The name is thought to come from the Otomí language meaning "the great ball game" or from the Tarasco/Purépecha language and have the definition of "place of stones". It should be noted that the area of La Cañada, east of Santiago de Querétaro, features a large gorge that resembles the two opposite walls that were used in the Native American ball game.

One of the wealthiest cities in Mexico and Latin America, it ranks 11th in human development and 6th in income level compared to the rest of municipalities in the country. Querétaro has grown tremendously since the 70s, when industry first arrived. At the beginning, most companies were in the food processing industry, due to the important agricultural output of nearby regions.Querétaro is the crossroads of Mexico. Federal Highway 57, which runs from Mexico City to Piedras Negras, crosses Queretaro. Federal Highway 45 leaves Querétaro eastbound, towards Guanajuato. The railway line that connects Mexico City with western Mexico bisects the city. There are intercity buses that serve most of Mexico. The bus station is considered one of the best designed in the country. A new airport was opened in November 2004. It was built to replace the smaller one that was too close to the city. It is located some 30 kilometers east of the city. There are frequent flights to Mexico City, Monterrey and Houston. Downtown Querétaro follows a chessboard pattern, except for the areas around the Convent of the Holy Cross, which are more irregular. This responds to the latter quarter being built as an Indian town, while the new areas where specifically designed to house the Spanish populace.