Postclassic, these sites were flooded, and the settlements moved to the new lakeshore and to highly fertile agricultural areas, causing the number of sites and inhabited area to again double in size, leading to the maximum expansions of Urichu, Pareo and the whole exposed island of Xarácuaro, as well as densely occupied towns with public architecture at Tocuaro, Arocutin, Charahuen, and Ajuno (Axuni).{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=65}}

Thus, the population density of Michoacán peaked during the Late Postclassic, and the largest and most densely populated settlements, including both ceremonial centres and cities, date from this period.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=65}}
[[File:Aztec_Indians_Mexico_Tlaxcalan_Cortez.jpg|thumb|left|Spanish-Tlaxcalan conquest of Michoacan under [[conquistador]] [[Nuño de Guzmán]]]]

===Protohistoric period===
Although some sparse and limited archaeological research has been conducted in Michoacan, most of it relates to the Purepecha Empire.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=65}} Therefore, the only sources for the Late Postclassic and the Protohistoric periods come from 16th century ethnohistoric and historic sources, especially the {{transl|es|Relación de Michoacán}}.{{sfn|Pollard|2000|p=68}}

===Purépecha Empire===
The main pre-Hispanic civilization of the state is that of the Purépecha, which was centered in the Lake Pátzcuaro area.<ref name="elochis">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_michoacan |title=Historia |year=2009 |work=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Michoacán |publisher=Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=History |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162648/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_Michoacan |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref> Before the 13th century, both Nahua and Purépecha peoples were here, sustaining themselves by agriculture and fishing. The Purépecha are descendants of a late arrival of [[Chichimeca]] who came from the north. At [[Lake Pátzcuaro]], they came upon people with similar cultures to their own but who were more technological and socially advanced. The formation of the Purépechan state in the 13th century, when these people started their own dominion at Uayameo, today [[Santa Fé de la Laguna]], and becoming dominant over the entire Lake Pátzcuaro area by the 15th century. Conquest of neighboring tribes and territories occurred between 1401 and 1450, as they absorbed peoples with different cultures and languages into the empire. By the late 15th century, this state rivaled that of the Aztecs, having expanded their territory over much of what is now Michoacán and into part of [[Colima]], [[Nayarit]], [[Querétaro]], [[Guanajuato]], [[Guerrero]] and [[Jalisco]]. The Aztecs attempted to invade the Purépecha but were repelled. Because of this attack, the Purépecha later denied the Aztecs aid in their defense of [[Tenochtitlan]] against the Spanish and the Tlaxcala. The Purépechas are noted by historians to be one of the few rare instances in the Americas were the indigenous people had some experience with [[metallurgy]] prior to the arrival of the Europeans, especially [[coppersmithing]] and other metal ores located in their empire. Their descendants are still widely regarded for this today.<ref name="elochis"/><ref name="prehis">{{cite web |url=http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/prehisp.html |title=El Estado de Michoacán Epoca Prehispanica |publisher=UMSNH |location=Morelia, Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=The State of Michoacan Pre-Hispanic Era |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124211111/http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/prehisp.html |archive-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Tarascan Coyote Statuette.jpg|thumb|left|Purépecha coyote statue]]

===Colonial period===
Prior to the arrival of any Spaniard in the territory, then-ruler [[Zuanga]] died of [[smallpox]], presumably carried by one of the Aztec delegations seeking military aid. He was succeeded by [[Tanganxoan II]]. The first Spaniard to the area was [[Cristóbal de Olid]]. The Spanish destruction of Tenochtitlan and their promise to allow him to remain ruler convinced Tanganxoan II to submit to Spanish rule. But, [[Nuño de Guzmán]] reneged on this agreement and killed Tanganxoan II in 1530, a crime for which he was tried and exiled to Spain where he would die in prison.<ref name="elochis"/><ref name="hiscolonial">{{cite web |url=http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/colonia.html |title=El Estado de Michoacán Epoca Colonial |publisher=UMSNH |location=Morelia, Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=The State of Michoacan Colonial Era |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302161902/http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/colonia.html |archive-date=March 2, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:FacSaludPatzcuaro.JPG|thumb|left|Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud in Patzcuaro]]
During the first years of the conquest, Michoacán was part of the "[[Kingdom of Mexico]]",a subdivision of colonial Mexico which included the current states of Michoacán, [[State of Mexico|Estado de México]], [[Querétaro]], [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]], [[Tlaxcala]], [[Oaxaca]], [[Morelos]], [[Guerrero]], [[Veracruz]], [[Tabasco]], [[Guanajuato]] and parts of [[San Luis Potosí]], [[Jalisco]] and [[Colima]]. These lands were divided into [[encomienda]]s among the [[conquistador]]s. The provinces with the largest populations were called Alcaldías Mayores, with Michoacán being one of these, with its capital initially at [[Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán|Tzintzuntzan]]. Soon after, it was moved to Pátzcuaro and eventually settled in what is now Morelia. The provincial and later state capital was founded by [[viceroy]] [[Antonio de Mendoza]] in 1541. It became the political and ecclesiastical center of the province after the death of [[Vasco de Quiroga]] in 1565.<ref name="elochis"/>

Soon after the Spanish Conquest, evangelists from the [[Franciscan]], [[Augustinians|Augustinian]], [[Carmelite]] and other orders established monasteries all over the territory. Some of the best-known are [[Juan de Moya]], [[Martín de la Coruña]] and [[Jacob the Dacian]]. As first governor, Nuño de Guzmán disrupted and devastated the social and economic order of the area. Vasco de Quiroga succeeded Guzman, bringing Franciscan and Augustinian friars to both evangelize and repair the area's broken economy and social institutions. Quiroga founded the Spanish city of Pátzcuaro in 1538, calling it the Ciudad de Mechuacán.<ref name="elochis"/> For his efforts, Quiroga is still referred to in the Pátzcuaro area as "Tata (grandfather) Vasco".<ref name="hiscolonial"/> The diocese of Michoacán was established in 1536 by [[Pope Paul III]], and its boundaries coincide with the old [[Purépecha kingdom]]. Its first bishop was Vasco de Quiroga.<ref name="cathenc">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10282a.htm |title=Archdiocese of Michoacan |encyclopedia=Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-date=June 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615171317/http://newadvent.org/cathen/10282a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo]] began as the Colegio de San Nicolas Obispo, founded by Vasco de Quiroga in Pátzcuaro in 1540. It was originally a seminary for the training of evangelists. It was granted a royal seal in 1543 to become the Real Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo. The school was moved to Morelia in 1580 and was fused with the Colegio de San Miguel Guayangareo. In 1590, its name was changed to the Seminario Tridentino, afterwards to Seminario Conciliar in 1601. By the end of the 17th century, the name returned to Colegio de San Nicolás but its structure was profoundly changed, adding studies such as philosophy, civil law, and others. At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, a number of figures associated with the Mexican War of Independence, such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, José María Morelos and others were associated with this school. By the mid-19th century, the school had been secularized and renamed the Primitivo y Nacional Colegio de San Nicolás de Hidalgo adding studies such as chemistry, physics and other sciences. The current name and organization was adopted after the Mexican Revolution in 1917.<ref name="umich">{{cite web |last=Zamudio |first=Silvia Figueroa |url=http://www.umich.mx/Historia.html |title=Historia Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo |publisher=UMSNH |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=History of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-date=April 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415205122/http://www.umich.mx/Historia.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Catrina-sculpture.jpg|thumb|''[[La Calavera Catrina]]'' figure bought in Pátzcuaro]]
From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Augustinian, Franciscan and Carmelite missions were constructed in the territory as well as civil constructions, especially in the city now known as Morelia. Mining in areas such as [[Angangueo]], [[Tlalpujahua]] and [[Inguaran]] had begun, as well as the establishment of agricultural and livestock [[haciendas]]. The first school of higher education, called the Primera Casa de Altos Estudios en América, was founded by Alonso de la Veracruz in [[Tiripetío]].<ref name="hiscolonial"/> Michoacán was made a separate province from "Mexico" in 1602. By the mid-17th century, the indigenous population had declined by half. In 1776, the territory of Michoacán was reduced to the area in which the modern states of Michoacán and Colima are now. Soon after, Colima split to join with the province of Guadalajara, leaving Michoacán roughly with the territory it has today.<ref name="elochis"/>

During the entire colonial period, the economy was concentrated in the hands of the Spanish-born, who held vast lands and haciendas. They also held the rights over minerals mined in places such as Tlalpujahua, Angangueo and [[Huetamo]]. Indigenous peoples were exploited for their work, and [[slavery]] was not uncommon. Education was restricted for only those born in Spain and their descendants and was controlled by the Church. The main educational institutions were the Colegio de San Nicolas, founded in the 16th century; and the Seminary of San Pedro and San Pablo, founded in the 18th century. These schools produced a number of distinguished men, but the best-known is [[Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla]].<ref name="elochis"/>
At the end of the 18th century, ideas from Europe began to infiltrate the upper classes of the state, especially in Valladolid (Morelia) and [[Zamora, Michoacán|Zamora]]. These would eventually lead to the [[Mexican War of Independence]] in the early 19th century.<ref name="historiaind">{{cite web |url=http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/independ.html |title=El Estado de Michoacán Epoca Independiente |publisher=UMSNH |location=Morelia, Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=The state of Michoacan Independence Era |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129211803/http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/independ.html |archive-date=November 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This war was foreshadowed by the 1809 conspiracy in Valladolid.<ref name="elochis"/>

One of the early and main protagonists of the war, [[Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla]], was educated as a priest in the state and began to disseminate Enlightenment ideas here. Soon after Hidalgo performed the [[Grito de Dolores]] in Dolores (now [[Dolores Hidalgo]]), Guanajuato, a number of people influenced by his thought took up arms against the colonial government. These included [[Manuel de la Torre Lloreda]], [[Gertrudis Bocanegra]], [[José María Garcia Obeso]] and [[Ignacio López Rayón]]. During his campaign, Hidalgo returned to Valladolid, issuing a decree eliminating slavery.<ref name="historiaind"/>

After Hidalgo's death, much of the insurgency and [[Espionage|spies]] against the Spanish viceroy were located in Michoacán, with documents such as the "Primera Constitución o Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana" (First Constitution or Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of the Mexican America) and "Sentimentos de la Nacion", both of which would shape constitutions and governments in the years to come. The first [[Supreme Court of Mexico|Mexican Supreme Court]] was also founded here. The Mexican War of Independence was culminated by the army of [[Agustín de Iturbide]], also a Michoacán native, who took Morelia in May 1821.<ref name="elochis"/>

After the war ended in 1821, the territory of Michoacán became the "Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán on January 31, 1824.<ref name="historiaind"/> This state was initially divided into 4 departments and 22 portions (partidos) under the Ley Territorial of 1825, with the first constitution ratified in the same year. The name of the capital was changed from Valladolid to Morelia at the same time.<ref name="elochis"/>

In 1831, the state was reorganized into 61 municipals and 207 locales (tenencias). Due to the struggle between centralists and federalists in Mexico in the 19th century, Michoacán's rights as an entity would change depending on who was in control. The state was declared a department in 1836 but became a more independent state again in 1846. Colima broke off from Michoacán to form its own state in this year. In 1849, the municipality of Coyuca was separated to form the state of Guerrero. In 1853, the state became a department again, regaining state status in 1856. In 1857, [[Contepec]] was separated from the state of Guanajuato and attached to Michoacán.<ref>{{cite book |date=1996 |title=Estado de Michoacán de Ocampo. División Territorial de 1810 a 1995. |pages=116 |url=http://internet.contenidos.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/productos/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/historicos/2104/702825222420/702825222420_5.pdf |language=es |location=Mexico |publisher=INEGI |isbn=970-13-1501-4 |access-date=May 3, 2018 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412021950/http://internet.contenidos.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/productos/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/historicos/2104/702825222420/702825222420_5.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1863, the diocese of Michoacán was reduced in size, but its status was also elevated to archdiocese.<ref name="cathenc"/>

During the [[Second French intervention in Mexico|French Intervention in Mexico]], Morelia was taken by French forces in 1863. Since resistance to the French was particularly strong here, punitive acts were undertaken by the French in places like [[Zitácuaro]], where much of the city was burned. One of the first victories against the French during the Intervention occurred in Zamora.<ref name="elochis"/>

[[File:Paricutín volcano.jpg|thumb|left|Parícutin in 1997]]
[[File:ButterfliesChincua11.JPG|thumb|left|Monarch butterfly sanctuary near the pueblo of [[Angangueo]]]]
[[File:Laguna Larga en Los Azufres.jpg|thumb|left|Laguna Larga in Los Azufres]]
[[File:Karettschildkroete 01.jpg|thumb|left|Green sea turtle swimming in the Mexican Pacific]]
In 1907, Michoacán's boundaries changed again with the addition of the communities of [[Pungarabato]] and [[Zirandaro]] added from Guerrero state to make the [[Balsas River]] a natural border.<ref name="elochis"/> The [[Mexican Revolution]] came to Michoacán in 1911, when those loyal to [[Francisco I. Madero]] proclaimed [[Santa Clara del Cobre]] as their territory, then went on to take towns around Lake Pátzcuaro under the leadership of [[Salvador Borrego|Salvador Escalante]]. The governor of the state, Aristeo Mendoza, resigned. Fighting among various factions would continue in parts of the state for the rest of the war. The state's current constitution was ratified in 1918.<ref name="elochis"/> In 1920, the [[Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo]] was founded.<ref name="elochis"/>

Soon after the end of the Revolution, the [[Cristero War]] would affect the state, which affected agricultural production and distribution. In 1926, hostilities closed the seminaries in Morelia and Zamora. Near the end of the war, [[Lázaro Cárdenas]] was elected governor of the state and served until 1932; he became president of Mexico in 1934.<ref name="elochis"/>

Michoacán has been badly affected by the [[Mexican drug war]], due to its [[methamphetamine]] and [[marijuana]] production. That resulted in the start of an [[Mexican drug war|anti-drug trafficking campaign in 2006]], an anti-narcotics operation [[Operation Michoacán|since 2006]], [[grenade]] attacks [[Morelia grenade attacks|in 2008]], a [[shootout]] [[2015 Tanhuato–Ecuandureo shootout|in 2015]] as well as [[Uruapan massacre|a massacre]] and [[2019 Western Michoacán clashes|clashes in 2019]].

==Geography==
[[File:LakePatztztztz.JPG|thumb|View of Lake Pátzcuaro from Tzintzuntzan]]
Michoacán is located in west-central Mexico, in the extreme southwest of the central highlands. It borders the states of [[Jalisco]], [[Guerrero]], [[State of Mexico|Estado de México]], [[Guanajuato]], [[Querétaro]], and [[Colima]], with a {{cvt|217|km|adj=on}} coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The state has a territory of {{cvt|58836.95|km2}}, making it the sixteenth-largest in Mexico (exactly at the midpoint among Mexican states in area). It also has {{cvt|1490|km2}} of marine territory off its Pacific coast.<ref name="introduccion"/><ref name="mediofisico">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_michoacan |title=Medio Fisico |year=2009 |work=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Michoacán |publisher=Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=History |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162648/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_Michoacan |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref>

The state is crossed by the [[Sierra Madre del Sur]], the [[Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt]] and the Inter-mountain Valleys region. The Sierra Madre del Sur crosses the state northwest to southeast for approximately {{cvt|200|km}} in the southwest between the municipalities of [[Chinicuila]] and [[Arteaga, Michoacán|Arteaga]] along the Pacific Coast. It is considered to be a continuation of the [[Sierra Madre Occidental]]. Peaks in this range average about {{cvt|2900|m}} above sea level, with the largest being the Cerro de las Canoas. The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt crosses the state from west to east toward the [[Toluca Valley]] and [[Valley of Mexico]]. This mountain range is marked by appearance of many volcanoes, active, dormant, and extinct alike. This system is subdivided into regions such as the Sierra de Tancítaro, Sierra de Periban, Sierra de San Angel and others. The best-known volcano in this region is the [[Paricutín]] volcano.<ref name="mediofisico"/> [[Image:Paricutin 30 613.jpg|thumb|Parícutin 1943 eruption at night]]

The state has a large number of lakes, [[waterfalls]], [[lagoons]], [[hot spring]]s, and a natural system of waterways, including parts of two of the country's largest rivers, the [[Lerma River|Lerma]] and the Balsas. These waterways are divided into three regions, called the North, Central and South.  The North region includes the Lerma Basin.  On the Lerma River is the Tepuxtepec Dam which has a capacity of 371 million m<sup>3</sup>. Rivers that empty into the Lerma in Michoacán include the Tlalpuhahua, Cachivi and Duero.  Another river basin here is that of [[Lake Cuitzeo]], which extends over an area of {{cvt|3618|m2}}. The two main rivers that feed this lake are the Grande de Morelia and Queréndaro.<ref name="mediofisico"/>
[[File:Sierra-madre-del-sur.JPG|thumb|Sierra Madre del Sur along the Michoacán seacoast]]
The Central region is represented by lakes [[Lake Pátzcuaro|Pátzcuaro]] and [[Lake Zirahuén|Zirahuén]]. Lake Pátzcuaro has a surface area of 1,525&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. This lake is fed by a number of surface and subterranean water flows with the principal rivers leading here including the San Gregorio and Chapultepec. This lake has five islands within it called [[Janitzio]], Yunuén, La Pacanda, Tecuén, Jarácuaro, Urandén and Carián. Lake Zirahuén has an area of {{cvt|615|km2}} and is fed by streams such as Manzanilla and Zinamba. These two lakes are considered to be the main tourist attraction of the state.<ref name="mediofisico"/>

Most of the state's rivers and streams are located in the south region of the state, with the Balsas River being the most important. The most important tributaries of this river include the Cutzamala, Carácuaro and Tepalcatepec rivers. Within this region is the coastal watershed, which is the area between the Sierra Madre del Sur and the coastline. This area includes small rivers such as the Coahuayana, Aquila, Ostula, Motín del Oro, Coire, Cachán and Nexpa which flow directly into the Pacific.<ref name="mediofisico"/>

Much of the climate of the state is determined by altitude and other geographical features. Average temperatures vary from {{cvt|13|°C}} to {{cvt|29|°C}}. Lower temperatures correspond with the highland areas in the north and east while the lower south and west, called La Costa (the coast) or [[Tierra Caliente (Mexico)|Tierra Caliente]] (hot land) register higher temperatures. In the hotter lowlands, high temperatures regularly exceed {{cvt|30|°C}} and have been known to reach over {{cvt|40|°C}} in the summer. The lowest temperatures are registered in highland areas such as the Sierra de Coalcomán and the Sierra del Centro located near the border with the State of Mexico. Except for the Tierra Caliente, most of the state can experience freezing temperatures in the winter. Rainfall is also dependent on altitude with the lowlands receiving less rain than the mountain areas. There is a well-defined rainy season which extends from June to October over the entire state.<ref name="mediofisico"/>

===Flora===
Ecosystems vary by altitude. Between {{cvt|2600|and|3500|m}} above sea level, most of the vegetation are conifer forests. Between {{cvt|1000|and|2600|m}}, there are mixed forests and below this are broadleaf or tropical forests. Tree species include oak, cedar, fir and pine. [[Mango trees]] can be found in the eastern and western regions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mexico: Michoacan exported a total of 88,700 tons of mango in 2019 |url=https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9146507/mexico-michoacan-exported-a-total-of-88-700-tons-of-mango-in-2019/ |website=freshplaza.com |date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804000054/https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9146507/mexico-michoacan-exported-a-total-of-88-700-tons-of-mango-in-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Fauna===

Animal types vary from region to region but among mammals these can be found: [[raccoon]]s, [[cacomistle]], [[coyote]]s, [[lynxes]], rabbits, [[bats]], the [[white-tailed deer]], [[armadillo]]s, [[mountain lion]]s, [[ocelots]], the [[gray fox]], and [[jaguar]]s. The latter is an important symbol in Purépecha culture.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bueno |first1=Isabel |title=Jaguars were the divine felines of the ancient Americas |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2018/07-08/jaguar-natural-history-mesoamerica/ |website=History Magazine |access-date=April 16, 2020 |date=October 16, 2018 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804000308/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2018/07-08/jaguar-natural-history-mesoamerica/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Numerous bird species can be found including water fowl such as the [[Great blue heron]], [[Wilson's Snipe]], the [[ruddy duck]], and storks. [[Eagle]]s, [[parrots]], the [[greater roadrunner]], hawks, and falcons are found in the tropical and mountainous regions, including the [[crested caracara]]. The [[great horned owl]], [[barn owl]], and [[hummingbirds]] are considered important cultural symbols to the Purépecha.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boyd |first1=Mildred |title=Where The Hummingbirds Were |url=https://www.chapala.com/chapala/ojo2002/hummingbirds.html |website=chapala.com |access-date=April 16, 2020 |date=April 2002 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804023951/https://www.chapala.com/chapala/ojo2002/hummingbirds.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also one of three Mexican states where the [[tarantula]] species ''[[Brachypelma hamorii]]'' is found, the other two being [[Jalisco]] and [[Colima]].
[[Tiger sharks]], [[thresher sharks]], [[humpback whales]] and [[spinner dolphin]]s are found in the coastal waters of Michoacan.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Saldaña-Ruiz |first1=Luz Erandi |last2=García-Rodríguez |first2=Emiliano |last3=Pérez-Jiménez |first3=Juan Carlos |last4=Tovar-Ávila |first4=Javier |last5=Rivera-Téllez |first5=Emmanuel |title=Sharks in Mexico : Research and Conservation |date=2019 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=9780081029169 |pages=11–60 |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065288119300161#ab0010 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |chapter=Chapter Two - Biodiversity and conservation of sharks in Pacific Mexico |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208205219/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065288119300161#ab0010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Where to see humpback whales in Michoacan |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA848639236&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=IFME&sw=w&userGroupName=anon~dedd70dc&aty=open-web-entry#:~:text=Michoac%C3%A1n%20has%20become%20one%20of,watching%20are%20January%20and... |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=go.gale.com}}</ref> Reptiles including crocodiles, various sea turtle species including the [[leatherback sea turtle]] and [[green sea turtle]], [[iguanas]], snakes such as the ''[[Boa sigma]]'', and [[caimans]] can be found in the waterways and along the coastal regions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Duellman |first1=William E. |title=The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacán, México |date=December 20, 1961 |publisher=University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33543/33543-h/33543-h.htm |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527161519/https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33543/33543-h/33543-h.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="mediofisico"/> Michoacán includes critical over-wintering habitat for most of the [[Monarch butterfly|monarch butterflies]] from eastern North America. To the Purépechas, monarch butterflies symbolize the spirits of the dead as they journey from the [[afterlife]].<ref name="Centre">{{Cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1290 |title=Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve |work=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126174200/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1290 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/news/monarch-migration-mystery/ |title=Monarch Migration Mystery |last=Society |first=National Geographic |date=October 30, 2010 |work=National Geographic Society |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113075809/https://www.nationalgeographic.org/news/monarch-migration-mystery/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Lake Patzcuaro salamander|Lake Pátzcuaro salamander]], [[Anderson's salamander]], and the jaguar axolotl (all close cousins of the famous [[Mexico City]] [[axolotl]]) are found in Michoacan, the latter being endemic to Zacapu Lagoon.   

<div align=center>
<!-- galería de mapas -->
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e"
|colspan=8 style="background:#green; color:white; font-size:100%" align=center bgcolor="green"|'''Flora and fauna of Michoacán'''
|-
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Aquila_chrysaetos_Flickr.jpg|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Ctenosaura pectinata at the Denver Zoo-2012 03 12 0685.jpg|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Monarc Butterfly Reserve11, Michoacan, Mexico.JPG|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Panthera_onca_at_the_Toronto_Zoo_2.jpg|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Brachypelma auratum kiel.png|110px]]
|-
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Aquila chrysaetos]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Ctenosaura pectinata]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center| [[Monarch butterfly]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center| [[Jaguar]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Brachypelma auratum]]''
|-
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Tiger shark.jpg|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:BARN OWL FLIGHT.jpg|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Purple-throated carib hummingbird feeding.jpg|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Nasua narica 2.jpg|130px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Caiman yacare.jpg|130px]]
|-
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Galeocerdo cuvier]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Ghost owl]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center| [[Hummingbird]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center| [[White-nosed coati]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center| [[Caiman]]
|-
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Urbana Illinois park 20070928 img 2120-crop.jpg|120px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center"|[[File:Lago de Camecuaro.jpg|120px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Dahlia coccinea, the Red Dahlia (9450014546).jpg|110px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Abies religiosa El Rosario 6.jpg|120px]]
| align="center" bgcolor="white" valign="center" |[[File:Sabal pumos (Scott Zona) 001.jpg|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Tagetes]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Taxodium mucronatum]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Dahlia coccinea]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Abies religiosa]]''
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|''[[Sabal pumos]]''
|-
|}
</div>

===Protected areas===
Protected areas in Michoacán include [[Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park|Barranca del Cupatitzio]], 
[[Bosencheve National Park|Bosencheve]], [[Cerro de Garnica National Park|Cerro de Garnica]], [[Insurgente José María Morelos y Pavón National Park|Insurgente José María Morelos]], [[Lago de Camécuaro National Park|Lago de Camécuaro]], and [[Rayón National Park|Rayón]] [[national parks of Mexico|national parks]], [[Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve|Monarch Butterfly]] and [[Zicuirán-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve|Zicuirán-Infiernillo]] [[biosphere reserves of Mexico|biosphere reserves]], and [[Pico de Tancítaro|Pico de Tancítaro Flora and Fauna Protection Area]]. [[Lake Pátzcuaro]] and [[Zacapu Lagoon]] are [[Ramsar Site]]s, designated wetlands of international importance.

==Economy==
[[File:ParachoMainstreet.jpg|thumb|The famed guitar town of [[Paracho]]]]
The economy of the state is based on agriculture, ranching, forest products, fishing and crafts.<ref name="introduccion"/> Most of the population is employed in three sectors: agriculture (34%), mining and manufacturing (23%), and commerce (37%).

=== Agriculture ===
[[File:Municipios michoacanos productores de aguacate en 2004.svg|thumb|right|Municipalities of Michoacán that grow avocados (2004)]]
Agriculture occupies over a million hectares of land in the state or 20% of the land area. Three-fifths of this agriculture occurs only during the rainy season. [[Irrigation]] farming is restricted to areas such as the [[Apatzingán Valley]], the [[Bajío]] area of Michoacán, the [[Zamora Valley]] and some others. Principal crops include corn, [[sorghum]], [[avocado]]s, [[strawberries]], peaches, wheat, limes, sugar cane and mangos. While corn accounts for 43% of the crops harvested, Michoacán is the largest producer of avocados in Mexico and in the world. 43% of farmland in the territory is dedicated to the raising of livestock, including cattle, domestic fowl, sheep, goats and pigs. In 2007, the state's production of meat, dairy and eggs was valued at over four billion pesos.<ref name="economia">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_michoacan |title=Actividad Economica |year=2009 |work=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Michoacán |publisher=Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Economic activity |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162648/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_Michoacan |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref>

Notable contributors to early Michoacán’s society & agriculture were Northern Italian Immigrants that arrived in the mid to late 1800s and were drawn to Michoacán's climate & striking resemblance to Northern Italian regions, like Lombardy, Italy. Italians were encouraged to migrate to Michoacán during Porfirio Diaz’s presidency and were promised agricultural lands. A notable, industrious Northern Italian immigrant that settled in Michoacán was Dante Cusi. He was born on November 17, 1848 in Corvione di Gambara, Brescia, region of Lombardy, Italy. Dante Cusi founded the towns of Lombardia, Michoacán and Nueva Italia, Michoacán. Cusi brought modern technology, such as modern rice mills, irrigation systems, and built schools. hospitals, and churches. One of his greatest technological projects was his hydraulic network, which carried river water into barren lands. 

Cusi specialized in rice harvesting. “In 1911, 2,500 tons of clean rice were produced, which rose to 6,000 in 1915. Each year 2-3,000 additional hectares were made cultivable, with two harvests per year, one seasonal and the other the result of irrigation. Productivity was increased with the introduction of more modern tillage techniques and the sowing of new varieties. Around 1920 each hectare produced 2,450 kg of raw rice: marketed after cleaning, which reduced its weight by 30%, it gave a net utility of 200 pesos.” (Destinazioni, Polo, Friz Luigi).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polo Friz |first1=Luigi |title=Dante Cusi, un emigrato bresciano in Messico |url=https://win.ecoistitutoticino.org/emigrazione/conv_emi_2015/236_243.pdf |website=Ecoistituto Ticino |publisher=Ecoistituto della Valle del Ticino}}</ref> Cusi was known for giving life to previously uncultivated areas and building impressive networks of canals. He introduced technologies to Michoacán, such as irrigation systems, modern rice mills, modern tillage techniques and sowing of new varieties. By the 1920s, each Cusi hectare produced 2,450 kg of raw rice: marketed after cleaning, which reduced its weight by 30%, and thus gave a net utility of 200 pesos. Overall, Cusi’s work & legacy exemplifies the agricultural & societal influence Northern Italians had in the Mexican state of Michoacán.
<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polo Friz |first1=Luigi |title=Dante Cusi, un emigrato bresciano in Messico |url=https://win.ecoistitutoticino.org/emigrazione/conv_emi_2015/236_243.pdf |website=Ecoistituto Ticino |publisher=Ecoistituto della Valle del Ticino}}</ref>

=== Forestry ===
Sixty percent of the state is covered in forest, with the most economically important of these located in the higher elevations at the eastern side. These forests mostly produce lumber and resin. These areas are estimated at 2,160,000 hectares, over half of which is pine forest. The most productive forests are located in the central and eastern portions of the state. Rainforest areas are estimated at 460,500 hectares. One problem facing the forested areas of the state is unsustainable logging. In addition to exploitable forest, there are also ecological reserves with tourist importance, especially the various monarch butterfly sanctuaries in the extreme east of the state.<ref name="mediofisico"/>

=== Fishing ===
[[File:Pátzcuaro-Trad-Fishing-3.jpg|thumb|Fishermen in Lake Pátzcuaro]]
Michoacán's lakes, rivers and coastline make it an important producer of fish and seafood, both caught in the wild and farmed. The most important commercial fishing is for [[tilapia]] and [[carp]].<ref name="economia"/>

=== Mining and minerals ===
Mining is an important economic activity in the state, which is mostly concentrated on the eastern side near the Mexico State border.  However, iron is mined in the Lázaro Cárdenas area near the coast. Both metallic and non-metallic minerals are mined in the state. These include silver, gold, [[zinc]], [[cadmium]], lead, iron, copper, [[fill dirt]], [[sand]], [[gravel]], [[Lime (material)|lime]], [[limestone]], [[marble]], and others. There are thirteen principal mining areas: Tlalpujahua, Angangueo, Los Azufres, Real de Otzumatlán, Tzitzio, Tiámaro, El Bastán, San Diego Curucupacéo, Inguarán, Las Truchas, and La Minita de Coalcomán. Michoacán is the second-largest producer of coke and third-largest producer of iron, which are essential to the steel industry, in Mexico. While there remains significant metallic deposits, their mining only contributes 1.64% to the economy.<ref name="mediofisico"/><ref name="economia"/>

=== Manufacturing ===
Most industrial activity is concentrated in the central region of the state, near the capital, where a number of industrial parks are located, such as Ciudad Industrial Morelia. However. there are other areas with industry, such as Apatzingán, Zamora, [[Jiquilpan, Michoacán|Jiquilpan]] and [[Sahuayo]], as well as in the [[Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán|Lázaro Cárdenas]] area. Major production areas are iron and steel (34.27%), bottling (10.43%) and paper products (8.36%).<ref name="economia"/>
Most people in the state are employed in service and commerce, and this sector contributes 19.07% to the overall economy. Most sales are in foodstuffs, drinks and tobacco.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
[[File:Janitziobig.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.90|Statue of [[José María Morelos]] in [[Janitzio]]]]

==Transport==
The state contains more than {{cvt|12804|km}} of federal, state and local roads. Major highways in the state include Federal Highway 15 and the Morelia-Pátzcuaro highway.  Intercity and interstate buses provide connections to places within the state and the rest of Mexico. About 91% of these bus lines are second class while just under nine percent are first class. Most rail lines are limited to the north and center of the state, providing freight service to Mexico City and Guadalajara. The state's main port is the city of Lázaro Cárdenas which contains {{cvt|2926|m}} of dock space. The dock is used mostly for the shipping of minerals and grains.<ref name="educacion">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_michoacan |title=Infraestructura Social y de Comunicaciones |year=2009 |work=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Michoacán |publisher=Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Social infrastructure and communications |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162648/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_Michoacan |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref><ref name="comunicaciones">{{cite web |url=http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/independ.html |title=El Estado de Michoacán Comunicaciones |publisher=UMSNH |location=Morelia, Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=The State of Michoacan Communications |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129211803/http://www.umich.mx/mich/historia/independ.html |archive-date=November 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are two major international airports, [[Morelia International Airport]] and [[Uruapan International Airport]]. Smaller facilities exist in Zamora and Lázaro Cárdenas. The state has abundant hydroelectrical production due to dams on the Balsas River, the Lerma River and the Tepalcatepec River.<ref name="introduccion"/>

There are two [[Aerial tramway|cable car]] projects under construction as of 2025, one in Morelia and one in Uruapan. The system in Uruapan is set to be complete in September 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurará teleférico de Uruapan, en septiembre de 2025|last=Ramírez Bedolla|first=Alfredo|date=2024-09-22}}</ref>{{Needs update|date=November 2025}}

==Media==
One notable actress from [[Parácuaro|Santa Elena]], Michoacán is [[Elpidia Carrillo]]. She is best known for starring in the 1987 science fiction [[horror film]] ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]'' alongside [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Patrick |title=Whatever Happened To Anna From Predator? |url=https://www.looper.com/355449/whatever-happened-to-anna-from-predator/ |website=Looper.com |access-date=21 May 2021 |date=2021-03-14 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521001801/https://www.looper.com/355449/whatever-happened-to-anna-from-predator/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 1995, the state had eight television stations, with seven out of operation. There is a system of educational television with 528 broadcast antennas.<ref name="educacion"/>

[[List of newspapers in Mexico|Newspapers]] and news sites of Michoacán de Ocampo include: ''La Opinión de Apatzingán'', ''a. m. de La Piedad'', ''Diario ABC de Michoacán'', ''El Diario Grande de Michoacán Provincia'', ''El Sol de Morelia'', ''El Sol de Zamora'', ''Frecuencia Informativa Escrita  '', ''La Jornada Michoacán'', ''La Opinión de Michoacán'', ''La Voz de Michoacán.''<ref name=SIC>{{cite web |work=Sistema de Información Cultural |publisher=Gobierno de Mexico |language=es |access-date=March 7, 2020 |url=https://sic.gob.mx/lista.php?table=impresos&disciplina=&estado_id=16 |title=Publicaciones periódicas en Michoacán |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804092533/https://sic.gob.mx/lista.php?table=impresos&disciplina=&estado_id=16 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://libguides.utsa.edu/latamnews |title=Latin American & Mexican Online News |work=Research Guides |publisher=[[University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries]] |location=US |archive-date= March 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307192643/http://libguides.utsa.edu/latamnews}}</ref>

==Education==
The state provides public education from preschool level to high school.  "Formal preschool" is offered in communities which have twenty five or more qualified students. Less formal preschools are operated in smaller communities. As of 1996, there were 5,433 primary schools serving 705,694 students with 25,485 teachers. There is a failure rate from grade to grade of about 9.7% with just under five percent leaving school permanently before finishing primary studies. The most common reason for departure<!---or failure?---> is poverty. At the secondary level there are 174,354 students, which represent 22% of these eligible to attend. High school level studies are mostly geared to vocational studies and many attend via distance education. There are 24 public and private institutions of higher learning offering 49 different majors. Eight are technical colleges, four for teachers, the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, the Instituto Michoacano de Ciencias de la Educación and ten private institutions.<ref name="educacion"/>

The Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo is located in Morelia.<ref name="umich"/> Its historical predecessor was founded in 1540, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the Americas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.umich.mx/historia.html |title=Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo |website=umich.mx |access-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-date=December 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224181633/http://www.umich.mx/historia.html |url-status=live }}</ref><!---probably ought to be copied into lead-->

==Tourism==
[[File:Michoacán Viejitos (4111653140).jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|''[[Danza de los Viejitos]]'' (Traditional folk dance of the Purépecha)]]
[[Carnitas]] are originally from Michoacán. Other traditional foods include [[cotija cheese]], [[guacamole]],  [[morisqueta]], [[tamales]], [[pozole]], [[enchiladas]], [[mole sauce]], and various sweets such as [[pan de muerto]] and chocolate [[champurrado]] (during the Day of the Dead celebrations), ice cream, [[churros]], and ate, a kind of Mexican jelly made of many typical fruits.<ref>{{cite web |title=Traditional Food from Michoacán |url=https://moreliafilmfest.com/en/comida-tradicional-de-michoacan/ |website=FICM |access-date=April 16, 2020 |date=April 27, 2015 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804023752/https://moreliafilmfest.com/en/comida-tradicional-de-michoacan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The state ministry of tourism has divided the state into regions, mostly based on the major cities of [[Morelia]], [[Uruapan]], [[Pátzcuaro]], [[Zamora, Michoacán|Zamora]], [[Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán|Lázaro Cárdenas]], and [[Zitácuaro]].<ref name="regionestur">{{cite web |url=http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Visita_Michoacan |title=Regiones Turisticas |publisher=State of Michoacán |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Tourist Regions |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613002956/http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Visita_Michoacan |url-status=live }}</ref> The state contains a large number of potential attractions, most of which are classified as suitable for ecotourism. However, only 6.2% of these sites are visited by international tourists. Most visitors to sites are from within the state.<ref name="economia"/>

The Morelia region stresses its cultural and artistic heritage, especially its colonial architecture . The most important colonial structures are in Morelia and built in the 18th century. These include the cathedral, finished in 1744 and the main aqueduct finished at the end of the century. This architecture has made the city a World Heritage Site. In addition to the state capital, the region includes towns such as Charo, Capula, Tiripetio, [[Cuitzeo]] and [[Huandacareo]], which contain archaeological sites, water parks and traditional cuisine. The rural areas of this zone contain more than 400 thermal springs, many of which have been turned into recreational areas and parks.  These include Reino de Atzimba, Cointzio, Huandacareo and El Ejido.<ref name="regionmor">{{cite web |url=http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Morelia |title=Region Morelis |publisher=State of Michoacán |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Morelia Region |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727000841/http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Morelia |url-status=live }}</ref> Morelia holds the annual ''Festival Internacional de Música de Morelia''. The festival consists of more than forty concerts with over 500 artists from Michoacán and from around the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Morelia Music Festival 2019 |url=https://mexatua.net/morelia-music-festival-2019/ |website=Mexatua |access-date=April 16, 2020 |date=October 29, 2019 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804085426/https://mexatua.net/morelia-music-festival-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other festivals include the popular ''SalsaMich'' that features a 3-day Salsa dance competition.<ref name="SalsaMich">{{cite web |url=http://www.salsamich.com/ |title=SalsaMich Salsa Festival |language=es |access-date=April 16, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419032428/http://www.salsamich.com/ |archive-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref> The ''Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia'' is celebrated annually that is dedicated to [[Mexican cinema]]. The [[Plaza Monumental de Morelia]] was established in 1951, which was destined exclusively for [[bullfights]]. Nowadays, the ring also hosts concerts, [[lucha libre]], and weddings.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michoacán |first1=Secretaría de Turismo de |title=Bullring Monumental de Morelia · Places |url=http://michoacan.travel/en/places/bullring-monumental-de-morelia.html |website=michoacan.travel |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804073221/http://michoacan.travel/en/places/bullring-monumental-de-morelia.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:2013-11 Pátzcuaro 6.jpg|thumb|right|310px|Tourist with locals in [[Pátzcuaro]]]]
The [[Uruapan]] region stresses its cultural and natural heritage. The city is one of the oldest settlements in the state, and was initially settled by the [[Meseta Purépecha]] peoples. This city contains a number of attractions such as La Huatápera, a colonial era hospital founded by Vasco de Quiroga, the Temple of San Francisco, and the Eduardo Ruiz Municipal Museum. Another attraction is the narrowest house in the world as documented by the [[Guinness Book of World Records]]. Other important cities in the region are [[Apatzingán]] and [[Caracha]].<ref name="regionuru">{{cite web |url=http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Uruapan |title=Region Uruapan |publisher=State of Michoacán |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Uruapan Region |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505175519/http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Uruapan |archive-date=May 5, 2012}}</ref>
Uruapan is surrounded by hundreds of hectares of forests and by fertile fields growing fruits and flowers, many of which only grow here. Some of the natural attractions of the zone include the Santa Catarina Dam and the La Tzaráacua and La Tzararacuita waterfalls. Smaller towns and villages in this region are known for their religious and popular festivals, many of which occur in the summer. Examples of these are the feasts of Señor del Calvario in Quinceo, of San Mateo Ahuiran in Paracho and the National Guitar Festival in Paracho. The best-known town in the region is [[Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro|San Juan Nuevo Parangaricutiro]], which was founded due to the destruction of its original namesake by the eruption of the [[Paricutín]] volcano.<ref name="regionuru"/> The pre-Hispanic sites of [[Tingambato]] and [[Taretan]] are in this zone as well, which were important Purépecha cities.<ref name="regionuru"/>

The town of Paracho is well known throughout both Mexico and elsewhere in the world as a hub of [[lutherie]]. This is because the town's craftsmen are reputed to making the best sounding [[guitar]]s and [[vihuela]]s in all of Mexico. The town is full of music shops that sell ten-string [[mandolin]]s, [[armadillo]]-backed guitars ([[concheras]]), acoustic bass guitars; as well as regular classical guitars and mandolins, [[bajo sexto]]s, vihuelas, [[guitarron]]es and many others. Many of the stores and workshops allow visitors to watch the guitar-making process directly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.nl/paracho-mexico-guitar-making-town-coco-2020-9/ |website=Business Insider |access-date=September 27, 2020 |date=September 3, 2020 |title=The guitar-making hub of the world is a small Mexican town where handmade instruments can cost more than $5,500 |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426223241/https://www.businessinsider.nl/paracho-mexico-guitar-making-town-coco-2020-9/ |url-status=live }}</ref>    
[[File:Catrina 3.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Noche de Muertos decorations]]
[[File:Fachada Santuario Guadalupano.JPG|thumb|The [[Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zamora|Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe]] in [[Zamora de Hidalgo]]]]
The Lázaro Cárdenas region is named after Michoacán's largest port and oceanside city. Here the state stresses the kilometres of beaches and other natural areas in which to practice ecotourism and extreme sports. Beaches include Maruata, Faro de Bucerías, the Pichi Estuary, La Laguna de Mezcala, La Ticla and Nexpa, with the last two popular for [[surfing]], with their regular two-three-meter waves. A number of these beaches are protected areas, due to being a breeding ground for sea turtles.<ref name="regionlc">{{cite web |url=http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Lazaro_Cardenas |title=Region Lázaro Cárdenas |publisher=State of Michoacán |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Lázaro Cárdenas Region |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-date=January 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111074650/http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Lazaro_Cardenas |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Pátzcuaro]] region is extremely important to the state due to its history of having been the center of the [[Purépecha Empire]] as well as the first capital of the colonial province of Michoacán. Its pre-Hispanic heritage is evident by the Tzintzuntzan and Ihuatizo sites as well as the large number of people who still speak the [[Purépecha language]] and maintain pre-Hispanic customs. Vasco de Quiroga established the first capital at Pátzcuaro and was instrumental to building the colonial era economy of the Lake Pátzcuaro area. The lake is surrounded by mountains and forests as well as the towns of [[Cuanajo]], [[Tupátaro]], [[Eronguícuaro]] and [[Quiroga, Michoacán|Quiroga]]. These towns are noted for their crafts and popular religious festivals such as the feast of the Señor del Rescate in [[Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán|Tzintzuntzan]], [[Holy Week]], and especially Noche de Muertos or Night of the Dead. This area is the most important to the state with the most visited town, Pátzcuaro with its basilica and museums.<ref name="regionpatz">{{cite web |url=http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Patzcuaro |title=Region Pátzcuaro |publisher=State of Michoacán |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Patzcuaro Region |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727000846/http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Patzcuaro |archive-date=July 27, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Jardin de las rosas.JPG|thumb|left|Jardin de las Rosas Garden and Park in Morelia]]
[[File:Calle del centro de morelia.jpg|thumb|left|Street and [[Morelia Cathedral|Cathedral]] of [[Morelia]]]]
[[File:Mexican charro forefooting on horseback.jpg|thumb|left|Traditional charro outfit]]

One of the largest tourist events in the state is Noche de Muertos or Night of the Dead. This is celebrated on the dates around November 2. Essentially, these are [[Day of the Dead]] celebrations, which are celebrated all over Mexico, but with unique variations. The events of these days show a blending of both pre-Hispanic and Catholic beliefs and traditions. Noche de Muertos is celebrated most strongly in the towns and villages around Lake Pátzcuaro such as Tzintzuntzan, Ihuatzio, Janitzio, as well as Pátzcuaro itself, which was the center of the Purépecha Empire. As in other parts of Mexico, altars to the dead, both in homes and on graves are erected and covered with offerings such as bread, fruit and other items. One aspect which is unique to the event here is the lighting and floating of hundreds of small candles and flowers on Lake Pátzcuaro on the night between November 1 and 2. It is also believed that on this night the [[ghosts]] of Mintzita, the daughter of Purépecha king Tzintzicha, and Itzihuapa arise. Their story is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet as they were never able to marry due to the Spanish invasion of their lands. Today, it is said that the two rise up and head toward a specific cemetery to receive visitors. There are a number of other rituals performed on these days such as the Terescuan y Campaneri, a kind of treasure hunt for hidden harvest items.<ref name="muertos">{{cite web |url=http://www.umich.mx/mich/cultura/noche-muertos/ |title=Noche de Muertes in Michoacán |publisher=UMSNH |location=Morelia, Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Night of the Dead in Michoacan |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323032040/http://www.umich.mx/mich/cultura/noche-muertos/ |archive-date=March 23, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:SanAgustinPatz.JPG|thumb|Gertrudis Bocanegra Plaza and the San Agustín Library in Pátzcuaro]]
[[File:Cascada Parque Nacional.jpg|thumb|Cascada Parque Nacional in Uruapan]]

The [[Zamora, Michoacán|Zamora]] region is in the northwestern part of the state in an area known as the [[Purépecha Mesa]]. Prehispanic languages and customs are preserved here as well as a large number of crafts such as the pottery of Ptamban and the embroidery of Tarecuato. The region is part of an area of Mexico known as the Bajío and has extensive agriculture, livestock and some industry. Regional dishes such as pigs' feet, breads baked in wood fired ovens, [[tamale]]s, [[pozole]] and dishes made with avocados and corn are promoted here. Important towns outside of Zamora include Camécuaro, Orandiro, La Estancia and La Alberca. The city of Zamora is home to one of the oldest cultures in the west of Mexico which dates to about 1750 BCE, known as the Opeño. The Spanish city was founded as a military garrison.<ref name="regionzam">{{cite web |url=http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Zamora |title=Region Zamora |publisher=State of Michoacán |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Zamora Region |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727000916/http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Zamora |url-status=live }}</ref>


The [[Zitácuaro]] region contains approximately a half million hectares of conifer forests, but is best known as being part of the wintering grounds of the [[monarch butterfly]]. The area is filled with old mining towns as well as an important archaeological site. The region is home to the [[Mazahua people|Mazahua]] and Otomi peoples, many of whom produce crafts such as blankets, [[rebozo]]s and ceramics. The city of Zitácuaro is the site of an important battle during the French Intervention in Mexico, which gives it the title of "Heroic City". Other important communities include Añgangueo, San Matias and [[Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacán|Ciudad Hidalgo]]. The most important places to see monarch butterflies in the winter are in municipalities of Angangeo and Ocampo. The butterfly sanctuaries are called El Rosario, Cerro Campanario, Sierra Chincua and El Llanno de las Papas.<ref name="regionzit">{{cite web |url=http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Zitacuaro |title=Region Zitácuaro |publisher=State of Michoacán |location=Michoacán |language=es |trans-title=Zitacuaro Region |access-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727000939/http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/Regiones/Region_Zitacuaro |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, UNESCO declared this region part of a [[Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve]].<ref name="Centre"/>

In total, there are 10 [[Pueblos Mágicos]] in Michoacán,<ref>[https://pueblosmagicos.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/michoacan/ Pueblos Mágicos de Michoacán - México Desconocido]</ref> in chronological order these are: [[Pátzcuaro]], [[Tlalpujahua]], [[Cuitzeo]], [[Salvador Escalante]], [[Angangueo]], [[Tacámbaro]], [[Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán|Tzintzuntzan]], [[Jiquilpan]], [[Paracho]], and most recently [[Cotija]] in 2023.

==Crime==
After the election of [[Vicente Fox]] in 2000, the [[Institutional Revolutionary Party]] (PRI) was no longer in power and there was a surge of criminal violence in Michoacán. From homicides and kidnappings to organized crime, the violence that began to emerge while in a position of political change had posed a significant threat to the nation’s stability.<ref name="Aranda 2013 43–66">{{Cite journal |last=Aranda |first=Salvador Maldonado |date=2013 |title=Stories of Drug Trafficking in Rural Mexico: Territories, Drugs and Cartels in Michoacán |journal=Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe / European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies |issue=94 |pages=43–66 |doi=10.18352/erlacs.8393 |jstor=23408421 |issn=0924-0608|doi-access=free }}</ref> Even though criminal groups and the state are on two ends of the spectrum, they are seen working together. Some criminal groups have an upper hand when it comes to the state and the sharing of information between the two happens as a mutually beneficial concept.<ref name=":0"/>

Criminal groups in Michoacán are better equipped with more weapons than the state security forces, which means they simply overpower the local security forces. With the heavy influence of criminal violence, even avocado farmers had to step in and combat this violence. Michoacán is the second largest avocado producer in the world,{{clarify|date=May 2025}} and with this profitable business comes organized crime that demands money from the avocado producers. [[Tancítaro]] has assembled the [[Tancítaro Public Security Force|CUSEPT]], civilian gunmen funded by local avocado growers, to protect against organized crime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mexico |first=Nathaniel Parish Flannery in Tancítaro |date=2017-05-18 |title=Mexico's avocado army: how one city stood up to the drug cartels |url=http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/may/18/avocado-police-tancitaro-mexico-law-drug-cartels |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425174945/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/may/18/avocado-police-tancitaro-mexico-law-drug-cartels |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ewbank |first=Anne |date=2017-11-28 |title=A Mexican Town Created an Avocado Protection Force |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tancitaro-mexico-avocado-protection-force-drug-cartels |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427215916/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/tancitaro-mexico-avocado-protection-force-drug-cartels |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nytbreakaway">{{Cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Max |last2=Taub |first2=Amanda |last3=Martínez |first3=Dalia |date=2018-01-07 |title=Losing Faith in the State, Some Mexican Towns Quietly Break Away |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/world/americas/mexico-state-corruption.html |access-date=2021-04-24 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185230/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/world/americas/mexico-state-corruption.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Such non-governmental police groups have been formed because local police are sometimes seen as unhelpful or complicit.<ref name="Staff" /><ref name="nytbreakaway" /> [[Gang|Turf disputes]] between rivaling cartels happen as well.<ref name="apgeneral" /><ref name="intelysegeneral" />

=== War on drugs ===
President [[Felipe Calderón]] first sent troops into Michoacán to regain control of the territory and fight the current drug cartels that had power when he took office in 2006. But his efforts backfired and ended up creating more violence instead. The number of homicides skyrocketed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite report |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep33259.6 |title=Crime and Elections: The Case of Michoacán |last=Group |first=International Crisis |date=2021 |publisher=International Crisis Group |pages=Page 10–Page 18}}</ref> The state of Michoacán has some of the highest murder rates throughout Mexico. In 2013, the criminal group, the [[Knights Templar Cartel]], essentially controlled the state. Although they eventually lost control, excessive criminal violence persisted.<ref name=":0" />

===Killings===
Homicide happens frequently in Michoacán.<ref name="intelysegeneral">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-02 |title=Violence Hotspots in Michoacán: Who Is Behind the High Murder Rate in the State |url=https://intelyse.com/violence-hotspots-michoacan-high-murder-rate/ |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=Intelyse |language=en-US |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925162218/https://intelyse.com/violence-hotspots-michoacan-high-murder-rate/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="apgeneral">{{Cite web |date=2020-02-10 |title=In the heart of Mexico's violence, disillusion grows |url=https://apnews.com/article/859a336e1b94e0360f42575245d58317 |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=AP NEWS |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185230/https://apnews.com/article/859a336e1b94e0360f42575245d58317 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Staff">{{Cite news |date=2019-10-15 |title=More than a dozen police killed in ambush in violent Mexican state |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-violence-idUSKBN1WT23A |access-date=2021-04-24 |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185230/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-violence-idUSKBN1WT23A |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 26–28 October 2019, 9 people and 4 police were killed in a firefight from a search warrant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-28 |title=Violent weekend leaves 13 dead in Michoacan |url=https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2019/10/violent-weekend-leaves-13-dead-in-michoacan/ |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=The Yucatan Times |language=en-US |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185233/https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2019/10/violent-weekend-leaves-13-dead-in-michoacan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
9 people, 3 of whom were children, were killed in a video game arcade on February 3, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-04 |title=9 killed, including 3 kids, at video game arcade in Mexico |url=https://apnews.com/article/16caf11af3f6e983b3ca5354c5872a0d |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=AP NEWS |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185230/https://apnews.com/article/16caf11af3f6e983b3ca5354c5872a0d |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Kidnappings and ransoms===
There have been aggressive disputes in the area,<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor in Mexico's Michoacan state accused of kidnapping, extortion |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-mexico-michoacan-mayor-pacific-port-20140428-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=April 28, 2014 |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203232250/https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-mexico-michoacan-mayor-pacific-port-20140428-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mexico's Kidnapping Hotspots: The High-Risk States |url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/mexicos-kidnapping-hotspots/ |website=InSight Crime |date=March 27, 2017 |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126030510/https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/mexicos-kidnapping-hotspots/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kidnap victim freed in Michoacán after 10-million-peso ransom demand |url=https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/kidnap-victims-freed-in-michoacan/ |website=Mexico News Daily |date=August 10, 2018 |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225195132/https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/kidnap-victims-freed-in-michoacan/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mexican criminal groups see Covid-19 crisis as opportunity to gain more power |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/mexico-criminal-groups-covid-19-crisis-opportunity-gain-power |website=The Guardian |date=April 20, 2020 |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108103618/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/mexico-criminal-groups-covid-19-crisis-opportunity-gain-power |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Nicholas |title=Mexico's Cartel Wars: Living in a War Zone |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/blog/11220-mexico-s-cartel-wars-living-in-a-war-zone |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=www.occrp.org |language=en-GB |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185232/https://www.occrp.org/en/blog/11220-mexico-s-cartel-wars-living-in-a-war-zone |url-status=live }}</ref> such as those over [[Avocado production in Mexico|avocados]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-20 |title=Inside the bloody cartel war for Mexico's multibillion-dollar avocado industry |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-11-20/mexico-cartel-violence-avocados |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425064801/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-11-20/mexico-cartel-violence-avocados |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Drug cartels===
[[File:Tierra caliente map.png|thumb|Michoacán, with [[Guerrero]], covers much of the region of the [[Tierra Caliente (Mexico)|Tierra Caliente]]]]
The rise of drug cartels in Michoacan as the state was going through a political change was pivotal. The cartels are able to pay state officials to do their dirty work for them in exchange for keeping their criminal group up and successful.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Bonner |first=Robert C. |date=2010 |title=The New Cocaine Cowboys: How to Defeat Mexico's Drug Cartels |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25680978 |journal=Foreign Affairs |volume=89 |issue=4 |pages=35–47 |jstor=25680978 |issn=0015-7120}}</ref> Adding on to the fluidity of criminal groups and government officials working together, the hope for Mexico to strengthen its powers back into a non-corrupt state is not high.<ref name=":02" /> [[La Familia Michoacana]], [[Jalisco New Generation Cartel]],<ref name="cjng-cu">{{Cite web |date=2020-12-04 |title=Violence escalates in Michoacán: clash between cartels leaves 6 dead |url=https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/escalating-violence-in-michoacan/ |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=Mexico News Daily |language=en-US |archive-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185233/https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/escalating-violence-in-michoacan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Los Zetas]],<ref name="intelysegeneral" /> [[Beltrán-Leyva Organization]],<ref name="intelysegeneral" /> the [[Knights Templar Cartel]]<ref name="intelysegeneral" /> and [[La Resistencia (gang)|Cárteles Unidos]]<ref name="cjng-cu" /> are some groups that operate in Michoacán. These groups are a threat to the government's security because Michoacán is now the center for drug production in the world. The reason drug cartels seem to thrive in Michoacán is due to what is called the ''[[Tierra Caliente (Mexico)|Tierra Caliente]]'' in the southern part of the State. This region is far from the bustling atmosphere and with roads that are pretty inaccessible, it makes for an ideal place to do criminal activities.<ref name="Aranda 2013 43–66"/>

===Police and militia===
[[Operation Michoacán]], a major effort to combat [[drug cartel]]s and crime in Michoacán, began in 2006 under the presidency of [[Felipe Calderón]]. There are many militias and vigilante groups in Michoacán that serve similar purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mexico's Security Dilemma: The Rise of Michoacan's Militias |url=https://www.insightcrime.org/investigations/mexico-security-rise-militias-michoacan/ |website=InSight Crime |date=March 27, 2017 |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127013351/https://www.insightcrime.org/investigations/mexico-security-rise-militias-michoacan/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Militias in Mexico: Citizens' Security or Further Conflict Escalation? |url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/militias-in-mexico-citizens-security-or-further-conflict-escalation/ |website=InSight Crime |date=March 27, 2017 |access-date=27 December 2020 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122214647/https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/militias-in-mexico-citizens-security-or-further-conflict-escalation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Crime during COVID-19 ===
Due to crime, the [[Bureau of Consular Affairs|United States Bureau of Consular Affairs]] advises not to travel to Michoacán ({{as of|2021|4|lc=y|post=).}} During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico|COVID-19 pandemic]], while the Mexican government was occupied, cartels took advantage as an opportunity to gain more power.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-20 |title=Mexican criminal groups see Covid-19 crisis as opportunity to gain more power |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/mexico-criminal-groups-covid-19-crisis-opportunity-gain-power |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425035049/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/mexico-criminal-groups-covid-19-crisis-opportunity-gain-power |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |access-date=2021-04-24 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Jorgic |first1=Drazen |last2=Sanchez |first2=Uriel |date=2020-06-18 |title=As Mexico focuses on coronavirus, drug gang violence rises |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mexico-cartels-idUSKBN23P1VO |url-status=live |access-date=2021-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424185231/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mexico-cartels-idUSKBN23P1VO |archive-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref> In Michoacán, [[La Familia Michoacana]] cartel decided to give out food to the local community. This was an effort to further embed themselves in a position to control power and to show civilians that they need criminal groups like [[La Familia Michoacana]].<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep24683 |title=Central America and COVID-19: The Pandemic's Impact on Gang Violence |last=Project |first=Armed Conflict Location & Event Data |date=2020 |publisher=Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project}}</ref>

==Demographics==
=== Largest cities===
{{Largest cities
| country = Michoacán
| stat_ref = Source:<ref name=MICHOACANINEGI>{{cite web |url=https://inegi.org.mx/contenidos/programas/ccpv/2020/tabulados/cpv2020_b_mich_01_poblacion.xlsx|title=Censo Michoacán 2020}}</ref>
| list_by_pop =
| div_name = 
| div_link = Municipalities of Michoacán{{!}}Municipality
| city_1 = Morelia| div_1 = Morelia Municipality{{!}}Morelia| pop_1 = 743,275 | img_1 = Catedral_of_morelia.JPG
| city_2 = Uruapan {{!}} Uruapan del Progreso| div_2 = Uruapan| pop_2 = 299,253| img_2 = Uruapan-plaza.jpg
| city_3 = Zamora de Hidalgo| div_3 = Zamora Municipality, Michoacán{{!}}Zamora| pop_3 = 154,546| img_3 = Plaza_de_armas_y_catedral_de_Zamora.jpg
| city_4 = Apatzingán de la Constitución| div_4 =  Apatzingán| pop_4=102,362| img_4 = Catedral_de_Apatzingan.jpg
| city_5 = La Piedad de Cabadas| div_5 = La Piedad| pop_5 =87,042
| city_6 = Zitácuaro| div_6 = Zitácuaro | pop_6 = 86,901
| city_7 = Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán{{!}}Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas| div_7 = Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán{{!}}Lázaro Cárdenas| pop_7 = 83,637
| city_8 = Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacán{{!}}Ciudad Hidalgo| div_8 = Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacán{{!}} Hidalgo| pop_8 = 71,528
| city_9 = 	Sahuayo de Morelos| div_9 = 	Sahuayo| pop_9 = 70,042
| city_10 =	Jacona de Plancarte | div_10= Jacona de Plancarte{{!}} Jacona| pop_10 = 61,510
}}
{{Historical populations 
|shading = on
|footnote =
|1895<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geohive.com/cntry/subspop/mx-pop.aspx |title=Mexico: extended population list |publisher=GeoHive |access-date=July 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311141056/http://www.geohive.com/cntry/subspop/mx-pop.aspx |archive-date=March 11, 2012}}</ref> | 898809
|1900 | 935808
|1910 | 991880 
|1921 | 939849 
|1930 | 1048381 
|1940 | 1182003 
|1950 | 1422717 
|1960 | 1851876 
|1970 | 2324226 
|1980 | 2868824 
|1990 | 3548199 
|1995 | 3870604 
|2000 | 3985667 
|2005 | 3966073 
|2010 | 4351037 
|2015 | 4584471
|2020<ref name="inegi.org.mx" /> | 4748846 
|percentages = on
|state = expanded
}}

Michoacán is the seventh most populated state in Mexico and the average resident has a life expectancy of 73.3 years. It is estimated that each year about 40,000 people immigrate to the state while 78,000 leave, leading to population loss. Of those who leave, about one third go to other places in Mexico and the rest to other countries, principally the United States. The cities with the densest populations are Morelia, Uruapan and Zamora.<ref name="demogr">{{cite web |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_michoacan |title=Perfil Sociodemografico |year=2009 |work=Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Michoacán |publisher=Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal |location=Mexico |language=es |trans-title=Social demographic profile |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517162648/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_Michoacan |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref> The majority of the population are [[mestizos]]; meaning that they are part indigenous, part European (mainly from Spain), and some African.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1007/s12394-010-0074-7 |title="The Map of the Mexican's Genome": Overlapping national identity, and population genomics |year=2010 |last1=Schwartz-Marín |first1=Ernesto |last2=Silva-Zolezzi |first2=Irma |journal=Identity in the Information Society |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=489–514 |s2cid=144786737 |doi-access=free|hdl=10871/33766 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Michoacán is one of the most Catholic regions in Mexico.

[[Charreada]] is an important sport in the state. It celebrates the mestizo culture and heritage of Michoacán; in which the Spaniards employed the indigenous people as [[vaqueros]] or ranchers to herd cattle. During the [[Mexican Revolution]], both sides used [[charros]] as soldiers. They were also used to maintain order against bandits. The typical Michoacán [[charro outfit]] consists of tight, embroidered pants and jacket, dress shirt, chaps, a cloak-like [[sarape]], and a [[sombrero]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Charreada Archivos |url=https://www.lavozdemichoacan.com.mx/tag/charreada/ |website=La Voz de Michoacán |access-date=April 16, 2020 |language=es |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803222706/https://www.lavozdemichoacan.com.mx/tag/charreada/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Michoacán has a history of European immigrants including: Italians, [[Spaniards]], and the French. There are small Italian communities found throughout the state including the cities of [[Nueva Italia, Michoacán]] and [[Lombardia, Michoacán|Lombardia]] in Michoacán, both founded by Dante Cusi from Gambar in [[Brescia]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Alvarado-Sizzo |first1=Ilia |last2=Urquijo Torres |first2=Pedro |title=La 'Espantosa Odisea' italiana en la Hacienda Lombardía. Una fuente documental sobre las Haciendas Cusi en Tierra Caliente de Michoacán (1914) |journal=Tzintzun |year=2018 |pages=274–303 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329360258 |access-date=April 15, 2020}}</ref>
During the [[Spanish Civil War]], 456 children from Spain arrived in Morelia as refugees. Most of them stayed even after the war concluded.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Valera |first1=Payá |title=Los niños españoles de Morelia : el exilio infantil en México |date=October 1, 2002 |publisher=Editorial Milenio |isbn=8497430409 |pages=133–137 |edition=4. |url=https://www.dimensionantropologica.inah.gob.mx/?p=913 |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801140939/https://www.dimensionantropologica.inah.gob.mx/?p=913 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The indigenous population is estimated at just over seven percent of the total, with most living in 29 municipalities.  Many are [[Purépecha people|Purépecha]], which are located in the Meseta-Cañada, Pátzcuaro Lake, Zirahuén Lake, and Zacapu regions. In the east of the state, in the municipalities of Ocampo, Anguangueo, Tuxpan, Hidalgo, Maravatío and Zitácuaro, there is a mix of Mazahua, Otomi and Purépecha. On the coast can be found the Aquila, Chinicuila and Coahuayana peoples.<ref name="demogr"/> The Purépecha are seen as Michoacán's most devoted [[Catholics]]; as well as mixing traditional indigenous elements such as Noche de Muertos.

According to the 2020 Census, 1.55% of Michoacán's population identified as Black, [[Afro-Mexican]], or of African descent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.inegi.org.mx/programas/ccpv/2020/tableros/panorama/ |title=Panorama sociodemográfico de México |website=www.inegi.org.mx |access-date=October 10, 2021 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126013823/https://www.inegi.org.mx/programas/ccpv/2020/tableros/panorama/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Municipalities ==
{{Main|Municipalities of Michoacán}}

Michoacán, as all states of Mexico, is divided into [[Municipalities of Mexico|municipalities]] (''municipios''), creating 113 [[municipalities of Michoacán]].

=== Major communities ===
{{List dispute}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Apatzingán]]
*[[Churumuco]]
*[[Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacán|Ciudad Hidalgo]]
*[[Coalcomán]]
*[[Cotija]]
*[[El Rodeo de San Antonio, Michoácan|El Rodeo de San Antonio]]
*[[Irimbo]]
*[[Jacona de Plancarte]]
*[[Jiquilpan]]
*[[Jungapeo]]
*[[La Huacana Municipality|La Huacana]]
*[[La Piedad, Michoacán|La Piedad de Cavadas]]
*[[Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán|Lázaro Cárdenas]]
*[[Los Reyes, Michoacán|Los Reyes]]
*[[Maravatio]]
*[[Morelia]]
*[[Nueva Italia, Michoacán|Nueva Italia]]
*[[Pátzcuaro]]
*[[Puruandiro]]
*[[Quiroga, Michoacán|Quiroga]]
*[[Sahuayo de Morelos]]
*[[Santa Ana Maya]]
*[[Santa Ines, Michoacán|Santa Ines]]
*[[Tacámbaro]]
*[[Tangancícuaro]]
*[[Tepalcatepec]]
*[[Uruapan]]
*[[Venustiano Carranza, Michoacán|Venustiano Carranza]]
*[[Villa Madero]]
*[[Villamar (municipio)|Villamar]]
*[[Yurécuaro]]
*[[Zacapu]]
*[[Zamora, Michoacán|Zamora de Hidalgo]]
*[[Zináparo]]
*[[Zinapécuaro]]
*[[Zitácuaro]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{portal|Mexico|Latin America|Geography|North America}}
*[[:Category:Natural history of Michoacán|Index: Natural history of Michoacán]]
*[[Ghosts in Mexican culture]]
*[[Purépecha Empire]]
*[[La Familia Michoacana]]
*[[Agriculture in Michoacán]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |editor-last1=Foster |editor-first1=Michael S. |editor-last2=Gorenstein |editor-first2=Shirley |last=Pollard |first=Helen Perlstein |author-link=Helen Perlstein Pollard |date=2000 |title=Greater Mesoamerica: The Archaeology of West and Northwest Mexico |chapter=Tarascans and Their Ancestors: Prehistory of Michoacán |url= |location=[[Salt Lake City]], [[United States]] |publisher=[[University of Utah Press]] |pages=59-70 |isbn=978-0-874-80655-7 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Michoacán}}
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Michoacán |volume=18 |short=x}}
*{{osmrelation|2340636}}
*[http://www.michoacan.gob.mx/ Michoacán state government] (Adobe Flash)
*[http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/michoacan/michoacanindex.html Michoacán, The Soul of Mexico ] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319152235/http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/michoacan/michoacanindex.html |date=March 19, 2009 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051124180823/http://www.municipiosmich.gob.mx/ Municipalities of Michoacán site] (Adobe Flash)

{{Michoacán}}
{{States of Mexico}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michoacan}}
[[Category:Michoacán| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1823]]
[[Category:States of Mexico]]