Hidalgo

State of central Mexico; area 20,987 sq km/8,103 sq mi; population (2000 est) 2,231,400. The northern and eastern parts are mountainous, with peaks up to 3,000 m/10,000 ft, while the southern and western areas are lower and more level, but semi-arid. Its capital is Pachuca de Soto. The main occupation is silver mining, producing two-thirds of Mexican silver. Gold, copper, mercury, opals, and lead are also mined. Cereals, sugar-cane, cotton, coffee, and tobacco are farmed, and industries include the production of transport equipment, textiles, and cement.

The state was named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the 19th-century revolutionary leader. The Matamoros–Mexico City highway crosses the state.