The State of Guerrero is a state in the southern meridional region of Mexico. With an area of , it occupies about 3.3% of Mexican territory. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the south (500 km), Michoacán to the west (524 km), Oaxaca to the east (241 km), and Mexico State (216 km), Morelos (88 km), and Puebla to the north (128 km). Guerrero is named in honor of the second president of the republic, General Vicente Ramón Guerrero Saldaña (August 10, 1782 – February 14, 1831), a hero of the Mexican War of Independence. In 2003, the population was estimated at 3,167,400 people.

The state capital is Chilpancingo de los Bravo. Besides Chilpancingo, its principal cities are Acapulco, Petatlan, Taxco, Iguala, and Zihuatanejo.

Guerrero is an important tourist destination. There are three main areas of tourism, known as the Triángulo del Sol (triangle of the sun). The first is Acapulco. The second is Taxco, a colonial town noted for its silverware. The third is Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Ixtapa was a destination created by the federal government during the slow economy of the 1980s to increase tourism.

History

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the mountain and coastal regions of Guerrero were occupied by Nahuatl-speaking people who practiced Slash and burn farming in the tropical forests and cultivated small irrigated fields along the numerous river valleys. The Spanish conquest brought dramatic declines in the native population. However, unlike many other portions of Mexico, this decline was not offset by significant Spanish settlement. Rough topography, the low potential for economic development, and perceived health hazards were disincentives to settlement. As a result, agriculture and cattle raising were not common in the region until well into the 19th century. While Guerrero has experienced significant population growth and economic development during the last 60 years, the geographic pattern and character of this growth remain strongly influenced by the state's rugged physiography and limitations on transportation.

Geography

In most of Guerrero, a hot and humid climate with a summer rainy season prevails, although it has a complex geographical morphology that allows a more temperate climate in the central and northern regions.

Government and politics

The Constitution of the State of Guerrero provides that the government of Guerrero, like that of every other state in Mexico, consists of three powers: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.

Executive power rests in the governor of Guerrero, who is directly elected by the citizens, using a secret ballot, to a 6-year term, with no possibility of reelection. Legislative power rests in the Congress of Guerrero, which is a unicameral. Judicial power is invested in the Superior Court of Justice of Guerrero.

Municipalities

main: Municipalities of Guerrero The State of Guerrero is divided into 7 regions (regiones): Acapulco, Centro, Costa Chica, Costa Grande, Montaña, Norte, and Tierra Caliente. These are subdivided into 81 municipalities, each headed by a municipal president (mayor). Most municipalities are named after the city that serves as municipal seat; e.g., the municipal seat of the Municipality of Chilpancingo is the City of Chilpancingo de los Bravos.