Tepic is the primary urban center of this rich agricultural region; major crops include sugarcane, tobacco and citrus fruits.

The city was founded in 1531 as Villa del Espíritu Santo de la Mayor España.

Its Catedral de la Purísima Concepción, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, is the cathedral episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tepic, a suffragan see in the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara.

Both now demolished, there are plans to construct new, modern, and bigger stadiums; the state has three sport private clubs.

In addition to common sports, in the city's main park there is an olympic swimming pool and a squash field.