Tepic, a territory of Mexico facing on the Pacific Ocean and bounded N., E. and S. by Sinaloa, Durango and Jalisco. Area 11,275 sq. m. Pop. (1900) 150,098. The active volcano of Ceboruco rises in the western part of the territory. The slopes and valleys are densely wooded, the lower regions being very fertile and adapted to tropical agriculture. The rainfall is abundant, and the climate hot, damp and malarial. The Rio Grande de Lerma, or Santiago, is the principal river, whose sources are to be found on the high plateau in the state of Mexico. The next largest river is the Mezquital, which has its sources in the state of Durango, not far from the city of that name. The products of the territorial coast lands are sugar, cotton, tobacco, maize, palm oil, coffee, fine woods and medicinal plants. Mining attracts much attention in the sierras, and its mineral deposits are rich. There are cotton and cigarette factories at the town of Tepic, besides sugar works and distilleries on the plantations. The capital of the territory is Tepic (pop. 1900, 15,488), attractively situated on a small plateau 2 9 50 ft. above sea level, 26 m. E. by S. of its port, San Blas, with which it is connected by rail.
The territory of Tepic was detached.from the State of Jalisco in 1889 on account of the belligerent attitude of its population, chiefly composed of Indians. A territorial form of government places it more directly under the control of the national executive.
