Colima

Colima (Spanish: /koˈlima/), officially the Free Province of Colima (Provincia Libre de Colima) is a Mejican province located in the Bajío region. It is almost completely encircled by the province of Jalisco, and to its east lies the province of Michoacán, while to the southwest lies the Pacific Ocean. It is the least populous province in the Mejican Empire, with a population of 1.4 million inhabitants. Its capital city is the port of Santiago de Buena Esperanza, and other major cities include Colima, Almolonía and Tecomán. It is also one of the smallest provinces in Mejico, with a surface area of 5,627 km2, and is subdivided into 10 municipalities.

Colima was home to several pre-Hispanic cultures. Archaeological evidence dates human occupation of the area back to 1500 BC. Among the indigenous groups that inhabited the area were the Comala, Chanal, Tecos, Purépechas, and the Nahua, who established the Kingdom of Colliman. In 1523, the explorer Gonzalo de Sandoval brought the local indigenous peoples under Spanish rule. Colima became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and was later integrated into the territory of the Kingdom of New Galicia. As part of this, the region experienced the establishment of Spanish cities and towns, as well as the construction of churches and missions. The city of Colima, founded in 1527, became an important colonial and commercial center. The port of Santiago de Buena Esperanza played an important role in the northward expeditions ordered by Hernán Cortés, which later led to the discovery of the Fulgencines. Cortés de San Buenaventura set out to conquer the north, covering the rest of the province and moving into what is now southern Sinaloa. Later, the port would be a target for pirates, as the Manila galleons unloaded materials from the East Indies here.

Colima lost territory during the colonial period until 1822, and later in the 19th century. From the beginning of the colonial period, Colima was a province answerable to Mexico City. In 1789, the parish of Colima was incorporated into the diocese of Guadalajara. In 1796, Colima became a sub-delegation of the province of Guadalajara.

In 1825, with the first constitution of Mexico, Colima was an independent territory. It became part of Michoacán in 1837, but in 1846 it regained its independence. Colima was the provisional seat of the liberal government of Benito Juárez in 1860 during the Liberal Insurgency, but it fell to the forces of the conservative general Miguel Miramón in 1864, dissolving the Juárez congress. At the end of the 19th century industry was introduced with textile factories, telegraph lines were installed, and railroads were expanded in the province. Likewise, telephone service was incorporated in 1883.

During the Civil War there were no major battles, but there were local clashes. In 1911, Maderista troops entered Colima and suspended the provincial congress, and demands for agrarian reform arose, being Colima the cradle of the first ejido, established in 1915. During the Vasconcello period, the regime imposed authoritarian control. The province experienced the concentration of power in the hands of the leader and his governors. Political freedoms and democratic participation were suppressed, and any form of opposition was repressed, with the Colima Riots of 1949 being one of the most notorious. Development and modernization projects were also promoted, building roads, railroads, bridges, and connecting the city of Santiago de Buena Esperanza with Guadalajara by means of the Mexican High Speed Train in 1955.

Colima's economy is significantly advanced, marked by the growth of key industries and sectors. Advanced manufacturing drives the region's economy, producing high-tech electronics, aerospace components, and precision machinery for both domestic and international markets. The agricultural sector has adopted sustainable practices and biotechnology, resulting in increased yields of quality crops while minimizing environmental impact. Colima has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, with wind farms and solar installations contributing substantially to the energy mix. The region's focus on information technology and software development has attracted tech companies, fostering innovation and digitalization. Pharmaceutical and biotech industries have also expanded, contributing to medical research and development. Colima's corporatist model, characterized by collaboration between government, businesses, and labor unions, has played a vital role in this progress, ensuring coordinated growth and strategic development across sectors.