Finding Place-Names in the Family History Library Catalog

Place-names in the Family History Library Catalog are generally listed under the modern names and current state. To find the state under which a town is filed in the Family History Library Catalog, use the “see” references on the first microfiche in the Locality section of the Family History Library Locality for Mexico. If you are using the catalog on compact disc, use the “Locality Browse” search. The computer will find cataloged places with that name.

Because of the many changes in place-names, the Family History Library uses one reference source as a standard guide for listing places in the Family History Library Catalog. Regardless of the names a place may have had at various times, all extant places in Mexico are listed in the Family History Library Catalog by the name they are listed under in:

XI Censo General de Población y Vivienda, 1990 (XI General Census of Population and Residences, 1990). Mexico City: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, 199–. (FHL book 972 X22m 1990; FHL CD no. 28; computer number 0229945.)

This source lists the names the places had in 1990, organized by state, municipio, and then alphabetically by locality.

Historical Place-Names

Because names and boundaries of some places have changed or no longer exist, you may need to use sources that describe places as they were known earlier. Some of the historical national censuses, encyclopedias, and gazetteers that identify places in Mexico are:

IX Censo General de Población, 1970 (IX General Census of the Population, 1970). Mexico City: Talleres Gráficos de las Nación, 1970. 3 vols. (FHL book Ref 972 X22m; films 1102981–1102981; computer number 0316464.)

Localidades de la República por Entidades Federativas y Municipios [del] VIII Censo General de Población,1960 (VIII General Census of the Population, 1960: localities of the Republic by state and county). Mexico City: Taleres Gráficos de la Nación, 1963. 2 vols. (FHL book 972 X2m; film 0873575; computer number 0253393.)

Datos Preliminares, Sujetos a Rectificación, de Censo General de Habitantes de 1930, por Municipios (Preliminary Information, Subject to Correction, from the General Census of the Population, 1930: By County). Mexico City: Dirección de los Censos, 1930. (Film 0547084 item 11; computer number 0341013.)

División Municipal de las Entidades Federativas en 1938 (County Divisions of the States in 1938). Mexico City: Dirección General de Estadística, 1938. (FHL book 972 E2d; film 0896970; computer number 03550578.)

Diccionario Porrúa de Historia, Biografía y Geografía de México (Porrua’s Historical, Biographical and Geographical Dictionary of Mexico). Mexico City: Editorial Porrúa, 1995. 4vols. (FHL book 972 E5d 1995; computer number 0398845.)

García-Cubas, Antonio. Diccionario Geográfico, Histórico y Biográfico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (Geographical, Historical and Biographical Dictionary of the United States of Mexico). Mexico City: Antigua Murguia, 1888–1891. 5 vols. (FHL book 972 E5g; films 1102587–1102588; computer number 0108601.)

Enciclopedia de México (Encyclopedia of Mexico). 12 vols. Ciudad de México: Enciclopedia de México, 1966–1976. (FHL book 972 A5em; computer number 0149057.)

These sources are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under:

MEXICO - GAZETTEERS MEXICO - CENSUS