Monterrey
Monterrey (/ˌmɒntəˈreɪ/ ⓘ MON-tə-RAY, Spanish: [monteˈrej] ⓘ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the second largest city in Mexico behind Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, Monterrey is a major North American business and industrial hub, as well as the most populous city in Northern Mexico.
Monterrey | |
|---|---|
|
Flag Seal | |
| Nicknames: Sultan of the North, City of the Mountains, Mexican Industrial Capital | |
| Motto: Work Tempers the Spirit | |
Monterrey Location of Monterrey within Mexico Monterrey Monterrey (Mexico) Monterrey Monterrey (North America) | |
| Coordinates: 25°40′N 100°18′W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Nuevo León |
| Municipality | Monterrey |
| Founded | September 20, 1596 |
| Founded as | Ciudad Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey (English translation: Metropolitan city of Our Lady of Monterrey) |
| Founded by | Diego de Montemayor |
| Named for | Gaspar de Zúñiga, 5th Count of Monterrey |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas |
| Area | |
| • City | 324.8 km2 (125.4 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 958 km2 (370 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 7,657.5 km2 (2,956.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 540 m (1,770 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City | 1,142,194 |
| • Rank | 23rd in North America 9th in Mexico |
| • Density | 3,415/km2 (8,845/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 5,341,171 |
| • Urban density | 4,500/km2 (11,600/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 5,341,171 |
| • Demonym | Regiomontano(a) Regio(a) |
| GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values) | |
| • Year | 2023 |
| • Total (Metro) | $190.3 billion |
| • Per capita | $37,200 |
| Time zone | [[UTC−6]] (CST) |
| Website | (in Spanish) www |
| The words "Ciudad de Monterrey" shown on the flag and seal translate to "City of Monterrey" in English. | |
The city is anchor to the Monterrey metropolitan area, the second-largest in Mexico with an estimated population of 5,341,171 people as of 2020 and the second most productive metropolitan area in Mexico with a GDP (PPP) of US$140 billion in 2015. According to the 2020 census, the city itself has a population of 1,142,194.
Monterrey is one of the most livable cities in Mexico, and a 2018 study found that suburb San Pedro Garza García is the city with the best quality of life in Mexico. It serves as a commercial center of northern Mexico and is the base of many significant international corporations. Its purchasing power parity-adjusted GDP per capita is considerably higher than the rest of Mexico's at around US$35,500, compared to the country's US$18,800. It is considered a Beta World City, cosmopolitan and competitive. Rich in history and culture, it is one of the most developed cities in Mexico.
The uninterrupted settlement of Monterrey was founded by Diego de Montemayor in 1596. In the years after the Mexican War of Independence, Monterrey became an important business center. The city experienced great industrial growth following the establishment of the Monterrey Foundry in 1900. The city has prominent positions in sectors such as steel, cement, glass, auto parts, and brewing. Monterrey's economic growth has been attributed in part to its proximity to the United States-Mexico border and economic links to the United States.