Nueva Rosita, city, north-central Coahuila estado (state), northeastern Mexico. It is situated on the Mexico-U.S. border 1,410 feet (430 metres) above sea level, just north of the Sabinas River and 65 miles (105 km) southwest of Piedras Negras. The city’s location in the Sabinas coal district led to its development, and since the 1930s it has been a prominent industrial centre, with a zinc smelter producing zinc sulfate and sulfuric acid, as well as coke. Pop. (2000) 36,974; (2010) 38,158.