The territory that today makes up Quintana Roo was part of the State of Yucatan until 1902. Then, the federal government decided to separate the territory and take control because in those years Yucatan did not have the resources needed to pacify the conflict with the Mayans in the east of the peninsula. In addition, it was essential to establish economic and political control by finally defining the border of Mexico with Belize and Guatemala and also to take advantage of the abundant natural resources in the region.
Later, in an economic study carried out in 1967, the Government of Mexico concluded that tourism was growing faster than other industries and set out to find areas with potential for development as beach destinations. One of the places chosen was a sand bar on the coast of the Territory of Quintana Roo called Cancun. The development of Cancun began in 1970 and that triggered the possibility of turning the Territory of Quintana Roo into a federated state.
Thus, on October 8, 1974, the State of Quintana Roo was created, along with Baja California Sur, so this year it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Its name is taken from the Yucatecan lawyer, poet and politician Andrés Quintana Roo, an insurgent in the process of independence of Mexico.
