Baja California Sur

Capital - Other Cities and Attractions

Baja California Sur is one of the 31 States of Mexico, occupying the part of the Baja California Peninsula south of the 28th parallel. It is bordered to the north by the state of Baja California, to the west by the Pacific Ocean, and to the east by the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortés.

The state is known for its natural riches, and for its tourism. In the north is located the Vizcaíno Desert, as well as the small coastal lakes of San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre, which are protected by the federal government. The state includes the Pacific islands of Natividad, Magdalena, and Santa Margarita, as well as the islands of San Marcos, Coronados, Carmen, Monserrat, Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz, San Diego, San José, San Francisco, Partida, Espíritu Santo, and Cerralvo, which are located in the Gulf of California.

In 2003, its estimated population was 463,500 people. The state is also home to the tourist resorts of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Its biggest, most populated city and capital is La Paz, yet another tourist resort and historic landmark. It also includes Loreto, the historic first capital of all three Californias (Baja California Sur, Baja California, and the American state of California), and site of a historic church designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Fortún Jiménez de Bertadoña discovered the Baja California Peninsula in early 1534. However, it was Hernán Cortés who recognized the peninsula as the 'Island of California' in May 1535, and is therefore officially credited with the discovery.

On October 19, 1697 Jesuit priest Juan María de Salvatierra established the first permanent mission in Baja California Sur, dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto. The Jesuits were expelled from the peninsula on February 3, 1768 leaving behind 70 years of cultural legacy, along with 18 missions and 2 visitas ('visiting missions' or 'country chapels'). In April of the same year the first Franciscan friars led by Junípero Serra arrived, but they were eventually replaced by the Dominicans in 1772.

On October 2, 1847 the army of the United States was defeated near the town of Mulegé by Captain Manuel Pineda, as part of the Mexican-American War. As a consequence of this battle, the U.S. invaders were forced to withdraw from the peninsula and could not lay claim to it as part of the new territories acquired through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848.

In 1853, a group of 45 Americans, led by journalist William Walker, without the authorization of the United States Government, captured the city of La Paz, before the Mexican Army forced the Americans to retreat back to the United States.

The territories of Baja California Sur and Baja California were created in 1888 under the government of President Porfirio Díaz. Baja California Sur acquired full statehood on September 24, 1974.