Guerrero << guh REHR oh >> is a state on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It covers an area of 24,819 square miles (64,281 square kilometers). At the time of the 2020 census, the population was 3,540,685. Guerrero became a state in 1849. It is named after Vicente Guerrero, the second president of Mexico and a hero in Mexico’s struggle for independence (1810-1821). The capital is Chilpancingo.
Many people in Guerrero farm for a living. Tourism is also an important source of income and employs many people in coastal areas. Rugged mountains, beautiful beaches, and Spanish colonial cities make Guerrero a popular destination for both Mexicans and people from other countries. The cities of Acapulco, Ixtapa, and Zihuatanejo are important centers of tourism. The city of Taxco produces silverware.
Before the Spanish conquered central Mexico in the early 1500’s, Guerrero was home to a number of American Indian groups, including the Mixtec. Today, many of their descendants in Guerrero practice small-scale agriculture. Large agricultural businesses operate commercial plantations on the coasts and in the tropical lowlands. Forests at higher elevations in remote parts of the state have attracted big lumber companies. For many years, Indian communities have struggled with the agribusiness, logging, and tourism industries over land rights. Today, many residents of Guerrero live in extreme poverty.
