Norteños

Norteños
Founded1968 (1968)
Founding locationSalinas, California, U.S.
Years active1968–present
TerritoryMostly in Northern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington (state), Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Mexico, Texas, Canada, Bolivia
EthnicityPrimarily Mexican American
Criminal activities
  • Assault
  • Burglary
  • Extortion
  • Murder
  • Armed robbery
  • Drug trafficking
  • Gun trafficking
AlliesNuestra Familia, Crips, Bloods, Black Guerilla Family, Latin Kings, People Nation, Tiny Rascal Gang
RivalsFresno Bulldogs, Sureños, MS-13, Mexican Mafia, 18th Street Gang
Notable membersRyan Mitchell Wood

Norteños (Spanish pronunciation: [noɾˈteɲos], lit.'Northerners'; Norteñas for females) are the various affiliated gangs that pay tribute to Nuestra Familia while in California state and federal correctional facilities. Norteños may refer to Northern California as Norte Califas. Their biggest rivals are the Sureños from Southern California. As of 2008, the statewide north–south dividing line between Norteños and Sureños was regarded as running through the southern end of the Central Valley. The gang's membership consists primarily of Mexican Americans.