A Mexican state once terrorized by pirates now powers the nation through offshore oil.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Campeche, a state on the Gulf of Mexico, transformed from a colonial port plagued by legendary pirates into a modern economic powerhouse. While its history is defined by Mayan roots and Spanish fortifications, its recent trajectory was rewritten by a fisherman who spotted an oil slick in 1971.

The name Campeche originates from the Maya chiefdom Can Pech, meaning place of snakes and ticks. By the 16th century, the Spanish established a port there that rivaled Havana and Cartagena in wealth, shipping tropical hardwoods, dyewood, and precious metals. This prosperity made it a prime target for notorious pirates like Henry Morgan and Francis Drake. The city’s vulnerability was laid bare in 1685 when Laurens de Graaf sacked the area for over thirty days, killing roughly one-third of the population. This catastrophe forced the construction of massive defensive walls, portions of which still stand today.

The state’s modern identity shifted dramatically in 1971 when fisherman Rudesindo Cantarell discovered oil in the Sonda de Campeche. By 1975, the first platform, Chac Number One, began operations, and by 1979, the offshore infrastructure was fully established. Today, this region is the heart of Mexico’s petroleum industry, producing 70% of the country’s oil. This boom caused the population of the city of Campeche to triple in a decade and turned the small fishing village of Ciudad del Carmen into a major economic hub.

Despite this wealth, the state faces significant internal disparities. While the average annual salary in Campeche is 141,088 pesos—higher than the national average of 99,114 pesos—this figure masks a deep divide between high-earning, out-of-state oil workers and local residents. Furthermore, the reliance on oil has created environmental challenges, impacting local fishing yields. Today, the state balances its industrial output with efforts to preserve its rich heritage, including the UNESCO-recognized capital and the vast Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, which protects over 723,185 hectares of forest.

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