Boca del Río is located immediately to the south of the port of Veracruz, at 19°07' N, 96°06' W. It stands where the River Jamapa empties into the Gulf of Mexico – whence the Spanish name, which means river mouth.
The municipality covers a total area of 42.77 km² and, in the year 2000 census, reported a population of 135,804. In addition to the city of Veracruz, it also borders on the municipalities of Alvarado to the south and Medellín to the west.
The original Olmec inhabitants of this region were subjugated by the Aztecs during their phase of expansion toward the coast. The new arrivals named the site of the future city Tlapaquitlan in 1474.
In 1518, Spanish conquistadors named the area Río Banderas.
In 1988, Boca del Río was granted city status.History