Culiacán

Culiacán ( kuljaˈkan ) is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city (census of 2010), and 858,638 in the municipality. While the municipality has a total area of 4,758 km² (1,837 sq mi), the city itself is dense, at only 65 km² (25 sq mi).

The city is located in a valley at the confluence of the Tamazula and Humaya Rivers, where the two meet to form the Culiacán River, and is located 55 meters above sea level. It is located in the center of the state with almost equal distance to the other urban centers of the state: Los Mochis to the north, and Mazatlán to the south.

History

Precolonial period

The most accepted translation would be Colhuacan "place of those who adore the crooked god Coltzin". Other translation may be that come from the word coahuacan, which can mean "palace of snakes". Before the Spaniards arrived from Europe, this site had been a small Indian settlement since 628 when Amerindians had first founded it.