During the Spanish colonial era the city was the capital of the Nueva Vizcaya province of New Spain, which consisted mostly of what became the Mexican states of Durango and Chihuahua.

[11] The site was chosen because of its proximity to the Cerro de Mercado, thought at the time to contain reserves of silver, but instead was found to be an important source of iron.

This was because the mines in Parral had started to give out and the reduction in violence as the Spanish government succeeded in subduing the native peoples.

[6] Durango provided peak influence during the 18th century because of the mining of various minerals in the nearby Sierra Madre Occidental.

Mayors of the city concentrated on improving infrastructure, such as government buildings, hospitals, water supply lines, and public streets.

Director Jack Smith discovered La Ferrería Hacienda and found the landscape perfect for Western films.

These included Robert Wagner, Clark Gable, Charlton Heston, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Glenn Ford, Anthony Quinn, and especially John Wayne, who shot seven films and bought a ranch called La Joya.

[14] More recent stars to work here include John Cusack, Kevin Costner, Salma Hayek, Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Brendan Fraser.

[11] Victoria de Durango is located 1,880 metres (6,170 ft) above sea level in the Valley of Guadiana,[8][10] which is in the north of Mexico on the northwestern edge of the Central Mexican Highlands.

It is in the southern part of the state, bordered by the municipalities of Canatlán, Pánuco de Coronado, Guadalupe Victoria, Pueblo Nuevo, Mezquital, Poanas, and San Dimas.

During the winter months, the climate is dominated by the subtropical ridge, resulting in dry conditions, with most days being clear and sunny.

[10] The city is noted for its colonial architecture, including Baroque, attesting to its relatively early colonization by the Spanish.

The original interior is Baroque, but it also contains more recent murals related to Mexico's Independence and the state's history, especially in the main stairwell.

It contains five halls, mostly dedicated to handcrafts and other implements used in farm and other forms of rural life, such as tools, textiles, basketry and pottery.

The original bridge that connects the neighborhood with the Paseo de las Alamedas was constructed in 1795, but it was more recently reconstruction as a pedestrian walkway.

[6] The La Familia pedestrian bridge crosses Felipe Pescador Boulevard, one of the busiest in the city due to the various malls and shopping centers in this area.

Activities include sporting and cultural events such as football, baseball, dance, food, plays, concerts, exhibitions, and showings of agricultural and industrial products in different parts of the city.

Traditional sweets here are similar to those in other parts of Mexico, introduced by nuns from convents further south and include crystallized fruits and cajeta (dulce de leche).

[7] At the beginning of November 2022, Durango health authorities reported an outbreak of meningitis in patients attending private hospitals, who had had surgeries using spinal anesthesia, the cause of which remained unknown.

[33] In December 2022, the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, InDRE) confirmed Fusarium species in the cerebrospinal fluid of two cases.

The ranking is based on four different categories, starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registration of a property, and enforcing contracts.

According to these categories, Durango is ranked 23 in starting a business, 5 in dealing with construction permits, 15 in registrations of property and 8 in enforcing contracts.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were small immigration waves to northern and central Mexico from Europe and the Middle East.

There were also immigration waves during World War II from Eastern Europe, (mainly Russians and Poles) and from the Balkans (especially from Macedonia and Montenegro).

There are also large numbers of Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter-Day Saints, Jews and Orthodox Christians represent smaller communities of about 1,000 each.

[37] The city of Durango is the capital and economic center of a state that is mostly dependent on agriculture and livestock, with a high level of socioeconomic marginalization.

Most visitors to the city visit the historic center, especially the cathedral, main plaza, the old railroad stations, parks and museums.

[12][40] The area contains sets built for this purpose including Calle Howard, Western Village and Rancho Calderón, all with reproductions of wood buildings like those found in the Old West of the United States.

[41] Several old sets have been converted into theme parks, including Chupaderos, Villas de Oeste and La Joya, John Wayne's old ranch.

The municipality has adequate facilities to provide preschool, elementary, middle and upper secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education.