Linares, Nuevo León

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Linares is a small city in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The city serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of the same name and it is the largest urban centre of the so called "orange belt" region. The city had a 2005 census population of 56,065, while the municipality's population was 71,061. The city and the municipality both rank tenth in population in the state. The municipality has an area of 2,445.2 km² (944.1 sq mi) and lies in the east-southeast part of the state on the border with the state of Tamaulipas. The municipality of Hualahuises is an enclave of Linares municipality.

It was founded on 2 April 1712 by Sebastián Villegas Cumplido and named in honour of the serving Viceroy of New Spain, Fernando de Alencastre Norona y Silva, Duke of Linares.

Linares has a small industrial park and is well communicated to both Monterrey and the Gulf of Mexico through a modern highway. It is also the main gateway to the South of the State.