No U.S. State Borders Morelia, Mexico—It's Deep in Michoacán

Morelia—the capital of Michoacán state—is located in central Mexico, roughly 300 km (185 mi) west of Mexico City and over 1,000 km (620 mi) from the nearest U.S. border (Texas). No U.S. state shares a border with it.

Geographic Context

• Coordinates: 19.7°N, 101.2°W
• Elevation: 1,920 m (6,300 ft)
• Region: Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, near Lake Cuitzeo
• Distance to U.S. border crossings:
  • Laredo, TX: ~1,100 km (680 mi)
  • El Paso, TX: ~1,300 km (810 mi)
  • Nogales, AZ: ~1,500 km (930 mi)

Mexican States Bordering the U.S.

Only six Mexican states touch the U.S.:

1. Baja California
2. Sonora
3. Chihuahua
4. Coahuila
5. Nuevo León
6. Tamaulipas

Michoacán is two states removed from the border (Jalisco and Guanajuato lie between).

Why the Confusion?

Morelia is a major city (population ~850,000 metro), a UNESCO World Heritage site (colonial center), and a cultural hub. Its prominence may lead some to assume it's a border city—but it's firmly in Mexico's interior.