Campeche is a state located in southeast Mexico, forming one of the 32 federal entities of the country. It is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the southwest, Yucatán to the northeast, and Quintana Roo to the east. To the south, it shares borders with the Petén department of Guatemala and the Orange Walk District of Belize, while its western coastline faces the Gulf of Mexico.
The state capital, also named Campeche, was founded in 1540 during the Spanish conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula. It served as a wealthy and significant port during the colonial era before experiencing a decline following Mexico's independence. In the mid-19th century, the state split from the province of Yucatán due to political friction with the city of Mérida.
In 1997, the capital city was declared a World Heritage Site. While the state contains various Mayan and colonial sites, they are generally less visited than those in the neighboring Yucatán. The region experienced a modern economic revival starting in the 1970s following the discovery of offshore petroleum, establishing the coastal cities of Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen as major economic centers.