Culiacán

Culiacán
City
Culiacán Rosales
Left to right: Panoramic view of the city · Culiacán Botanical Garden · Culiacán Cathedral · Tres Ríos District · Monumental letters · Tomateros de Culiacán baseball monument · Sunset in Culiacán
Nickname: 
La Perla del Humaya
(The Pearl of the Humaya)
Culiacán
Location in Sinaloa
Culiacán
Location in Mexico
Coordinates: 24°48′25″N 107°23′38″W / 24.80694°N 107.39389°W / 24.80694; -107.39389
CountryMexico
StateSinaloa
MunicipalityCuliacán
Foundation1531
Government
 • Municipal presidentJuan de Dios Gámez Mendívil (Morena)
Area
 • City
65 km2 (25 sq mi)
Elevation
71 m (233 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
860,500
 • Density13,000/km2 (34,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,003,530
Demonym(s)culiacanense, "culichi"
GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
 • Year2023
 • Total (metro area)$17.8 billion
 • Per capita$20,000
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
WaterwaysTamazula River, Humaya River, Culiacán River
AirportsFederal de Bachigualato International Airport
Public transitRedPlus
RailroadsFerromex Culiacán Station
Websitewww.culiacan.gob.mx

Culiacán, officially Culiacán Rosales, is the capital and largest city of Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico. It is located within the Culiacán Municipality. The city was founded on 29 September 1531 by the Spanish conquistadors Lázaro de Cebreros and Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán originally under the name "Villa de San Miguel", in honor of its patron saint Michael the Archangel.

According to the 2020 INEGI census, Culiacán had an estimated population of 808,416, making it the 21st most populous city in Mexico. Its metropolitan area, with a population of 1,003,530, was the 17th most populous metropolitan area in Mexico.

The city sits in a valley on the slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental, at the confluence of the Tamazula and Humaya Rivers, where both join to form the Culiacán River 55 meters above sea level.