Monclova is a city in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. It is located at 101° 25' 20" West 26° 54' 37" North, in the state's central region (Región Centro). There were about 200,000 inhabitants in 2004.

Monclova is the largest city in Coahuila after Saltillo and Torreón.

Rivalry with Saltillo

During the colonial period and the first years of the 19th century, Monclova served as the capital of Nueva Extremadura. It remained the capital during the early years of Mexico's independence.

With the adoption of the 1824 Constitution, which created the state of Coahuila y Tejas, the capital was transferred to Saltillo. In 1828, this decision was overturned when Monclova was declared the capital of the new state; the following year, however, the state legislature continued to convene in Saltillo. On 9 March 1833, the state legislature settled the dispute in Monclova's favour, and this decision was ratified by President Antonio López de Santa Anna on 2 December 1834. However, with the enactment of the 1836 Constitutional Laws (whereby the federal republic was converted into a centralised one), the state of Coahuila y Tejas was divided into two departments – Coahuila and Tejas (or Texas, as it would later become) – and Saltillo was settled as Coahuila's capital.

External links

• Official webpage (http://www.monclova.gob.mx/monclova.htm) (in Spanish)
• Municipal information on Coahuila state website (http://www.coahuila.gob.mx/gobierno/conoce/acercade/municipios/monclova.htm) (in Spanish)