Baja California

Coordinates: 30°00′N 115°10′W / 30.000°N 115.167°W / 30.000; -115.167
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Baja California
State
Free and Sovereign State of Baja California
Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California (Spanish)
Deputies
)
Area
Area code
Ranked 2nd
WebsiteOfficial website
^ a. 2010 and later. Baja California is the only state to use the U.S. DST schedule state-wide, while the rest of Mexico (except for small portions of other northern states) observes standard time year-round.[6]
United States dollars, with US$1 valued at 12.80 pesos (value of 3 June 2010).[8]

Baja California

Baja California Peninsula, north of the 28th parallel, plus oceanic Guadalupe Island. The mainland portion of the state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean; on the east by Sonora, the U.S. state of Arizona, and the Gulf of California; on the north by the U.S. state of California; and on the south by Baja California Sur
.

The state has an estimated population of 3,769,020 as of 2020,

indigenous descent. Additionally, there is a large immigrant population from the United States due to its proximity to San Diego and the significantly lower cost of living compared to that city. There is also a significant population from Central America. Many immigrants moved to Baja California for a better quality of life and the number of higher-paying jobs in comparison to the rest of Mexico and Latin America
.

Baja California is the 12th-largest state by area in Mexico. Its geography ranges from beaches to forests and deserts. The backbone of the state is the Sierra de Baja California, where

Canal de Ballenas
.

History

Prehistory and Spanish colonial era

The first people came to the peninsula at least 11,000 years ago. At that time, two main native groups are thought to have been present on the peninsula – the

Cocopa, and Quechan. These peoples were diverse in their adaptations to the region. The Cochimí of the peninsula's Central Desert were generalized hunter-gatherers who moved frequently; however, the Cochimí on Cedros Island off the west coast developed a strong maritime economy. The Kiliwa, Paipai, and Kumeyaay in the better-watered northwest were also hunter-gatherers, but that region supported denser populations and a more sedentary lifestyle. The Cocopa and Quechan of northeastern Baja California practiced agriculture in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River
.

Another group of people was the Guachimis, who came from the north and created much of the

UNESCO World Heritage-recognized Sierra de Guadalupe cave paintings. Not much is known about them except that they lived in the area between 100 BC and 1300 AD.[13]

Europeans reached the present state of Baja California in 1539, when Francisco de Ulloa reconnoitered its east coast on the Gulf of California and explored the peninsula's west coast at least as far north as Cedros Island. Hernando de Alarcón returned to the east coast and ascended the lower Colorado River in 1540, and Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo (or João Rodrigues Cabrilho (in Portuguese)) completed the reconnaissance of the west coast in 1542. Sebastián Vizcaíno again surveyed the west coast in 1602, but outside visitors during the following century were few.

The

Ferdinand Konščak made overland explorations northward into the state of Baja California. Jesuit missions were subsequently established among the Cochimí at Santa Gertrudis (1752), San Borja (1762), and Santa María
(1767).

After the

Gaspar de Portolà and Junípero Serra resulted in the first overland exploration of the northwestern portion of the state.[14]

Evolution of the political boundaries of the Californias:
  Palóu Line (1804–1836)
  Gila River; border between Las Californias/Alta California and Sonora (1767–1847)
  Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848–Present)
  Baja California Sur boundary (1931–Present)

The

El Rosario (1774) to Descanso (1817), just south of Tijuana below the Palóu Line
.

In 1804, the Spanish crown divided California into

Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican
missions in the south. The colonial governors were José Joaquín de Arillaga (1804–1805), Felipe de Goicoechea (1806–1814), and José Darío Argüello (1814 – April 11, 1822).

Post-independence, 1821–present

Early republic

California Gold Rush, quickly gained enough population to be admitted to the union as a state. Baja California gains control of where is now the cities of Tijuana, Mexicali, and Tecate from Alta California after the treaty and remained under Mexican control. In 1853, soldier of fortune (mercenary) William Walker captured La Paz, declaring himself president of the Republic of Baja California
. The Mexican government forced his retreat after several months.

Era of Porfirio Díaz

When liberal army general Porfirio Díaz came to power in 1876, he embarked on a major program to develop and modernize Mexico.

Postrevolutionary Mexico

Geography

Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, with Picacho del Diablo in the center

Baja California encompasses a territory within

Peninsular ranges of the California cordillera run down the geographic center of the state. The most notable ranges of these mountains are the Sierra de Juárez and the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. These ranges are the location of forests reminiscent of Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains. Picacho del Diablo is the highest peak on the peninsula. Valleys between the mountain ranges are located within a climate zone that is suitable for agriculture. Such valleys include the Valle de Guadalupe and the Valle de Ojos Negros, areas that produce citrus fruits and grapes. The mineral-rich mountain range extends southwards to the Gulf of California, where the western slope becomes wider, forming the Llanos del Berrendo on the border with Baja California Sur. The mountain ranges located in the center and southern part of the state include the Sierra de La Asamblea, Sierra de Calamajué, Sierra de San Luis and the Sierra de San Borja
.

Encelia californica growing on the Ensenada Municipality coast, typical of the California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion

Temperate winds from the Pacific Ocean and the cold

coastal fog
.

To the east, the Sonoran Desert enters the state from both California and Sonora. Some of the highest temperatures in Mexico are recorded in or nearby the Mexicali Valley.

Mount Signal. The Cucapah are the primary indigenous people from the mountains north to Yuma, Arizona
.

Isla Partida, part of the San Lorenzo Marine Archipelago National Park

There are numerous islands on the Pacific shore. Guadalupe Island is located in the extreme west of the state's boundaries and is the site of large colonies of sea lions. Cedros Island exists in the southwest of the state's maritime region. The Todos Santos islands and Coronado Islands are located off the coasts of Ensenada and Tijuana, respectively. All of the islands in the Gulf of California on the Baja California side belong to the municipality of Mexicali.

Baja California obtains much of its water from the Colorado River. Historically, the river drained into the

American Southwest, less water now reaches the Gulf. The Tijuana metropolitan area also relies on the Tijuana River
as a source of water. Much of rural Baja California depends predominantly on wells, a few dams and even oases. Tijuana also purchases water from San Diego County's Otay Water District. Potable water is the largest natural resource issue of the state.

Climate

Vineyard in the Valle de Guadalupe

Baja California's climate varies from

arid. The Mediterranean climate is found in the northwestern corner of the state, where the summers are dry and mild and the winters cool and rainy. This climate is observed in areas from Tijuana to San Quintín
and nearby interior valleys. The cold oceanic California Current often creates a low-level marine fog near the coast. The fog occurs along any part of the Pacific coast of the state.

Snowfall at Constitution 1857 National Park

The change of altitude towards the Sierra de Baja California creates an

orographic
effects, precipitation is much higher in the mountains of northern Baja California than on the western coastal plain or eastern desert plain. Pine, cedar and fir forests are found in the mountains.

The east side of the mountains produces a rain shadow, creating an extremely arid environment. The Sonoran Desert region of Baja California experiences hot summers and nearly frostless mild winters. The Mexicali Valley (which is below sea level) experiences the highest temperatures in Mexico, frequently surpassing 47 °C (116.6 °F) in mid-summer, and exceeding 50 °C (122 °F) on some occasions.

Further south along the Pacific coast, the Mediterranean climate transitions into a desert climate, but it is milder and not as hot as along the gulf coast. Transition climates, from Mediterranean to desert, can be found from San Quintín to

which?][18]

Flora and fauna

Common trees are the

pinon pine.[19][full citation needed] Understory species include manzanita. There is a variety of reptiles, including the Western fence lizard, which is at the southern extent of its range.[20] The name of the fish genus Bajacalifornia is derived from the Baja California peninsula.[21]

In the main wildlife refuges on the peninsula of Baja California,

desert shrub. Guadalupe Island and its surrounding waters, 250 kilometres (160 mi) off the Pacific coast, has been designated the Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve
to preserve endangered marine and terrestrial species of animals and plants.

The fauna in the parks include a large number of mammals, primarily

.

2010 earthquakes

At 3:40:41 pm PDT on Easter Sunday, 4 April 2010, a 7.2 Mw  (on the

which?] At least a half-dozen aftershocks with magnitudes between 5.0 and 5.4 were reported, including a 5.1-magnitude shaker at 4:14 am that was centered near El Centro.[23] As of 6:31 am PDT on 5 April 2010, two people were confirmed dead.[24]

Government

Municipalities of Baja California in 2020

Municipalities of Baja California

Baja California is subdivided into seven

Rosarito, San Quintín and San Felipe
.

Politics

State elections

Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, the governor of Baja California since 2021

In Baja California, state elections are held every two years (every three years prior to 2019) for the positions of state governor, 25 state deputies of the Congress of Baja California, and 5 municipal mayors. Of the 25 state deputies, 17 are elected by relative majority in each of the electoral districts, while another 8 are elected by proportional representation. The 17 deputies elected by relative majority may be re-elected for up to four consecutive terms, while the other 8 deputies can only serve one term.

During the 2019 Baja California state election, Jaime Bonilla Valdez of the Morena-led Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition won by a margin of 27.58% to become the governor of Baja California. In addition, 21 out of 25 state deputy positions and all 5 municipal mayoral positions were won by candidates aligned with the Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition.

During the 2021 Baja California state election, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda of the Morena-led Juntos Hacemos Historia coalition won by a margin of 17.49% to become the first female governor of Baja California. Of the state's 25 local deputies, 13 were won by Morena-aligned candidates, followed in a distant second place by candidates of the Solidarity Encounter Party (PES), National Action Party (PAN), and Labor Party (PT) with 3 seats each. All 5 municipal mayoral positions were again won by Morena-aligned candidates.

The next state elections are scheduled for 2023.

Federal elections

Presidential election results[25]
Year PRI PAN PRD MORENA
2018
8.86%   
94,296
19.33%   
205,747
63.10%   
671,599
2012
36.99%   
446,192
27.20%   
328,116
31.15%   
375,803
2006
21.38%   
203,233
47.35%   
450,186
23.59%   
224,275
2000
37.04%   
319,477
49.76%   
429,194
8.97%   
77,340
1994
48.92%   
402,332
36.18%   
297,565
8.35%   
68,669

During the 2018 Mexican general election, the presidential vote of Baja California was won by a landslide of almost 44% by Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Morena party. Out of the 8 federal deputies representing Baja California in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, 5 were won by Morena candidates, 2 were won by Social Encounter Party candidates, and 1 was won by a Labor Party candidate. The next Mexican general election is scheduled for 2024.

During the 2021 Mexican legislative election, six of the eight federal deputies representing Baja California in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies were won by Morena candidates, with the other two being won by candidates of the Labor and Ecologist Green parties. The next legislative elections are scheduled for 2024.

Demographics

 
 
Largest cities or towns in Baja California
Source:[26]
Rank
Name
Municipality
Pop.
Tijuana
Tijuana
Mexicali
Mexicali
1 Tijuana Tijuana 1,810,645 Ensenada
Ensenada
Rosarito
Rosarito
2 Mexicali Mexicali 854,186
3 Ensenada Ensenada 330,652
4 Rosarito Playas de Rosarito 100,660
5 Tecate Tecate 81,059
6 Villa del Campo Tijuana 33,360
7 Maneadero Ensenada 27,969
8 Guadalupe Victoria Mexicali 19,081
9 Lázaro Cárdenas San Quintín 18,829
10 San Felipe San Felipe 17,143
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1895 42,875—    
1900 7,583−82.3%
1910 9,760+28.7%
1921 23,537+141.2%
1930 48,327+105.3%
1940 78,907+63.3%
1950 226,965+187.6%
1960 520,165+129.2%
1970 870,421+67.3%
1980 1,177,886+35.3%
1990 1,660,855+41.0%
1995 2,112,140+27.2%
2000 2,487,367+17.8%
2005 2,844,469+14.4%
2010 3,155,070+10.9%
2015 3,315,766+5.1%
2020 3,769,020+13.7%
2015 data from Encuesta Intercensal 2015.[4]
Religion in Baja California (2010 census)[27]
Roman Catholicism
72.1%
Other Christian
15.1%
Other religion
0.1%
No religion
10.0%
Unspecified
2.7%
Los Pioneros monument in Mexicali, dedicated to the pioneers that settled the region

Although the state is more European in ancestry, it has historically seen sizable East and Southeast Asian immigrant population. Mexicali has a large Chinese community, as well as many

Asian Americans were present in California.[citation needed
]

According to the 2020 Census, 1.71% of Baja California's population identified as Black,

Afro-Mexican, or of African descent.[28]

Since 1960, large numbers of migrants from southern Mexican states have arrived to work in agriculture (especially the Mexicali Valley and nearby Imperial Valley, California, U.S.) and manufacturing. The cities of Ensenada, Tijuana, and Mexicali grew as a result of migrants, primarily those who sought U.S. citizenship. Those temporary residents awaiting their entry into the United States are called flotillas, which is derived from the Spanish word flota, meaning 'fleet'.[citation needed]

There is also a sizable immigrant community from Central and South America, and from the United States and Canada. An estimated 200,000+ American

expatriates live in the state, especially in coastal resort towns such as Ensenada, known for affordable homes purchased by retirees who continue to hold U.S. citizenship. San Felipe, Rosarito and Tijuana also have a large American population (second largest in Mexico after Mexico City), particularly for their cheaper housing and proximity to San Diego.[citation needed
]

Some 60,000 Oaxacans live in Baja California. Some 40% of them lack proper birth certificates.[29]

According to a

Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) investigator, a little under a million people were classified as "poor" in the state, up from 2008 when there were roughly 810,000. Exactly who these people are, whether locals, interstate or international migrants, was not explained.[30]

Education

Baja California offers one of the best educational programs in the country, with high rankings in schooling and achievement.

The state government provides education and qualification courses to increase the workforce standards, such as school–enterprise linkage programs which help the development of a labor force according to the needs of the industry.

91.60% of the population from six to fourteen years of age attend elementary school. 61.95% of the population over fifteen years of age attends or has already graduated from high school. Public school is available in all levels from kindergarten to university.

The state has 32 universities offering 103 professional degrees. These universities have 19 research and development centers for basic and applied investigation in advanced projects related to biotechnology, physics, oceanography, computer science, digital geothermal technology, astronomy, aerospace, electrical engineering and clean energy, among others. At this educational level, supply is steadily growing. Baja California has developed a need to be self-sufficient in matters of technological and scientific innovation and to be less dependent on foreign countries. Current businesses demand new production processes as well as technology for the incubation of companies. The number of graduate degrees offered, including PhD programs, is 121. The state has 53 graduate schools.[31]

Economy

Filming of Master and Commander at Baja Film Studios. Located in Rosarito, Baja Film Studios has become one of the premier production facilities with horizon tanks.[32]

As of 2005, Baja California's economy represents 3.3% of Mexico's gross domestic product, or US$21.996 billion.[33][full citation needed] Baja California's economy has a strong focus on tariff-free export oriented manufacturing (maquiladora). As of 2005, 284,255 people are employed in the manufacturing sector.[33] There are more than 900 companies operating under the federal Prosec program in Baja California.

Employment

In 2021, Baja California generated 57,550 new jobs, about 15.2 jobs per 1000 inhabitants, making it the 5th highest in the country and the second highest of any border state behind

Tecate. Industries that experienced the highest degree of growth in 2021 include transformative industries, transport and communication, commerce, and construction.[34]

As of November 2021, Baja California has the highest

employment rate of any state in northern Mexico, with a rate of 96.7%.[34]

Economic investment

As of September 2021, Baja California receives the third highest amount of foreign direct investment of any state in Mexico, constituting about 7.7% of the national total and behind only Nuevo León (7.7%) and Mexico City (16.5%). About 81.4% of Baja California's foreign domestic investment comes from the United States, of which 50.3% comes from the construction of natural gas pipelines and 8.2% comes car and truck manufacturing.[34]

Real estate

The Foreign Investment Law of 1973[35][36] allows foreigners to purchase land within the borders and coasts of Mexico by way of a trust handled through a Mexican bank (Fideicomiso). This trust assures to the buyer all the rights and privileges of ownership, and it can be sold, inherited, leased, or transferred at any time. Since 1994, the Foreign Investment Law stipulates that the Fideicomiso must be to a 50-year term[clarify], with the option to petition for a 50-year renewal at any time.[37]

Any Mexican citizen buying a bank trust property has the option to either remain within the trust or opt out of it and request the title in escritura.[further explanation needed]

Mexico's early history involved foreign invasions and the loss of vast amounts of land; in fear of history being repeated, the Mexican constitution established the concept of the "Restricted Zone".[38] In 1973, in order to bring in more foreign tourist investment, the Bank Trust of Fideicomiso was created, thus allowing non-Mexicans to own land without any constitutional amendment necessary.[39] Since the law went into effect, it has undergone many modifications in order to make purchasing land in Mexico a safer investment.

Highways

Media

Newspapers of Baja California include[40] El Centinela, El informador de Baja California, El Mexicano (edición Tijuana), El Mexicano Segunda Edición, El Sol de Tijuana, El Vigía, Esto de las Californias, Frontera, La Crónica de Baja California, La Voz de la Frontera, and Semanario Zeta.[41][42]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This state is often informally referred to as Baja California Norte (literally "Lower California North" in English) or Baja Norte, to distinguish it from both the Baja California peninsula as a whole, of which it forms the northern half, and Baja California Sur, the adjacent state that covers the southern half of the peninsula. While Baja Norte and Baja California Norte are well-established terms for the northern half of the Baja California peninsula, they do not officially exist as political designations for any state or region. The latter name (Baja California Norte) was officially adopted from 1974 to 1979,[10] and endured unofficially thereafter.[11] In other words, "The northern state is officially known as Baja California, but since that name is easily confused with the name for the entire peninsula, it is commonly referred to by visitors and locals alike as Baja Norte."[12]
  2. ^ Delta in the northeast recorded 54.0 °C (129.2 °F) on 3 August 1998.
  3. SEMARNAT believes this to be the first viable plan presented.[citation needed
    ]

References

  1. ^ a b "México en cifras". January 2016.
  2. ^ "Transformación Política de Territorio Norte de la Baja California a Estado 29" [Political Transformation of the North Territory of Peninsula de California to the 29th State] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  3. ^ "Medio Físico del Estado de Baja California" [Landscape of the State of Baja California]. Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. ^
    INEGI. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  5. ^ Citibanamex (13 June 2023). "Indicadores Regionales de Actividad Económica 2023" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Daylight Saving Time Around the World 2023". timeanddate.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022.
  7. INEGI. 2010. p. 40. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  8. ^ "Reporte: Jueves 3 de Junio del 2010. Cierre del peso mexicano" [Report: Thursday, 3 June 2010. Close of the Mexican peso] (in Spanish). PesoMexicano. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  9. ^ Saldierna, J. F. Promexico. Editorial Emán. p. 68.
  10. ^ Lands and Peoples: North America (Volume 5 of Lands and Peoples, Grolier, 2005), p. 390.
  11. Times of San Diego
    (23 Apr 2021).
  12. ^ Jones, Fred and Jones, Gloria. Baja Camping: The Complete Guide, p. 6 (Avalon Travel Publishing, 1994).
  13. UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Archived
    from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  14. ^ "History of Riverside County, California". Mocavo. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016.
  15. San Diego Historical Society. Archived from the original
    on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  16. The University of Arizona Press
    . p. 74.
  17. ^ "Normales Climatológicas 1971–2000". Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original (TXT) on 25 June 2007.
  18. .
  19. ^ Brandegee, Katharine Layne; Brandegee, Townshend Stith (1894). "Flora of the Cape Region". Zoe: A Biological Journal. 4 (4). Zoe Publishing Company – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  20. ^ Hogan, C. Michael (30 August 2008). Stromberg, Nicklas (ed.). "Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)". Globaltwitcher. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. .
  22. on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  23. ^ Associated Press (4 April 2010). "At Least Two Die In 7.3-Magnitude Baja Quake". KTVU. KTVU. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  24. CNN Wire. Archived
    from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  25. ^ "Resultados de las Elecciones Federales – México 2012" [Federal Election Results – Mexico 2012] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 March 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  26. ^ "Censo Baja California 2020".
  27. INEGI. 2011. Archived from the original
    on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  28. ^ "Panorama".
  29. ^ López, Citlalli (28 November 2012). "Con problemas en acta de nacimiento 40% de oaxaqueños en Baja California" [40% of Oaxacans in Baja California have problems with birth certificates]. Noticiasnet (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  30. ^ Galván, Rocío (15 October 2016). "Aumentó pobreza en BC, de 2008 al 2014" [Poverty increased in BC, from 2008 to 2014]. El Sol de Tijuana (in Spanish). Organización Editorial Mexicana. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016.
  31. ^ "Education System". Invest in Baja. Mexicali, Baja California: Secretariat of Economic Development. 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014.
  32. ^ Muttalib, Bashirah (21 May 2007). "Twentieth Century Fox sells Baja". Variety. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. The studio ultimately became one of the industry's premier water-tank facilities.
  33. ^ a b Industrial Costs in Mexico – A Guide for Foreign Investors 2007 (Report). Mexico City: Bancomext. 2007. p. 86.
  34. ^ a b c "Panorama Económico de Baja California - Enero de 2022" (PDF). Secretario de Economía e Innovación de Baja California. January 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  35. ^ "Foreign Investment Law" (PDF). gob.mx. Government of Mexico. 9 March 1973. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  36. S2CID 154227798
    .
  37. ^ "Mexico and Direct Foreign Ownership of Coastal Property". MexiData.info. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 16 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  38. ^ "The Restricted Zone in Mexico". Penner & Associates. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  39. ^ Restrepo, Mario. "Buying Real Estate in Baja? You Need a Fideicomiso!". Baja Open House. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  40. .
  41. ^ "Publicaciones periódicas en Baja California". Sistema de Información Cultural (in Spanish). Gobierno de Mexico. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  42. ^ "Latin American & Mexican Online News". Research Guides. San Antonio, TX: University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020.

Further reading

External links