Linares is a small city in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The city serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of the same name and it is the largest urban centre of the so-called "orange belt" region. The city had a 2005 census population of 56,065, while the municipality's population was 71,061. The city and the municipality both rank tenth in population in the state. The municipality has an area of 2,445.2 km² (944.1 sq mi) and lies in the east-southeast part of the state on the border with the state of Tamaulipas.